Should you drink sports drinks instead of water?

Should you drink sports drinks instead of water?

The recommendation is adults and children should only have sports drinks during extended and heavy exercise that lasts longer than an hour. “Water, water and water should be the beverage of choice for hydration before, during and after physical activity or exercise routines lasting less than one hour,” Dr. Nish says.

Is it OK to drink Gatorade during a game?

Drink during workouts or games. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, can help ward off dehydration and muscle cramps, because they help replenish both fluid and electrolytes lost in sweat. Encourage sports drinks when workouts last an hour or longer, especially for heavy sweaters.

Why do athletes drink sports drinks instead of water?

This is because sports drinks include electrolytes (which help regulate nerves and muscles), carbohydrates (which help restore the body’s glycogen — or fuel — levels) and water (which helps hydrate). “Sports drinks really do triple duty whenever you exercise for longer periods of time,” Girard Eberle says.

Do athletes need to consume sports drinks instead of water?

Sports Drinks Can Benefit Athletes. The main components of sports drinks — water, carbs and electrolytes — are each important for different aspects of exercise performance. Water and electrolytes are lost in sweat, and it’s important to replace them, particularly during long-duration exercise ( 10 ).

Is Gatorade better than water?

While Gatorade can help you stay hydrated, it’s best to only drink it when needed. For people who aren’t exercising for at least one hour, five days per week, water is the best bet for staying hydrated. Electrolytes coming from natural sources without added sugars and dyes are recommended.

What do athletes drink?

Sports drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, and All Sport can give you a needed energy boost during your activity. They are designed to rapidly replace fluids and to increase the sugar (glucose) circulating in your blood.

What is the healthiest drink for athletes?

Best Sports Drinks for Athletes

• Best Antioxidant Formula. Body Armour Sports Drink. Natural Flavors, Plus Coconut Water.
• Best Classic Sports Drink. Gatorade Fierce, Green Apple.
• Best Natural Sports Drink. Nooma Organic Electrolyte Sports Drink.
• Best Zero Calorie Sports Drink. Powerade Zero Fruit Punch Sports Drink.

What is the best sports drink for your body?

The 7 Best Drinks for Dehydration

1. Water. As you can imagine, water is one of the best drinks to fight dehydration.
2. Electrolyte-Infused Water. What’s even better than water?
3. Pedialyte.
4. Gatorade.
5. Homemade Electrolyte-Rich Drink.
6. Watermelon.
7. Coconut Water.

What is better than water for hydrating?

The researchers found that while water – both still and sparkling –does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.