Sports Drinks

Choose the right sports drink

    You just got done with an awesome workout or run. Burned 700 calories, great job. Now you go to the refrigerator and grab a sports drink, do you know what your grabbing. Making the wrong choice on sports drinks can undo a large part of what you set out to accomplish with your workout. Lets have a serious discussion on your sports drink and keep you from making a bad choice, after an otherwise perfect workout.  


    Many sports drinks are loaded with carbohydrates and sugars, unless you've reached that perfect  BMI (Body Mass Index) you really don't need the calories they bring with them. Taking a full 32 ounce bottle of regular Powerade or Gatorade comes with 200 calories and a crazy 50 grams carbohydrates. Grab one of these and you need to add another 20 minutes to your workout.

Zero Calorie Powerade

    That's not to say both Powerade and Gatorade don't have a low carb sports drink. Gatorade comes up a little short. Gatorade still comes in at about 24 grams carbs for 32 ounces, as a low carb drink - I don't think so. They hide it in a small 12 ounce bottle, just how far will that go after a tough workout. Guess, there goes my sponsorship. 
    Now, Powerade does a great job with their sports drink, with good taste with zero calories and less than 1 carbohydrate. Not bad but you can do better.
    If your only looking for hydration without electrolytes you can't beat water. But you need some electrolytes and that's what makes sports drinks a little different. If your doing a long workout you'll need the electrolytes, I try to do a 4 to 1 ration of water to sports drinks. These normally have 150 to 160 mg sodium and some potassium. Drinking all sports drinks with electrolytes on a super hot day is like drinking from the ocean after a while, too much sodium will dry you out! Remember to always a have some water around.

Propel Sports Drink

     So where does that put us? Don't know about you, but I've found my favorite and it is Propel. Comes in a good serving size of about 17 ounces, super easy to swallow, not bitter and doesn't have an overly sweet flavor. My favorite is the grape. For essentials, it has 0 calories, 0 carbohydrates and obviously 0 sugars. Great stats for any game. It also boasts 160 mg sodium like other sports drinks, but what makes it a cut above is some real nutrients, like vitamin C 40%, Vitamin E 20%, Niacin 50% and Vitamin B6 50%.  If there is a down side it would be no potassium. Guess you still need a banana once in while. 
    I got mine, don't forget to pick up yours!