Water is healthier than sports drinks for non-athletes - Global Sport Matters (2024)

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Water is healthier than sports drinks for non-athletes - Global Sport Matters? ›

According to a study posted in Journal of Athletic Training water begins absorbing in the body more quickly than its sports drink alternatives. Water makes up 60 percent of the human body. Unless you're doing intense training everyday, running a marathon or playing professional sports, it is best to stick with water.

Sports drinks contain calories and drinking too much can take away from balanced eating. Don't let sports drinks replace other nutritious drinks throughout the day. Water is the best choice if your athlete is thirsty between meals.

The specific amount of sugar and electrolytes in sports drinks is intended to allow for quick hydration and absorption. This type of nutrient depletion generally occurs only with high-intensity exercise that lasts an hour or more. For the non-athlete, a sports beverage is just another sugary drink.

Why should I drink water? Water is vital to our health. It plays a key role in many of our body's functions, including bringing nutrients to cells, getting rid of wastes, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature. Water should almost always be your go-to beverage.

All sports drinks contain some sodium, usually between 35 and 200 mg per eight ounces. Sodium helps the body retain water. Potassium. Most sports drinks also have between 15 and 90 mg of potassium per eight ounces.

During exercise, especially in hot weather, kids can become dehydrated and a sports drink may seem like a suitable thing to reach for to replenish fluids and electrolytes, but the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend them for kids during routine or moderate activity.

Though water should always be your first drink of choice, there may be certain scenarios where a sports drink is exactly what your body needs. If you're participating in high-intensity workouts lasting more than 45 minutes to an hour, sports drinks may help replenish your body's electrolyte stores better than 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 ).

In simple terms, alcohol will reduce your ability to use glycogen as an energy source for performance. The knock-on effect of alcohol consumption is it is also detrimental for protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is the process of cells making proteins and is super important for muscle growth, adaptation and recovery.

Numerous studies show that traditional sports drinks can improve physical performance and increase the length of time that an athlete can perform or compete before reaching exhaustion. They supply the muscles with energy, plus water and electrolytes, which help keep muscles from cramping and dehydration at bay.

What are the 5 benefits of water? ›

Water is very important for your body

Water travels throughout your body carrying nutrients, oxygen, and wastes to and from your cells and organs. Water keeps your body cool as part of your body's temperature regulating system. Water cushions your joints, and protects your tissues and organs from shock and damage.

For most kids, drinking water before, during, and after playing sports will keep them hydrated. Some athletes who exercise for long periods or in very hot weather can benefit from a sports drink that has sugar and electrolytes. It's best for kids to skip the energy drinks.

It helps our body control our temperature, keeps our joints working smoothly and moves nutrients around. As you exercise longer and harder, it becomes even more important to drink the proper kind and amount of fluid. If you aren't adequately hydrated while competing in your sport, it can lead to decreased performance.

Water is a healthier choice — especially when you aren't doing an intense workout or exercising on a hot, humid day — because the added sugars and calories in sports drinks are associated with a higher risk of developing and experiencing complications from conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes, she adds.

Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.

Water is the main ingredient in sports drinks, but they also contain other substances, including carbs and electrolytes, which are supposed to improve performance. The carbs in these drinks are often in the form of sugars like glucose, sucrose and fructose, but they may also be found in other forms.

Water is the best liquid you can drink to stay hydrated. But caffeinated drinks can help meet your daily fluid needs. The amount of water your body needs varies. Your age, body size and activity level affect how much water you need.

Aquatic exercise is a low-impact activity that takes the pressure off the bones, joints and muscles. Water also offers natural resistance, which can help strengthen the muscles. Aquatic exercise can have many health benefits, such as improved heart health, reduced stress, and improved muscular endurance and strength.