Staying hydrated while you are exercising is very important. While elevating the heart rate and working out, the body loses water at a much higher rate than normal. The hotter the temperature and the more intense the exercise, the more water is lost.
But what is the best thing to drink when you are exercising; a bottle of water, a can of soda, or one of those fancy blue sports drinks? Here are some facts about your drink choices, according to about.com
The natural choice for hydration is water. Water hydrates better than any other liquid, both before and during exercise. Water tends to be less expensive and more available than any other drink.
While some people prefer the taste of water over other drinks, most people find it relatively bland and will stop drinking water before becoming fully hydrated. Water is the best, but it only helps you if you drink it.
Sports drinks don’t hydrate better than water, but you are more likely to drink larger volumes, which leads to better hydration. The typical sweet-tart taste combination doesn’t quench thirst, so you will keep drinking a sports drink long after water has lost its appeal.
An attractive array of colours and flavours are available. You can also get a carbohydrate boost from sports drinks, in addition to electrolytes which may be lost from perspiration and these drinks tend to contain lower calories than juice or soft drinks.
Soft drinks are devoid of any real nutritional content. Even so, they taste great! Be careful, the caffeine in soft drinks offsets its usefulness in rehydration. The carbohydrates will slow your absorption of water, but they will also provide a quick energy boost. In the long run, they aren’t good for you, but if hydration is critical then soft drinks should be only used as your last resort.
Avoid drinks with lots of sugar or caffeine, which will lessen the speed or degree of hydration.
