Researchers provided They found that milk, orange juice and an oral rehydration solution provided the highest amount of hydration. Oral rehydration solutions are specifically designed to cause fluid retention and contain higher levels of sodium and potassium than a normal sports drink.

An interesting finding from this study was that there was no difference in the hydrating ability of water, sports drinks, tea and cola.

In fact, some beverages that are typically considered to be dehydrating, such as coffee and beer, hydrated the body about as much as water.

In fact, other research has indicated that coffee can help keep you hydrated, contrary to popular belief Another factor to consider is that your enjoyment of certain beverages could affect how much you drink. Research has shown that the flavor of sports drinks causes athletes to drink more than if they were consuming water alone 22 , As a result, drinks that taste better may be beneficial for increasing fluid consumption in those possibly at risk of dehydration.

While sports drinks may help keep you hydrated, many other beverages can too. Water and sports drinks provide a similar amount of hydration, although the flavor of sports drinks may cause some individuals to drink more.

Research supports their benefits in athletes and those performing long or intense exercise. The recommended amount varies based on the type of exercise. However, most active individuals in the general population do not exercise intensely enough or long enough to need sports drinks.

Additionally, many beverages can hydrate your body just as effectively as sports drinks, including plain water. Overall, sports drinks can benefit very active individuals and athletes, but they are not necessary for most people. Some people say that if you want to be healthier, you should drink water first thing in the morning.

This article reviews whether there's truth to…. Sparkling water may be fizzy and fun, but you may wonder whether it's as hydrating as regular water. This article explains whether sparkling water…. While it's clear that drinking enough water is important to health, you may wonder whether the timing matters.

This article takes a look at the…. Companies that make products such as Gatorade and Powerade market their drinks to youth sports teams, but experts say the liquids are loaded with…. Electrolytes like salt, potassium, and calcium perform a variety of important functions within your body.

Looking for a new way to drink water? This infused H2O drink will keep you hydrated and healthy in more ways than you might think. While they're not typically able to prescribe, nutritionists can still benefits your overall health.

Let's look at benefits, limitations, and more. A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption —…. Carb counting is complicated. Take the quiz and test your knowledge! A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic?

How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based Should You Drink Sports Drinks Instead of Water? By Grant Tinsley, Ph.

Water vs Sports Drinks Athletes Most People Staying Hydrated Bottom Line If you ever watch sports, you have probably seen athletes sipping on brightly colored beverages before, during or after a competition.

Water vs Sports Drinks. Share on Pinterest. Sports Drinks Can Benefit Athletes. They Are Unnecessary for Most People. Many Different Beverages Can Help You Stay Hydrated. The Bottom Line. Share this article. Read this next. Is Gatorade Bad for You? Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Should You Drink Water First Thing in the Morning?

By Ariane Lang, BSc, MBA. Does Sparkling Water Hydrate You? Is There a Best Time to Drink Water? By Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD. What is an Electrolyte Imbalance and How Can You Prevent It?

Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. How Nutritionists Can Help You Manage Your Health. I did find one very recent independent study of cross-country skiers which reported no gastric problems ingesting the high concentration Maurtens solution.

Then again, it was cold and there is not as much jiggling of the insides with skiing compared to running. So the jury is out pending more research on the Maurtens. Concentration, Music and Endurance Events. How To Qualify For Age Group Amateur World Triathlon Championships.

Why You Should Transport Your Bike in a Cardboard Box. top of page. All Posts Training Tips Swimming Technique Product Reviews Satire Race Tips Opinion Race Reports. Martin Spierings Jan 31, 3 min read. What Is The Optimal Carbohydrate Concentration of Sports Drink? Recent Posts See All. Post not marked as liked 1.

Post not marked as liked. bottom of page.

In simple terms, the fluids in hypotonic drinks tend to be absorbed into the bloodstream the fastest, but they deliver lower amounts of carbohydrate per unit volume.

That's because carbohydrates tend to make up the majority of the 'stuff' diluted into most sports drinks. Hypotonic drinks should therefore be your preferred option if the primary goal of your drink is hydration rather than delivery of large amounts of energy.

Well I've summarised the best way to approach combining your hydration and nutrition plans in this blog - any questions, drop us an email and we'd be glad to help. In , we also added the Energy Drink Mix to the range.

The drink mix delivers the critical trifecta of carbs 60g per litre , fluids and electrolytes 1,mg per litre. It's primarily designed for high intensity efforts lasting ~ hours, though it can also be a useful contributor to your energy needs during longer sessions too.

It delivers a steady stream of rapidly digestible energy along with fluid and a significant level of sodium to combat dehydration and any electrolyte losses. There's a lot of research out there pointing to the fact that having some glucose and plenty of sodium in a drink can facilitate faster absorption of the fluids.

This is because as well as via osmosis a passive process , water can be moved across the wall of the small intestine along with sodium and glucose via a method called active transport.

Active transport is best thought of as a 2nd, separate 'doorway' from the gut into the bloodstream which can only be accessed with the right key, that being the right combination of sodium and glucose.

This is in fact the basis on which ORS Oral Rehydration Salts - used to treat very dehydrated people in a medical setting - are formulated, with great success.

This is, of course, in addition to the fact that the sodium ends up replacing that which is lost in sweat during prolonged exercise, so it's something of a double win at times when sweat losses are very high. Andy Blow is a Sports Scientist with a BSc Honours degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Bath.

An expert in hydration, he has co-authored a number of scientific studies and books. He was once the Team Sports Scientist for the Benetton and Renault Formula 1 teams and remains an adviser to the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone.

Andy has finished in the top 10 of IRONMAN and IRONMAN Subscribe Get performance advice emails. Get advice. Knowledge Hub. Different types of sports drink and when to use them By Andy Blow. As with most things in life this all boils down to a couple of key trade offs Shop at precisionfuelandhydration.

Andy Blow Founder and Sports Scientist. Was this article useful? Research has shown benefit of sports drinks in adult athletes though not conclusive as some studies show no benefit , but research in children is lacking.

For children who are engaged in routine or play-based physical activity, these drinks are usually unnecessary. For example, a nutritional comparison shows that a ounce cola drink contains about 39 grams of sugar, compared with 21 grams of sugar in a popular sports drinks.

There is also a risk of dental caries. Water that is calorie-free and accessible without cost to most people is the beverage of choice taken with and between meals. A sports drink may be used by people engaging in exercise of vigorous intensity for more than one hour, especially if sweating heavily.

Perhaps of greater importance in athletes of any age, but especially youth, is to encourage a balanced diet , snacks as needed, and adequate water that will best enhance physical and mental performance.

Pediatricians should discuss the use of sports drinks with their young patients and parents to ensure that all are aware of the health risks, and if used, are monitored carefully. Sugary Drinks Energy Drinks. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice.

You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. Skip to content The Nutrition Source. The Nutrition Source Menu.

Search for:.