Read 260 times since Sunday, December 11, 2011
After a big work out of any variety you are certainly going to be running low on energy so naturally you will be looking out for some form of energy source so you can get your equipoise back on your way home. The problem is that you will be thirsty, very thirsty and you will pretty much drink the first thing you see that takes your fancy but if you see an energy drink on the shop shelves stop yourself immediately. Energy drinks are not designed for post work out hydration; they are full of caffeine, artificially created vitamins, minerals and sweeteners, they are not what the body craves nor needs after it has gone under such stress during intense exercise. Your body loses salts, sugars, certain vitamins and minerals, battles through severe damage to muscles as well as elevated blood pressure and hormonal stress...so energy drinks are not what you should consume.
Sports drinks are specifically and scientifically engineered to replenish as much goodness that has been burned up or washed out during exercise. Your body rapidly burns up its resources so it can cope with the high energy output that is needed to stay at that level of stamina for long periods, our body can handle exercise but isn't exactly used to it. You are basically emptied out of your goodness so you need to reload not just your body but your brain, organs, stamina and wellbeing so they can also recover. To give your body what it needs make sure you consume a good quality sports drink, they are full to the brim with protein, carbohydrates and other essentials that the body wants and with them it can regain its level of balance that it had prior to the work out. This helps to rebuild our body as well as making it easier on yourself the next time you have a work out, the more efficiently you recharge your body after working out the more resistant is gets to stress and pressures over time.
The other little wondrous thing they have in sports drinks that aren't present in energy drinks is electrolytes; they are another scientific concept that has been developed since the 1960's. An electrolyte is basically any substance that is made out of free ions which makes it electronically charged. Our muscles are incredibly similar to our brain and are made out of electronic based neurons, these charges get weakened after working out and it is good to replenish with these substances as it helps to build muscle as well as letting nutrition to re-enter the muscle.
I am by no means saying that every sports drink is a saintly liquid that will cure all your post work out alignments but they are a good place to start and energy drinks are not. You can't literally pick up any sports drink and not worry about what is in it, there are some drinks around that are jam-packed with the nasty stuff not the good so always look at the ingredients before buying. Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including Nuun Hydration.
To read more information about Nuun Hydration visit
www.u-thrive.com/nuun/10050-B/electrolyte-hydration-8-x-12-tabs-+-free-500ml-bottle.aspx
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