Sports Drinks

Decoding the value of a beverage need no longer confuse you, at least when it comes to sports drinks.

What you should know: Sports drinks possess more than just the appeal of flavor. During exercise that is intense or lasts longer than 45 to 50 minutes, sports drinks, containing 6 to 8 percent carbohydrate, are easily absorbed into your body and can provide energy to your working muscles that plain water cannot.

Sports drinks hydrate and nourish your body during exercise and replenish lost fluids after exercise. Besides water they contain carbohydrate and electrolytes like sodium and potassium. The added carbohydrate fuels your muscles, and the sodium and potassium replace losses from sweat. The sodium also helps your body absorb and retain water and triggers your thirst mechanism to make you drink more.

Sports drinks are usually more helpful for longer periods of exercise but many people prefer them to water because they have more flavor. Some research has shown that sports drinks help you recover your fluid losses after exercise more quickly than water.