Sports drinks vs water during exercise

Which do you prefer sports drinks or water? Most people think because it is a sports drink that anyone who does any type of exercise should be drinking it right? I mean it has the word sports in it.

Now if you compare sports drinks to sodas or juice then absolutely you should be drinking sports drinks, they have a lot less sugar and calories. But water is King and unless you are performing vigorous exercise then water will be more than enough to refuel you.

Most people don’t drink enough water as it is and whenever you exercise you are sweating and losing electrolytes. For the average person water and a good diet will be more than enough to rehydrate you and replenish the electrolytes you lost. Every time you go to the water fountain take 6 big gulps of water and refill your water bottle.

If you are trying to lose fat then you must watch the sports drinks because sports drinks contain calories. Remember the only way to lose fat is to burn more calories than what you are taking in. For example if you burn 100 calories on the treadmill and you drink a sports drink afterwards which has 100 calories then you essentially did the workout for nothing for your fat loss goals. Sports drinks also contain sugar which hinders fat loss as well.

On the other hand sports drinks can be very beneficial if you are doing the right type of exercise. If you are doing vigorous weight training then you may require a sports drink to help replenish the electrolytes you have lost. Sports drinks are also great for endurance athletes because it replenishes their electrolytes, sodium levels, hydration, and the sugar gives them an immediate source of energy. As a good rule if you are exercising at a moderate intensity under 1 hour then you do not need a sports drink and water will be just fine for you.