This topic has come into question ever since the evolution of sports drinks. Some of the top brands: Gatorade, Powerade, and Accelerade have evolved over the years. For instance, since its debut in 1965, Gatorade has gone from having just two flavors (lemon-lime and Orange) to having a number of flavors. Gatorade also introduced situational drinks such as the G-series pregame fuel, and the post-workout drink with additional protein. These sports drinks are part of a multi-billion dollar industry that provide active individuals good supplementation for all sports.

What about water? Water is one natural source that I am sure we all take for granted. It covers 75 percent of the earth, while it also makes up 70 percent of the human body. On the nutrition side, that good old H2O doesn’t really provide as much of a nutritional punch as you would expect. With the addition of some minerals (calcium, magnesium, and fluoride) in our tap water, we are not receiving much bang for our buck!****EDITORS NOTE: (I’m not sure I understand this. Are we getting these minerals from tap water?) But hey, we need it and we especially need it when we are active. This brings up the question: what is better – water or sports drinks?

The contrast between the two is not apples to oranges, but more like purple cabbage compared to green cabbage. One is more beneficial. Water is very important to the human body, but for an active individual it is not going to fulfill their electrolyte needs. Electrolytes are necessary for proper muscular contractions and cognitive thinking. The most common electrolytes in sports drinks are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. They are also the most important.

The availability of these minerals declines as you begin to sweat. In order to maintain proper balance you have to replenish these mineral. In order to replace these minerals you have to consume some form of fluid (i.e. sports drink) or food (i.e. nutrient bar). If water is the only thing you are consuming, you are simply re-hydrating, and not replenishing the minerals you have lost.

The bottom line: water alone is not going to keep you at optimal performance level. If water is your only option then drink it! Something’s better than nothing, right? I have heard horror stories of when coaches back in the 70’s and 80’s would not allow their players to drink water. They believed that it made the players sluggish, slow, and gave them muscle cramps. I hope all the coaches now have left that belief system back in that era! To reiterate, if water is your only option then drink it. But if you have a sports drink, don’t be afraid to use it. If you feel sports drinks are too sweet then add some water to water it down. The idea is to refuel yourself so you don’t end up in a physiological predicament. Maintaining proper fluid balance is one key in sustaining safe, optimal performance. Till next time……………

By the way purple cabbage is healthier and if you want to know why just send me a comment. Don’t be afraid to send me comments or questions about the blog. I am very willing to answer any question!

-Phil