Sports drinks, which are for the most part water, with sodium, potassium and often, sugar, can help sustain us during a workout on a hot day, but the component that is offers the most sustenance is water. The LA Times, citing authoritative sources, points out that the benefit we get from the sodium and potassium really isn’t needed by most people who do a moderate workout. Sports nutrition consultant Nancy Carter, the author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook, tells the Times that sports drinks are for an hour to an hour-and-a-half or more of hard
exercise, like a 100-mile bike ride or a 10-mile run. As for the sugar, we don’t need that at all. Bottom line, the Times says, for a moderate half-hour workout, stick with water.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I agree with the assessment of which is necessary and when in regards to supposed “sports drinks” and water however, I want to know who complete a 100 mile bike ride in two hours? Get that person or person to the Tour de France as that would be a sustained push at 50 mph for two continuous hours and buddy, that’s humming along!
If people protest and ask they why do the professional sports teams and top ametuer teams use thes drinks the answer is simple; i.e., even they benefit from the placebo effect and they are often paid to use the products.
namaste
Granted a moderate half hour exercise doesn’t require a sports drink. How many people that really work out with “intent” limit their workout to that? There have been studies demonstrating improved output with at least one sports drink that I’m aware of.
My sport is hiking. Hikes can last from 4- 10 hours or more and cover over 13 miles of rough mountainous terrain. For me, having at least one liter of sports drink in addition to several liters of water generally works best (better than all sports drink or all water).
Some commercial sports drinks are too concentrated and need to be diluted to avoid cramping for some people.