Electrolytes

In most stores, there are various numbers of drinks with different brand names and chemical formulas which will help you pick a drink. When trying to look for a nutritious drink, you often look at Gatorade or Powerade to quench your thirst. There is a reason why you know these two brands over most others and that reason can be summed up in one word: electrolytes. Electrolytes are essentially minerals that have a charge, which have the ability to transport nutrients to cells and export wastes away from the cells. These minerals are often lost after exercise. Therefore, when drinking a drink full of electrolytes, your body can replenish the nutrients it has lost. Even in terms of electrolyte drinks, some of them are sugar-based with some nutrients while others can contain a multitude of amino acids and proteins. When playing a sport, it is imperative to pick a drink that can put these helpful minerals into the body.

During repetitive and tiring exercise, the three main minerals lost are potassium, magnesium, and calcium. In order to replenish all the necessary nutrients, you must pick a drink that can help supply the body with more potassium, magnesium, and calcium. However, not that many sports drinks do so, but look for a drink that can help replace it the best. Carbohydrates can also be seen as a fuel source for the body, but taking too many is ill-advised. There is a necessary amount needed, but it should rarely exceed five percent sugar and carbohydrates for someone who is not a top athlete. The drier and hotter the conditions, the more and more carbohydrates are needed, but still, stopping at five percent would be advised. You do not want to get a drink that has more sugar than needed, so stop the search there.

Even though carbohydrates are necessary in most sports drinks, protein is not as essential. The drinks that boast protein will lower the overall damage to the muscles and promote muscle endurance, but research has been proving that amino acids are better to have in sports drinks than protein is. These amino acids can be seen in the form of Branch Chain Amino Acids, which is one of the leading ingredients in all of protein supplements. These Branch Chain Amino Acids are also known as glutamine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These alternatives to protein still give the benefits of the protein without actually consuming protein; thus, lowering the amount of problems that can be caused. An example of a problem with the intake of protein would be digestive issues. Look for a drink that has a good amount of amino acids.

Now that you know how to pick a energy drink, you can go to your local supermarket and do so. There are still some of you that may want to try making your own drink full of electrolytes. If you are interested, one of the easiest ways is to mix 2 quarts of water with half a cup of sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, and half a cup of orange juice. This is one way you can get the basic nutrients that any sports drink has. Please try at your own risk. If you are not willing to make your own or still too stubborn to buy from a store, chocolate milk can help to provide all the essentials that are in basic energy drinks full of electrolytes.