This may come as a surprise, but in the 1960s, athletes weren’t allowed to drink while running because it was thought to be bad for their performances. However, today, after years of research, it has been established that dehydration is, in fact, one of the primary causes of a decline in athletic performance, and that even water is not the best fluid for rehydration. Hyponatremia, or a significant drop in blood sodium, occurs when an excessive amount of water is consumed.
Sodium is an essential component of all sports drinks and is essential for athletes who run for extended periods of time. However, it should be consumed within a safe range of 20 to 35 mmol per liter. During a long race, consuming 30 to 100 grams of carbohydrates per hour has also been shown to be beneficial. Sports drinks containing 4% to 6% carbohydrates are considered safe. Additionally, there are some sports drinks that combine carbohydrates and protein. These drinks can speed up recovery and do not cause GI intolerances. However, they do not boost performance; They simply lengthen the recovery period. Caffeine is present in a small number of sports drinks, but athletes are still skeptics about consuming caffeine while competing.
Because it has less sugar than fruit juices and helps athletes stay hydrated, Gatorade is probably the most popular sports drink. They come in a variety of flavors, and it has been observed that adding water to Gatorade extends its shelf life. They come in containers that are convenient, portable, and simple to carry. The so-called “all complex carbohydrate formula” can be found in Hammer Heed, another well-liked energy drink. Stevia and Xylitol, its two sweeteners, are quite beneficial to the human body. It has essential electrolytes and chelated minerals, provides long-lasting energy, and it tastes good. Accelerade, which, as previously mentioned, has a good carbohydrate-to-protein ratio and helps alleviate common muscle soreness following exercise and other strenuous activities, is found in another beverage called Endurox R4.