Are you an avid exerciser or athlete relying on sports drinks, such as Gatorade and PowerAde to replenish you during and after workouts? You might be counteracting the good you’re doing by working out. Sports drinks do replenish much needed electrolytes that can be lost during an intense workout, intense being the key word here. But the main ingredient in these drinks is sugar, making these drinks simple carbohydrates. Lions know very well that sugar can be there enemy. This doesn’t mean that you can’t ever grab a sports drink if you’re feeling dehydrated, but limit yourself. There are actually only a few circumstances where a sports drink is needed by anyone.

When your workout is 60 minutes or longer, and of a moderate to high intensity level, you will need to replenish not only fluid loss, but electrolyte loss. However, if you just went for a 30 minute walk or jog, water will do just fine to re-hydrate you. There is no need to add in extra sugar after the average workout. So be smart about your hydration and don’t take in what you don’t need!

The other circumstance that warrants a sports drink for hydration is when you are working out in hot or humid weather. The hotter it is the more fluids and electrolytes you will lose, so even if you go out for just a 30 minute stroll you may need more than just water to re-hydrate. Keeping a sports drink with you, maybe even some salt tablets for a more intense workout, is a good and safe idea.