ShareThisBy ANNA WALLNER and KRISTINA MATISIC
Fine Living Network
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
If you're starting a fitness program this summer you obviously need to consider diet as well as exercise. The body performs much better when given the right sustenance!
Many athletes turn to energy drinks to help them through their tough workouts. These are beverages that contain electrolytes, which are lost during exercise. We need electrolytes to maintain a healthy blood pressure level. They speed the uptake of fluid from your stomach to your muscles, keeping all systems go. For most of us, good old fashioned water works just fine, but if you work out for more than 90 minutes at a time or in the heat, you might need the added kick of an energy drink. Here's how to find the best one:
Most major brands contain electrolytes, but some imitation energy drinks may just contain glucose (sugar), so be sure to double check the label.
Some drinks advertise being lower in carbohydrates than others. But keep in mind that this will also mean they are lower in calories and therefore provide less energy.
Sport drinks that are to be consumed during exercise should max out at 6 percent carbohydrates, and no more than 120 milligrams of sodium per eight ounces. Energy drinks with more than 6 percent carbs are considered recovery drinks and should be consumed before or after a workout, not during.
Unless you're exercising for so long that you're skipping meals, your energy drink does not need to contain protein.
Added vitamins aren't required. You don't burn vitamins any faster when you're exercising and they may add to the price tag.
While energy drinks that require mixing with water may seem like a hassle, many serious athletes prefer them because they can adjust concentration levels.
Some energy drinks contain added caffeine, which actually promotes dehydration. Not a good choice for athletes.
(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic host The Shopping Bags on Fine Living TV Network. Contact them at www.fineliving.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com)
