Ditch Sports Drinks
What’s your go-to drink when you’re heading to the gym? For many athletes and gym frequenters, sports drinks are the beverage of choice. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing though. Such is the case with sports drinks. If you’re drinking them when you head to the gym, you should probably ditch them.
They Have Lots of Sugar
Do you know how much sugar is in your average sports drink? A single 20 oz Gatorade has as much as 9 teaspoons of sugar, which amounts to about 135 calories, all from sugar and all found in a single drink. That’s a lot of sugar. While sugar itself isn’t inherently bad for you, consuming excessive amounts of it can be harmful. Anyone looking to decrease their sugar intake would definitely do well to ditch sports drinks at the gym.
Water is Better for You
It’s tough to think of a better beverage for you than water. Every system in your body relies on water to function properly. Water is critical to healthy teeth and strengthening enamel. It helps keep your blood pressure at healthy levels, regulates your body temperature, and helps you digest food properly. Water contains zero calories and no sugars or fats, which helps make it the perfect no-calorie beverage. Naturally, you can sweat quite a bit while working out at the gym, so make sure you drink plenty of water every time you work out. The is another reason to ditch sports drinks.
They May Encourage Weight Gain
Most people don’t go to the gym with the intention of putting on weight unless it’s muscle weight. Unfortunately, if you’re drinking sports drinks at the gym, you may find that losing weight, or gaining it in the form you want it, is more difficult than it needs to be. Sports drinks are designed to be tasty and it’s easy to consume large quantities of them. When you drink sports drinks, you’re drinking your calories in a form that won’t leave you feeling satiated. It all adds up to unnecessary caloric intake, which could lead to weight gain that you don’t want.
Sports drinks might seem like a good beverage to consume while you’re at the gym, especially when you’re really getting your sweat on. They’re advertised as being hydrating and an excellent way to replenish the electrolytes you lose when you sweat heavily. That’s all well and good, but there are better, healthier ways to achieve the same ends. If you make sure you stay well hydrated and eat a balanced diet, there’s no reason why water shouldn’t be your choice of beverage the next time you head to the gym. We hope you found these tips useful on why you should ditch sports drinks at the gym.
Check out this article on important nutrients you shouldn’t forget about in your diet!