Sports drinks
For some unknown reason, everyone seems to believe that water is no longer important for athletes and that sports drinks fortified with unknown chemicals are great. There are thousands of sports drinks, cocktails, liquids and syrups available on the market. Some come in different colors; others come in different flavors but only a few come colorless. The majority of the sports drinks do nothing except rehydrate.
The only difference between sports drinks and water is calories and perhaps some electrolytes. For most people who are not active, water is the answer. For those who are athletes this can be achieved with any home made fruity drink or water.
There are companies who sell drinks made from vegetables, fruits with a whole bunch of chemicals like chromium, amino acids, free fatty acids, selenium, zinc, caffeine. Some claim that poly-lactated drinks can help improve endurance and reduce fatigue.
The point is there is absolutely no proof that these drinks do anything for anyone.
The majority of these sports drinks have ordinary ingredients like inositol, arginine, taurine and omega fatty acids. There is nothing special about any of these chemicals.
No one questions the fact that fluids and foods that contain more than water like carbohydrate and electrolytes are essential for adequate body function, as well as recuperation and repair. But the majority of extra nutrients are in fact useless. There is no evidence that drinking a beverage consisting of lots of carbohydrates or minerals can do anything to a body, except provide fluid. One does not question the value of vitamins or minerals in the diet, but these are not required during any exercise. In fact the majority of these high calories drinks can cause a heart burn; stomach upset or gives you diarrhea.
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