Sport Drinks: Better Than Water?

Sports drinks have other benefits besides tasting good

by: Maggie Spilner

You know that you need to increase your fluid intake when you exercise, especially in the heat. But you just can't get yourself to take more than a few gulps of water. Why not try a sports drink?

If something tastes good, you're bound to consume more of it. And sports drinks contain a small amount of sodium, which makes you want to sip even more. (If you're on a sodium-restricted diet, get your doctor's advice. You may have to limit your sodium intake from other foods and beverages.)

Sports drinks have other benefits besides tasting good. They supply less than half the calories of fruit juices. They're absorbed quickly into the blood stream, so you can exercise longer and avoid post-workout fatigue. And they're easier on your stomach than beverages with higher concentrations of carbohydrates.If you don't like the flavor of sports drinks either, try diluting your favorite fruit juice with water.