ENJOY YOUR SUPERFLUIDS RESPONSIBLY

Sports drinks have become a fixture of the fitness landscape, but what exactly are they made of and do we need them for a regular workout?

There are three key ingredients: salt, sugar and water. The water explains itself when it comes to rehydrating. When we sweat, we lose electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are involved in muscle contraction. The salts in energy drinks replenish these. Sugars provide carbs for the energy required to sustain our body as it uses up its reserves during exercise.

The odds are against us requiring anything more than water for exercise that lasts less than 45 to 60 minutes, unless we’re an especially salty sweater. If we’re counting calories, bear in mind that many sports drinks contain a decent whack, from 100 to 150. We’ll probably only burn 300 to 500 calories in a half hour run.