Nature's Sports Drink
Thanks to celebrities and professional athletes, I probably don’t have to reveal what beverage I’m referring to when I say nature’s sports drink…
That’s right, you guessed it – coconut water!
To give you some background information, coconut water is the liquid found in immature coconuts. The nutritional information varies depending on the maturity of the plant, but in general, coconut water contains less sodium, more potassium and slightly less carbohydrates compared to man-made sports drinks. So, is it for you?
Nature’s sports drink is for you if you are a lighter exerciser. In other words, if you’re not profusely sweating in a vigorous activity for longer than 60 minutes. Unfortunately, there is just not enough sodium in coconut water to replenish the body. Sodium (in this situation) is really important as even a slight drop in blood sodium can cause problems. I’m not saying potassium is not important—it is, since most people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables in their diet to reach their daily requirement. However, when it comes to exercise, sodium is the focus.
Bringing it together, if you’re an athlete performing in continuous physical activity for longer than 60 minutes, then a man-made sports drink, like Gatorade, is for you. Less than 60 minutes will not result in severe carbohydrate and electrolyte depletion; therefore, water or coconut water will maintain your fluid balance. If you’re not exercising and just looking to quench your thirst, then water is your friend! Save sports drinks for the purpose they were intended – hydration during and after exercise. The extra calories are just not worth it!
If you hate the taste of water, here are some tips to making it a little tastier:
Squirt a fresh lemon or lime into your water or add a splash from purchased lemon or lime juice
Try naturally flavored seltzer water, if you like carbonation
Add a small splash of 100% juice to a large container of water or plain seltzer
Purchase the calorie-free versions of Gatorade or nutrient-enhanced water if you desire the sweetness and flavor of these products, but realize that these calorie-free versions do contain artificial sweeteners
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Image courtesy of CraigAdderley