Water or Sports Drink

[Mr.Hiker]

My bestfriend and I are always debating which is the best fluid to drink during hiking. I always advocate water because our body has been made to process water.

The argument of my friend is that the sports drink is just an enhancement of water. I don't believe it because the chemicals that have been added might have complications with the body when taken regularly.

[Gondor]

It largely depends on the energy drink, but I think it's far better to drink just the water. Intake of sugars and vitamins/minerals can be done through a light snack. A lot of carbohydrates from such energy drink raise the level of insulin up and block the production of energy. So too much sugars at once may reduce energy levels. Consider that.

[Pebbles]

We always stick with drinking water, especially when the kids are along. They always manage to spill on themselves, and whereas water just dries, sports drinks turn them into sticky messes.

[Bushman]

Sports drinks are designed to make you thirsty so you drink more, and sometimes you need that instant sugar boost.

But at the end of the day, water is still best for you.

[Bumpkin]

I always go for just plain water. Sports drinks just make me feel dehydrated and I don't think they are at all beneficial. Water is what my body needs; not sugar and a bunch of other ingredients I can't even pronounce, lol.

[HappyFeet]

Water all the way. Sports drink makes me revitalize, as they have advertised, for just a few minutes and then I will be tired again after a few meters of hike. And water is much more cheaper than buying sports drink because its free.

[hummingbird]

Believe it or not, I prefer the taste of water to soda and sports drinks. I don't think it's good to drink all of that sugar. I have even cut down on the number of teas and coffees that I drink.

[Traveler]

I guess if this thread has been made into a poll, sports drink will still be zero. So I will cast my vote to water. I don't have to explain my reason because I guess everyone have made good points why water is better than sports drink.

[2coastcamper]

In my other life, I'm a sportswriter, and I've looked into this very question:

Studies have shown that sports drinks, with their sodium (to make you thirsty, as another poster mentioned) have been proven to be better than water in cases of extreme activity.

The problem is, most people who drink sports drinks thinking they need them are no where near extreme activity. I mean, we're talking about professional athletes training twice a day in the dead heat of summer. When you sweat that much, your body needs to replace not only the water from your sweat but also the minerals that comes with your sweat (that's why your sweat is salty).

Going on a long day hike or even playing a couple of pick-up basketball games is not the type of activity that would benefit from sodium-rich sports drinks.

For roughly 99 percent of us "regular folks," water is the best bet. We won't reap the benefits from the likes of Gatorade.

Now, if you're training for the UFC in Arizona for eight hours a day ... by all means, grab a sports drink.



....


As a side note: Pedialyte (a children's drink for combating dehydration common with sickness and diarrhea) tested better than most sports drinks! lol.

[jason]

I work in a warehouse during the summer heat and would easily go through a gallon of water in about an hour and half period. I will mix a small amount of powerade in with my water during the summer. Otherwise it is water. Hiking and my bike rides come no where near the workout I got in the warehouse, and it is strictly water during those activities.