Four Drinks You Can Count On

Here are four beverages that can help you drink up and get back in the game:

WATER – Yes, fish do swim in it. But it’s the essential element that restores life, and your body is composed of 90 percent of it.  So by all means, keep some fresh water on hand when you’re out in the sun and drink about 34 ounces of it per hour of activity. If you’re engaging in very vigorous athletic competition, you may want to step up your consumption of more balanced and nutrient-dense beverages. But for most light athletic activity or walking, frequent sips of water will help you stay properly hydrated.

GATORADE – If it’s good enough for the Florida Gators, well, it’s good enough for you weekend warriors. Gatorade is a scientific balance of electrolytes and water, designed to quench your thirst and restore the balance in those body fluids that can go way out of whack if you sweat too much and hydrate too little. It actually was created by the University of Florida, which saw a lot of players incapacitated by the heat during workouts and games. The scientists devised a drink that was a balance of water, salt, a little sugar and lemon juice. It showed immediate results, and went on to become a staple of pro sports and your local supermarket shelves. It comes in a variety of flavors beyond the traditional lemon-lime as well.

CHOCOLATE MILK – It does a body good. Right? Yes, it’s for more than kids. This drink is not only refreshing, but it provides vital nutrients and fluids.  You’ve never seen a dehydrated cow, right? Seriously, a study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism claims that chocolate milk is one of the top post-workout recovery drinks. Check out the ingredients if you doubt. Carbohydrates, protein, water, calcium, sugar, sodium. It’s all ingredients your body wants to metabolize after vigorous, high-level exertion. Think of it as water-plus. Just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it’s not good for you.