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Continue shopping. Why not add on one of these? HIGH5 Gel Refill Bundle - ml Flask - Berry Add - £ HIGH5 Run Pack Add - £ ZERO Twin Pack Add - £ Great for marathon runners, hangovers, and those staying home with the stomach flu, sports drinks are ubiquitous.

In the last 50 years, companies that manufacture sports drinks have done an excellent job associating sports drinks with three terms: hydration, electrolytes, and health. While that is largely accurate, isotonic water is a lesser-known, but a significantly more precise descriptor of Gatorade, Powerade, and other similar beverages.

Isotonic water, in fact, is at the core of these popular sports drinks. Isotonic water is a solution that mimics the concentrations of salt and sugar to the human body. Isotonic sports drinks differ from hypertonic and hypotonic drinks, which contain higher and lower concentrations of salt and sugar to the human body, respectively.

Isotonic sports drinks effectively replace fluids lost through sweating while also providing a surge of carbohydrates for energy. The combination of rehydration and energy is designed to provide an athlete with the right mix of nutrients to stay invigorated throughout a workout.

As early as the s, athletes, specifically long-distance runners, were discouraged from hydrating during exercise. The belief at the time was that water would weigh the runners down.

Around the same time, about 1, miles south of New York, scientists at the University of Florida were working on developing a drink for the Florida Gators football team. The Gators coach had noticed that players were losing steam in the second half of the game.

In an effort to combat this, the coach had players drink an isotonic beverage — named Gatorade— throughout the games.

That same year, while testing Gatorade, the Gators won their first Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. The Gator victory combined with a lucrative partnership with the NFL and the licensing agreement created a launchpad for Gatorade, and thereby, isotonic water.

Although other groups were working on similar hydration tests at the time, and even earlier, Gatorade is widely credited with bringing the sports drink craze to the mainstream. A lot has been said about sports drinks in the years since they rose to prominence.

Though countless studies have been published about the benefits and limitations of isotonic sports drinks, a investigative report found that due to flawed methodology and significant influence from the sports drink industry, many of the claims made about isotonic sports drinks lack substantial backing.

The report, published in the British Medical Journal, argues that the beverage industry has convinced consumers of a number of myths or half-truths that, in turn, led to the growth of isotonic sports drink sales. For example, the myth that the body does not have a good way to recognize thirst or that water is not an effective form of rehydration during and after exercise was countered by pointing to studies that have proven the body does, in fact, have a reliable indicator for thirst and water, and that water is necessary.

Studies from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and other independent research organizations have shown that isotonic water-based sports drinks are more effective for rehydrating than water. And that is true, but only conditionally.

The whole truth is that whether water or isotonic water is better for a certain workout depends entirely on the length of a workout and the amount someone sweats.

You may remember that isotonic water contains similar concentrations of salt and sugar to the human body. This boost, though, only makes sense for people exercising for longer than an hour or losing a significant amount of sweat.

Around the same time, about 1, miles south of New York, scientists at the University of Florida were working on developing a drink for the Florida Gators football team. The Gators coach had noticed that players were losing steam in the second half of the game.

In an effort to combat this, the coach had players drink an isotonic beverage — named Gatorade— throughout the games.

That same year, while testing Gatorade, the Gators won their first Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. The Gator victory combined with a lucrative partnership with the NFL and the licensing agreement created a launchpad for Gatorade, and thereby, isotonic water.

Although other groups were working on similar hydration tests at the time, and even earlier, Gatorade is widely credited with bringing the sports drink craze to the mainstream.

A lot has been said about sports drinks in the years since they rose to prominence. Though countless studies have been published about the benefits and limitations of isotonic sports drinks, a investigative report found that due to flawed methodology and significant influence from the sports drink industry, many of the claims made about isotonic sports drinks lack substantial backing.

The report, published in the British Medical Journal, argues that the beverage industry has convinced consumers of a number of myths or half-truths that, in turn, led to the growth of isotonic sports drink sales. For example, the myth that the body does not have a good way to recognize thirst or that water is not an effective form of rehydration during and after exercise was countered by pointing to studies that have proven the body does, in fact, have a reliable indicator for thirst and water, and that water is necessary.

Studies from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and other independent research organizations have shown that isotonic water-based sports drinks are more effective for rehydrating than water. And that is true, but only conditionally. The whole truth is that whether water or isotonic water is better for a certain workout depends entirely on the length of a workout and the amount someone sweats.

You may remember that isotonic water contains similar concentrations of salt and sugar to the human body. This boost, though, only makes sense for people exercising for longer than an hour or losing a significant amount of sweat.

If someone exercises for less than an hour or the exercises are not particularly strenuous, drinking isotonic water may be counter-productive and has been linked to weight gain and even obesity. These findings do not indicate that sports drinks containing isotonic water are inherently unhealthy, but that depending on the activity and level of exertion, water is an optimal form of rehydration.

Even if it means buying a belt or a holster to carry your water while you move. The Aquasana Stainless Steel Clean Water Bottle comes with a filter cartridge so that you can hydrate with the cleanest, healthiest water at the gym. Not only that but for every cartridge you use, you save disposable plastic bottles from entering the environment.

SHOP REUSABLE BOTTLES. Water bottle options are staggering. To help make the decision a little easier, here are Aquasana's top picks. Remove Product? Are you sure you want to remove the following product from the cart?

Some athletes who exercise for long periods or in very hot weather can benefit from a sports drink that has sugar and electrolytes. It's best for kids to skip the energy drinks.

Many of the ingredients haven't been studied in children and could be harmful. Instead, kids and teens who play sports can improve their game through hard work and practice. These lessons and values will serve them well both on and off the field.

KidsHealth Parents Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks. en español: Bebidas deportivas y bebidas energizantes. Medically reviewed by: Amy W.

Anzilotti, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks? Most kids, even athletes, need only plain water to stay hydrated. What Are the Kinds of Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks?

Sports Drinks Sports drinks may be helpful for kids and teens who: do vigorous physical activity lasting longer than an hour, such as long-distance running and biking play high-intensity sports, such as soccer, basketball, or hockey These drinks contain carbohydrates sugar , which can provide an immediate source of energy at a time when the body's stores are used up.

However, casual athletes don't need sports drinks. For most kids, plain water is all they need. Vitamin Waters These drinks, also known as fitness waters or enhanced waters, come in many flavors and with various combinations of supplemental vitamins and minerals.

Energy Drinks Energy drinks are very popular with middle- and high-school students. Too much caffeine can cause: jitteriness and nervousness upset stomach headaches trouble concentrating trouble sleeping frequent peeing In some kids, large amounts of caffeine can have even more serious side effects, including fast or irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures.

What Should Kids Drink?

Energy drinks are very popular with middle- and high-school students. And while some are clearly labeled as unsuitable for children, others are marketed to kids as young as 4, promising boosts in energy and nutrition and enhanced athletic performance.

Most energy drinks have lots of sugar and caffeine — sometimes as much caffeine as in 1 to 3 cups of coffee. Too much sugar can put kids in the fast lane to the dentist's office and also contribute to weight gain. Excessive caffeine comes with its own set of problems — especially in younger kids.

In some kids, large amounts of caffeine can have even more serious side effects, including fast or irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures.

Many of these drinks also have other ingredients whose safety and effectiveness haven't been tested in children, including herbal supplements, guarana a source of caffeine , and taurine an amino acid thought to enhance performance and caffeine's effects. For most kids, drinking water before, during, and after playing sports will keep them hydrated.

Some athletes who exercise for long periods or in very hot weather can benefit from a sports drink that has sugar and electrolytes. It's best for kids to skip the energy drinks. Many of the ingredients haven't been studied in children and could be harmful.

Instead, kids and teens who play sports can improve their game through hard work and practice. These lessons and values will serve them well both on and off the field. KidsHealth Parents Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks. Home About Soft Drinks Bottled Water. Who's Who. Membership Categories.

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Sports Drinks. Sports drinks are functional drinks specifically designed to help athletes and other active people hydrate before, during and after exercise. Sports Drinks and Health Research has shown benefit of sports drinks in adult athletes though not conclusive as some studies show no benefit , but research in children is lacking.

The drinks may also be perceived as healthy because they are allowed to be sold in schools and sporting events, so may be consumed in excess. Bottom Line Water that is calorie-free and accessible without cost to most people is the beverage of choice taken with and between meals.

Energy and sports drinks in children and adolescents. Paediatr Child Health. Field AE, Sonneville KR, Falbe J, Flint A, Haines J, Rosner B, et al.

Association of sports drinks with weight gain among adolescents and young adults. Obesity Silver Spring, Md. Schneider MB, Benjamin HJ. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate?