How are you fueling your workouts? When you head out the
door to lead your active life, what beverage gives you that “get up and go”?
Caffeine and specialized Workout Drinks often claim to provide you with the
power you need to face the day, but what’s the real deal with these popular
beverages?
ENERGY DRINKS
As of late, it seems that energy drinks are all the rage…but
should we believe the hype? True, energy drinks can be tasty and give you the
energy that you need for your active lifestyle. Many of them also claim to be
full of healthy nutrients, such as Vitamin B12 & B6, Niacin, potassium and
electrolytes. Certainly one could also argue that anything that helps you work
out and lose weight/tone up must be good for your overall health, seeing as
obesity and sedentary lifestyles are responsible for a large percentage of
health problems in the U.S.
What those energy drinks don’t tell you, however, is that
the disadvantages of these beverages far outweigh the benefits. Of course,
drinking anything with sugary excess calories can lead to weight gain or at the
very least negate the calorie burn from your workout, but even the diet
versions have their issues, such as:
-High blood pressure
-Sleep disturbances insomnia
-Mood disturbances
-Heart ailments
-Strokes
-Miscarriages
Energy drinks might not be the healthiest option for your
every day lifestyle. There are, however, other alternatives available…
GATORADE
Here’s the skinny on Gatorade and similar
workout-replenishing beverages. For high performance/professionals, it is a
decent option because it does replenish electrolytes, potassium, and
carbohydrates that are depleted in high intensity, prolonged exercise.
However, for the everyday individual, there are some issues to be aware of:
-Empty
calories lead to weight gain/negate workout
-potassium/electrolytes/carbohydrates
in a normal athlete/individual are already present in a healthy diet’s
nutrients.
-High fructose replenishes
carbohydrates but also causes Leptin (the satiety hormone that makes you feel
“full”) resistance, thus overall increasing appetite.
COFFEE and TEA
Both of these contain limited amounts of caffeine which,
when consumed excessively, can lead to the “jitters”, irritability and temporary
(short term) increased blood pressure. However, they do also offer a wide
range of health benefits when consumed in moderation:
COFFEE:
Decreased
risk of:
-Diabetes
-Parkinson’s
disease
-Dementia
-Certain
cancers
-Heart
rhythm problems
-Strokes
GREEN
TEA:
Contains
antioxidants that decrease:
-Free
Radicals
-Cancer
-Blood
clots
LIVING “AU NATURALE”: WATER AND A HEALTHY DIET
When it comes down to it, water replenishes your hydration
needs and a healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole
grains should fulfill all of your nutritional requirements. A daily
multivitamin can also help fill in any nutritional gaps you might be concerned
about. The side effects of moderate caffeine and work out drinks might not necessarily
lead to health issues, but first and foremost
it is important to recognize that water and a healthy diet are critical to your
fitness lifestyle, regardless of what you choose to supplement your regimen.
Above all, be informed, stay healthy, and stay happy. If you
have questions about how to maintain a healthy and active life, come into NEXT
LEVEL to learn more about the steps you can take. It’s what we do best!
