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Finding the right sports drink that will actually hydrate you and provide electrolytes during recovery can be difficult with all the marketing. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what has too much sugar and won’t be as refreshing. You want to find something that will give you proper hydration, recovery and fluid balance. After a vigorous exercise, you need to have a drink on hand.
To help you choose the best sports drink, I’ve combined my own knowledge with input from other fitness professionals. I analyzed over 50 ingredient lists to determine which sports drinks are best for particular purposes and types of training. I’ve combined all of this research into this guide to help you identify the best sports drinks for quick hydration, resistance training, CrossFit, weight loss and all natural diet.
Sports drinks can be a healthy hydration alternative to water if you know what to look for.
In recent years, smaller beverage companies and startups have gained popularity with their sports drinks, which are often targeted at niche activities and different types of exercise, such as runners or CrossFit enthusiasts. Commercial sports drinks like Gatorade are still a popular choice, but there are many other options these days. Whether you’ve just had an intense workout session at the gym or need to hydrate after sweating it out on the track, we’ve found the best sports drinks that come in all flavors and shapes to boost your electrolytes.
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Personal trainer and fitness studio owner Holly Roser he says Noon is the perfect sports drink for hydration and energy. “Made with just electrolytes and caffeine, these little tablets are easy to put in water and turn into a fizzy drink,” she says, adding that they’re ideal for morning workouts because of the caffeine content
Nuun’s entire product line promises to help push you through grueling workouts, but Nuun Endurance is specifically formulated to support you during a sweat session for 90 minutes or more. It is widely used by marathon runnerstriathletes and other long distance exercises, professional and recreational.
Each tablet contains 15 grams of sugar, 380 milligrams of sodium and 200 milligrams of potassium, as well as chloride, magnesium and calcium. Together, these ingredients prevent cramps and keep your muscles moving for long workouts.
I’ve been using Nuun Endurance during training for long distance runs and it hasn’t let me down yet. I usually only use it for runs of 8 miles or longer, but I also pop out a tablet when I feel like I need an energy boost for a shorter run.
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Let’s do some math here: What do you get when you take a warehouse gym, subtract air conditioning, add summer temperatures and multiply by one of the most intense fitness regimens around? The answer is sweat. A lot of sweat.
A lot of sweat means a lot of lost electrolytes, and Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier says it can help replace what you lose through sweat. According to Liquid IV, one packet of Hydration Multiplier powder is equivalent to drinking three bottles of water for one thing. Cellular transport technology — I don’t necessarily doubt the claim, but take it with a grain of salt.
The formula for Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier is rooted in a medical therapy developed by the World Health Organization called oral rehydration salts.
Hydration Multiplier is not a medical therapy, but since it is based strictly on a hydration solution used by the main health agencies for decades, I am convinced that it can strengthen even the sweatiest. CrossFitters.
According to Liquid IV, salt, sugar, potassium, vitamin C, several B vitamins and water, come together in the right amount to deliver nutrients to the blood faster than water alone. It is also without glutendairy free, without GMOs and vegan.
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Miss Shaha certified personal trainer and yoga teacher, he recommends Ultimate Replenisher as a sports drink for those trying to lose weight because it is sugar-free and has zero calories.
“I go to Ultima when I have a long day of teaching hot yoga in a 100+ degree room and personal training,” says Shah. “Electrolytes are essential for muscle function and keep you at your best and (Ultima) gives you no calories.”
Ultima Replenisher has no sugar or artificial sweeteners – it is sweetened with stevia – and the first ingredient listed on the powder packets is magnesium citrate, which is a good indicator that this product is of high quality. Magnesium is one of the electrolytes lost through sweat; The fact that it is the first ingredient on the list means that it is the most prevalent ingredient by volume in Ultima Replenisher.
Ultima powder also contains calcium, zinc, manganese, chloride, potassium, sodium and phosphorus – all essential nutrients that need to be strengthened after a good sweat.
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We’ve become super naturals here. No, not supernatural — great natural, as in the most natural drink you can drink during exercise and at the same level as water.
Finding an all natural sports drink is hard because most are full of artificial sweeteners, colors and flavors. Even sports drinks that don’t have any of this are still made in factories or laboratories and infused with minerals that might not be as bioavailable as those found in natural products.
Shah recommends Harmless Harvest Coconut Water to those looking for a truly natural alternative. While not explicitly marketed as a sports drink, Harmless Harvest Water Coconut it has the ingredients you should look for in a sports drink: sugar, sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. The only actual ingredient on the bottle, however, is organic coconut water. Coconut contains all those minerals without the need for fortification.
“It’s all the electrolytes your body needs without any of the artificial ingredients,” says Shah, who tries to stay away from processed foods and drinks as much as possible. “Not only is coconut water hydrating, it helps your muscles and reduces soreness, and coconut water has been better than most energy drinks I’ve tried in the past.”
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