When you’re sweating through an intense workout, you probably reach for a sports drink to quench your thirst. Millions of hardcore athletes and casual fitness fans chug sports beverages to replace the water, sodium and glucose (sugar) the body needs to increase muscle function and speed up post-workout recovery. For most of us, however, sports drinks are more about convenience than necessity.

The average person is not working out hard enough to need the rapid refueling these drinks offer. If plain old water isn’t appealing, there are dozens of exercise drinks available. The ingredients in most of those drinks are pretty similar – water, carbohydrates (sugar), sodium (salt) and potassium. Keep in mind that the calories from sugar that these drinks supply can be a concern in maintaining your weight at a healthy level and in preventing weight gain.

Sports drinks are also expensive. If you would rather make your own, try this easy recipe: Stir together 7 1/2 cups cold H2O, 1 Tbs. sugar, a pinch of salt & 1 Tbs. OJ or 2 tbs. lemon juice.

Additional Resources:

http://www.cwu.edu/~sportnut/comparesportdrink.html