Spongebob square pants!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

I LOVE SPONGEBOB!

To drink? Or not to drink?

100 plus, Gatorade, H-Two-O and many more. All these are isotonic drink which most sports athletes will drink. However, do U know when is the right time to drink??? This is very important as many sporting athletes drink isotonic drinks because it is more like a "fashion" to drink after workout.

Here's a fact, if u dun work out and u drink, then be prepared to gain fat. Why is this so?

Simply put in this way, when u exercise, u will lose salt, sugar n water. By drinking an isotonic drink, it helps to replenish the minerals u lack. But if u are not deprived of all these minerals, it will eventually turn into stored energy (simply put as FAT!)

Another fact, if u drink isotonic drink alone, it will not replenish the dehydration from ur body. U will still have to drink water. Why is this so??

Put it this way, isotonic drinks contains mostly salt n sugar. Imagine u r now drinking a salty n sweet solution. How would u feel?

Thirsty? Yes, in fact, the aim of isotonic drinks is to replenish ur minerals and make u feel thirsty so that u will drink more water to replenish the dehydration.

Mostly, after regular workouts, u will start to feel that u can understand ur body better. U will be able to feel when u need more sugar or salt minerals during workout.

For the scientific explanation, read on...

Water or an isotonic drink?

By Elaine Young - Feb 21, 2007
The Straits Times

After a strenuous workout, what do you reach for? Water? Or a more satisfying isotonic sports drink?

Isotonic drinks contain 4 to 6 per cent carbohydrate to replenish the body's glycogen (or energy) stores which become depleted during exercise.

They also contain small amounts of sodium, which enhances fluid absorption in the gut.

But are these better than plain old water?

That all depends on what you are doing and why you are doing it, says Dr Jason Chia, an associate consultant at Changi General Hospital's Sports Medical Centre.

'If you are running a marathon or other endurance event, then isotonic drinks are an advantage over plain water,' he says.

You lose sodium from your body in long events, he explains, because you are out in the sun and sweating bucket-loads. This can't be replenished with water alone, and an isotonic drink would be needed.

However, if you are in an air-conditioned gym, whether on the treadmill or lifting weights for an hour, then water is hydration enough.

Dr Chia adds: 'If you are in the gym to burn calories, then you don't want to undo all that hard work with a sugary sports drink.'

If you aren't overly concerned with weight loss, then it is up to you whether you use sports drinks or water to re-hydrate yourself.

The rule of thumb, he says, is that if you are exercising for up to 60 minutes, water is all you need.

If you are exercising and performance is your aim - as in, you are exercising hard and regularly for 60 to 90 minutes each time - then you should be glugging Gatorade to keep your energy up with carbohydrates and fluid.

One final word about sugary sports drinks, though. They can cause as much damage to your teeth as any carbonated drink.

Use a straw and do not swirl it around your mouth.

12:23 AM