What should you bring to class to drink?

Although the human body is composed of 55 to 60 percent water, we actually have very little to spare. Whether you train on a regular basis or not, fluid replacement is essential. In addition to regulating body temperature, fluids serve as solvents for minerals, vitamins and other nutrients; lubricate joints; act as shock absorbers around the eyes and other organs; carry nutrients around the body and fill cells and the spaces between the cells.

Because fluids are so vital to our well-being, it is absolutely essential to replenish any fluid lost during strenuous exercise. Everybody is probably aware that sports drinks are recommended after or before exercising because of the electrolytes that they replenish your body with. Electrolytes are minerals – sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium – which, when dissolved in body water, help regulate some essential body processes. When we sweat during vigorous exercise the body loses electrolytes, that is the theory behind reaching for that sports drink after your workout. Research has shown that while it’s true that some electrolytes are lost in sweat, most short-term and or recreational activities do not require extra supplementation because the losses are easily replenished at the next meal or made up for by adequate mineral intake in the overall diet.

Sports drinks may give you an extra boost of energy and may be of value for athletes participating in events of long duration, such as a marathon, or for workouts lasting longer than two hours. However, if your workout is of shorter duration and your chief goal is to replace fluids lost through perspiration, and you don’t want the additional calories plain, cold water is still your best choice.