Revive is a fitting theme for this year’s March Madness. I was glued to the TV watching a #3 seeded Villanova upset a #1 seeded Pitt. With the score going back and forth, stupid fouls that make you gasp and incredible shots, Villanova pulled ahead in the last few seconds for an awesome win. I can only hope the upcoming games are as exciting.
On the sidelines, they were fueled by vitaminwater Revive (all teams in the tournament are), a great tasting sports drink with B vitamins, potassium and other electrolytes. So here is a common question I’m asked very frequently: when do I need a sports drink, which one should I choose and why do I need it (okay, that’s 3 questions rolled into one but you get the drift).
Sports drinks are beneficial for maintaining your energy during exercise lasting longer than one hour. Now, a basketball game doesn’t last over an hour, true, but watch those guys on the court. They are expending an incredible amount of energy and losing a lot of water through sweat. There’s no doubt they need a sports beverage. The same is true for those who participate in tournaments where they play several games in a day or have several events. These athletes may need the carbohydrate calories to keep them going.
What’s the purpose of a sports beverage? First and foremost, it hydrates you. Secondly, it provides the necessary carbohydrate you need to continue to fuel your exercise. If you consume only water your storage form of carbohydrate (muscle glycogen) starts to dwindle and so does your performance. And, studies show that you start depleting muscle glycogen while weight training as well. Sports drinks aren’t only for the endurance athlete. Thirdly, the beverages with sodium prevent hyponatremia (a dangerous condition of low blood sodium that occurs by over-consuming excessive amounts of water or beverages with little sodium and losing too much sodium through sweat).
What beverage should you choose? The one that tastes the best and meets your needs. Studies show that athletes will better hydrate themselves if they like the taste of a beverage. So drink up when you are giving an all out effort. I can’t guarantee that your game will start resembling Scottie Reynolds but you will be well fueled.