Off Topic "Healthy" sport drinks

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Just wondering if there is a certain brand/recipe of sport drinks that is healthier than your average athlete-targeted Kool-Aid *rolls eyes*

I become dizzy easily & I hate drinking water during practice, so the extra salt/sugur would keep me from getting dizzy (I find gaterade helps with this but it has so much crap in it, hence my need for a healthier version, plus it's expensive) & possibly encourage me to drink more.

In a four hour practice I will drink 250mL at most.

Ideas/advice?
 
My favorite is to put 10 ounces of water into a 20 ounce water bottle, and then fill it the rest of the way with the key ingredient....... more water. In my reasoned and humble opinion it's the best way of staying hydrated.

Sports drinks may have sugar, and drinking them may give you a temporary lift. But.... when the sport drink's sugar supply runs out you'll be left with one very ticked off metabolic system that'll scream for more sugar, and stomp it's feet in a way that crashes your energy level.

If you want an all around boost try any of these........ Eat a tomato or tomato slices for the right kind of sugar and water source..... Tomato juice or tomato juice cocktail mixes are a more potent means of getting tomato benefits......

Flavor 20 ounces of water with 1 ounce lemon juice concentrate sweetened with a 3 ounces of of grape or apple juice.... sip it slowly and constantly throughout practice to avoid a big sugar blast.

Don't hitch your wagon to just one pony. Eat a small snack one hour before practice and mid way through practice. Try to put together a combination that provides 40 protein calories, 80 fat calories, and 40 sugar calories in the form of complex carbohydrates.

Maintaining your energy and hydration through both strategies will keep you pretty skippy through the whole practice, and leave you with some reserves to help you make it to dinner, or midnight snack if you train too long. ;)
 
After recommendations here, we've done chocolate milk after practices for dd and they're great. She gets sick if she eats in the car, but the chocolate milk gives her protein, sugar, and liquid (though she's usually already gone through a lot of water at practice) until we can get home for a real meal. I'm not sure about drinking milk during practice though; might it bother your stomach? But I LOVE the idea of lime juice in water. I get sick of plain water too, and that might be just the thing. I think I'll try it at work tonight.
 
We frequently do chocolate milk as well. It is a good thing for her to have on the drive from swim team to gymnastics practice and is a good thing to have at swim meets. I would give it to her at gym meets but there's that whole prissy outfit, stain factor and those pretty blue floors that we don't have to deal with poolside :)
 
A lot of people use "muscle milk" or other protein drinks. They are high in calories though. There is no subsitute for good ol water. Just make yourself. I love it cause my throat dries out. I drink nearly a gallon per practice. I learned in medic school if you ae going to drink gatoraid you should do half water half gatoraid

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We use chocolate (soy) milk for after practice/workout.

DD just drinks water, but I share your dislike of too much water during a workout. One thing I've learned is that while I normally prefer water ice cold, that's less preferably in the midst of a workout, and tends to tick my stomach off. Room temperature water is better in that context. Alternately, try mixing a little bit of something with the water - Gatorade or whatever you prefer. It doesn't take much to give it enough flavor, but not turn it into a sugar delivery system. You might not like it as much at first, but it's easy to get used to, and a little sugar and salt makes it easier on my stomach. Also note that many of the major brands (Gatorade included) have now started varying their offerings. You can get them with much less sugar, and can often get them with all natural ingredients instead of the normal chemical cocktail they offer. Even then, water them down.

If you're getting dizzy, you might want to look at your diet before working out. Try to ensure that you're getting more complex carbs that will provide longer lasting energy.
 

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