Sports drinks, Vitamin Water, etc.
First of all, please do not replace clean pure water, with Vitamin Water. You are adding a ton of sugar and/or chemicals to that healthful water and turning it into something that hurts your body. The sports drinks out there like Gatorade and Powerade are very high in sugar (some more than a soda), typically contain food dyes and other additives that rob our health vs. revive it. To get the same nutrients replenishment as you do from Gatorade, but without the extra crap, make a green smoothie after strenuous exercise. Spinach and Kale provide calcium and magnesium and you can throw in some swiss chard to replenish the natural sodium your body needs. Add in ½- ¾ of a banana and you have a sports drink that is not only replenishing the electrolytes you diminish through exercise, but you have gained so many additional nutrients your body needs as well.
If you are just looking for a flavored beverage instead of boring old water, try adding fruit to it, a mint leaf, peppermint or orange essential oils, cucumber slices or any other whole food you would like to add. I personally enjoy water with cucumbers and or frozen berries in mine.
Just remember, your body needs ½ of your body weight in ounces as a minimum. If you are drinking any of the above or alcohol or caffeine, your body needs additional water to repair any damage your body caused by the ingredients.
Cheers to your health! (Clinking with my water glass)
