Are Energy Drinks And Sports Drinks Good For Your Health?
With today's busy lifestyle, it can be tempting to look for a quick fix when it comes to dealing with fatigue. Many people reach for coffee or sugary drinks. Many others now turn to energy drinks to give themselves a quick burst of energy to get through that last task of the day. Even athletes are turning to sports drinks in an attempt to raise their electrolytes and diminish their fatigue. Are either of these healthy for you? Of course, everything should be in moderation, but since this is simply not always possible these days, here are a few things to consider when using energy drinks or sports drinks as well as a few possible alternatives that may be better for your health in the long run. In fact, many people who rely too heavily on sugary drinks tend to require procedures such as liposuction or tummy tucks in order to get their body looking as great as it did before.
ENERGY DRINKS
Energy drinks are drinks that offer an increased feeling of alertness and an overall reduction in tiredness. The way these drinks do this is by providing the consumer with high amounts of stimulating ingredients such as caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng and B vitamins. They also contain high amounts of sugar. All of these contribute to feeling energetic, but only for a short period of time. There is almost always an energy crash as the effects wear off. This crash leads people to consume multiple drinks in one day, which will inevitably lead to weight gain that is hard to shed with exercise alone. In fact, high amounts of caffeine and sugar have been linked to high blood pressure and even heart attacks, which can make exercise and procedures such as liposuction less safe if bodyweight gets out of control. Not only can sugars and the energizing ingredients in these drinks cause high blood pressure, but they can also cause diabetes. For those hoping to lose some weight before they undergo a cosmetic procedure such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, diabetes can lengthen the time it takes you to heal and can make it harder for your body to keep the fat off after a procedure. Of course, even the most amazing results can be destroyed by gaining all the weight back with energy drinks. When you go to the gym, water is truly the best option.
SPORTS DRINKS
Sports drinks are often advertised as a part of a healthy, active lifestyle. They are intended to help athletes to rehydrate themselves and to replenish depleted electrolytes and energy. Sports drinks use a blend of sugar and salts to replenish energy and electrolytes. Studies report that there is no need to use a sports drink unless you have been exercising intensely for at least 90 minutes. For the average person, this is a lot of exercises to justify one sports drink. Without this additional exercise, the sugar will simply turn to fat and could set back your physical fitness goals. Drinking sports drinks on a regular basis without regular intense exercise had been linked to significant weight gain due to the high amounts of sugar. If you think that you could be low on electrolytes, having a glass of coconut water has a much higher percentage of electrolytes and won't cause weight gain due to an excess of processed sugars. By avoiding the sugar, you are also more likely to feel energetic after a trip to the gym instead of exhausted once the sugar wears off.
HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES
There is no quick fix for fighting fatigue. Better lifestyle choices are key to preventing tiredness. Getting more exercise and losing weight can do wonders for improving your body's overall energy needs and your sense of alertness. Even staying properly hydrated can go a long way and helps flush fat from your body, so drinking lots of water is definitely a step in the right direction. If you are truly craving something sweet, a glass of orange juice once in a while is much better for your health as the natural sugar in orange is easier for your body to manage and is less likely to turn to fat. Eating leafy green vegetables and sufficient amounts of protein is another way to ensure that your energy levels remain constant throughout the day. This is especially true for people healing from procedures such as liposuctions and tummy tucks, as your body needs all the energy and nutrition that it can get.
In short, energy drinks and sports drinks are not a good choice, even if you are exercising regularly. They are putting your weight loss progress at risk whether you have had surgery or not. If you want to drink something other than water, low sugar alternatives such as coconut water are a great choice and even orange juice is acceptable. As for sports drinks, these are simply unnecessary for athletes and those who regularly exercise. Choosing a healthy diet will be much more productive. Go on and drink healthy!
