Beware of Energy Drinks?
Sports Drinks vs. Energy Drinks
Both sports drinks and energy drinks have sugars for immediate energy (unless you choose a diet version). Most sports drinks are not caffeinated. Sports drinks are designed to give the body the right ratio of water, sugar, and salt to continue performing well while exercising and sweating.
Energy drinks have caffeine and other herbal stimulants and are often carbonated. Energy drinks pack more caffeine into less fluid volume -- either as small cans in the case of Red Bull, or larger cans that say they contain more than one serving. Dr. Rollins warns that you are already at the recommended limit of 400 milligrams of caffeine a day with just one energy drink and two cups of coffee. Most of us wouldn't think we are quenching our exercise thirst with coffee, but that's about the concentration of caffeine to fluid you see with energy drinks. Carbonation also doesn't mix well with exercise, as it can lead to burping, nausea, and a bloated feeling.
Too Much Caffeine - Keep a Restroom Handy
Caffeine not only makes you lose more fluids through the urine, it also has a laxative effect. If you have already been sweating and losing fluids that way, you don't want to lose more as urine. If you already had your morning coffee and then you chug energy drinks instead of water or sports drink, you risk becoming dehydrated faster. The laxative effect can be even more distressing if you don't know where the next restroom is on your walking route.
Dangers of Dehydration
Besides the inconvenience of having to use the restroom more often, large doses of caffeine can lead to dehydration. Because everybody reacts differently to fluid intake, sports medicine experts recommend weighing yourself immediately before and after a walk or run. You should weigh the same. If you have lost weight, you weren't drinking enough water or sports drink. If you gained weight, you were drinking too much and might even risk hyponatremia (water intoxication.) To get it right, use the scale!
Drinking Guidelines for Walkers and Runners
What Not to Drink When Walking
Comments
Excellent information. It’s interesting how many things we think of as good for us, or at least not bad, turn out not to be so. When I drink a soft drink, it’s always diet. However, now we hear that the artificial sweeteners may actually trigger hunger and lead to other health problems.
Maybe I need to stick to water, and only in reusable bottles.
“The laxative effect can be even more distressing if you don’t know where the next restroom is on your walking route.”
I don’t drink energy drinks any more and this is why! I was unaware of the potential laxative effect the first few times I drank them and it led to a rather embarrassing situation. Thank goodness my walking route involved the homes of friends and family and I could make a dash for my Mom’s bathroom – that’s all I will say about it!
I never got into this stuff, or soda pop either. I will confess to an addiction to coffee, however. I’ve lived where it’s hot and dry most of my life, so long ago got into guzzling water. Best energy drink of all, and it’s free (well, almost). I’ve published some info about drinking water – http://renotahoe.about.com/od/newrenotahoeresidents/a/tmwawater.htm – with links to this very walking site.
I’ve never tried an energy drink…now I doubt I ever will. Thanks for this great info!
I’m pretty sensitive to caffeine so I limit myself to one cup of coffee a day. I can’t imagine loading up on all the caffeine they put in those energy drinks.
I stay away from caffeine entirely, so there’s no danger here from energy drinks.
I first became aware of Hyponatremia when my DH was diagnosed with it in ICU after his stroke. It does have an extreme potential of death as you mentioned in your article. I wasn’t aware that athlete’s could be affected, though.
I’m so glad to read this! I thought I was the only person to feel horrible if I drank one of those (gross-tasting) energy drinks and then tried to exercise. I’ll take my own natural enthusiasm any day over hyped-up, caffeinated pep.
Good stuff. I tend to stay away from all of this stuff, simply because the taste is so HORRID.
Can I just bring some balance ot this before you all rule Red Bull et al out with self congratulatory remarks just because you dont like the taste. Caffeine is well known in athletic circles to boost competition performance, both physically and psychologically, when taken in doses of around 3 – 5mg/kg upto 1 hour before starting the exercise. I agree that every day may not be a good thing, but it didnt used to be a banned substance for nothing!
There are some energy drinks in the marketplace that are more healthy than others. They are not all created equal.
You just have to be aware more of the ones that give you what I refer to as jolt of energy, then a little while later you are looking for a place to crash.