Sports drink are a $4 billion industry鈥攁nd for good reason. An athlete鈥檚 power and speed begin dropping significantly with just a 3 to 4 percent decrease in body fluid, which is not uncommon during a long race. Most athletes turn to energy drinks to rehydrate, knowing that water alone can鈥檛 replace lost sodium and carbs, but it turns out that the added fuel and electrolytes found in most sports beverages could be slowing you down.
In a 2009 study at the University of Birmingham, researchers found that drinks with just a 3 percent concentration of carbohydrates鈥攕ignificantly less than what you鈥檒l find in, say, the original Gatorade or Powerade鈥攑rovided faster fluid absorption for athletes than both water alone and high-sugar beverages. Additional studies have since backed the less-is-more conclusion.
Check out the chart to the left for a breakdown of the pros and cons of five new hydration products鈥攁nd one old standby.