Wellbeing Notices

Do I Really Need Sports Drinks? 

Melbourne GP and spokesperson for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Dr. Abhi Verma said non-athletes should limit their sports drink intake because of the high sugar content in some products.

“There is a concern that a significant amount of sugar, especially with existing health conditions, could be unhealthy,” he said. 

“If you were exercising 30-60 minutes a day a few times over the course of the week, then sticking to water would be the way to go.”

“There is no significant benefit to using sports drinks for amateur athletes.”

Instead, Dr. Verma recommends drinking milk for hydration. Other healthier alternatives include sugar-free cordial, fruit juices, and whole fruits such as watermelon.

Healthier alternatives to sports drinks:

• Milk or milk-based smoothies. Milk contains all the essential nutrients and electrolytes to rehydrate and recover after exercise;
• Watery fruits such watermelon, oranges or grapes. Eating fruit, or drinking freshly squeezed juice, is great way to hydrate before, in between, or after a training session;
• If you are sick of plain water, you could try adding a squeeze of lemon or reaching for a sugar-free cordial. Consume acidic drinks through a straw to minimise dental problems.