Are Electrolyte-Loaded Sports Drinks Healthy?

There’s no shortage of neon-colored sport and electrolyte drinks sitting on store shelves. Those bottles are filled with promises of improved physical performance, faster workout recovery and less fatigue.

But is guzzling down electrolyte-loaded drinks actually good for you? They can be if they’re consumed at the right time, says sports health dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CCSD, LD.

So, let’s break it down.

What is an electrolyte?

Electrolytes are essential minerals that help bring balance to your body. Your cells use electrolytes to conduct electrical charges that keep your internal systems running at peak efficiency.

These minerals play a role in maintaining your body’s fluid levels, turning nutrients into energy and supporting brain function, heart rhythm and muscle control.

So clearly, electrolytes are a BIG deal. Thankfully, your body can maintain its supply of electrolytes through what you eat and drink, says Patton. Three minerals that are key electrolytes are:

• Sodium.
• Potassium.
• Magnesium.

Losing electrolytes

Even though you routinely replace spent electrolytes through your diet, it’s very easy to deplete your body’s inventory of these essential minerals and create an imbalance.

A tough workout, for instance, can drain your electrolytes sweaty drop by sweaty drop. An illness also can take electrolyte levels down a few notches, particularly if you’re experiencing a fever, diarrhea or vomiting.

Dehydration often goes hand in hand with the loss of electrolytes, particularly in the examples mentioned above. “Whether you’re sweating from exercise or sweating from a fever, you’re losing electrolytes and fluid — and over time it will cause dehydration,” says Patton.

That can lead to muscle cramps, headaches, brain fog and an overall lousy feeling.

The benefits of sports drinks

Sports drinks are formulated to quickly replenish lost electrolytes and rebalance your system — particularly after a workout session.

Many sports drinks contain 250 milligrams or more of sodium, your body’s most abundant electrolyte. That hit of sodium is BIG. In fact, it’s more than 10% of what’s typically recommended for your daily sodium intake. (Learn more about sodium in sports drinks.)

Electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and chloride also typically appear on sports drink nutrition labels and ingredient lists.

When to use sports drinks

Not every workout needs to end with a raised sports drink, cautions Patton.

If you’re working out for an hour or less with moderate intensity under normal weather conditions, water is typically all you need to rehydrate. “H2O will get the job done in most cases,” she says.

But you might want to consider an electrolyte-enhanced sports drink after or during your workout if:

• You’re exercising for more than an hour or with elevated intensity. (There are even specialty drinks for endurance and ultra-endurance athletes with higher levels of electrolytes.)
• It’s very hot outside, which can turn your sweat glands into faucets.
• You’re naturally a heavy sweater who creates puddles where you stand.

A sports drink also can be beneficial when you’re sick in order to keep hydration and electrolyte levels where they need to be. (Consider zero- or low-calorie options when you’re ill to minimize intake of sugar, which can work against your body’s natural infection-fighting process.)

Should kids drink sports drinks?

It’s best not to make sports drinks a go-to option for children.

Kids participating in physical activity typically don’t need the extra boost offered by sports drinks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Drinking water is often enough to address any potential dehydration.

(However, those rules can be bent if your child participates regularly in endurance or high-intensity sports. Set the bar high, though.)

In general, kids gulp down sports drinks too much. Research shows that many children often choose these colorful and highly marketed beverages for basic refreshment instead of nutrient replenishment purposes.

Drinking sugar-sweetened sports drinks as a simple beverage adds unnecessary calories to your daily diet and can contribute to obesity. (Many consider extra weight for the younger generation a public health crisis.)

If your child is sick, it’s best to opt for an oral rehydration solution (such as Pedialyte®) formulated for youngsters instead of a sports drink. They’re typically lower in sugar and higher in electrolytes.

Final thoughts

Sports drinks serve a definite purpose. After a tough workout, sipping (or chugging) one down can help restore your body’s electrolyte levels and keep you from experiencing the effects of dehydration.

But remember that sports drinks are specialty drinks. It’s not something to grab when you’re just thirsty. (Besides, it’s also possible to overdo it and consume too many electrolytes — and that’s not a good thing.)

“During or after a long workout, a sports drink is a great choice to ensure proper hydration for maximum performance and recovery,” says Patton. “That’s where you’re going to see the benefits.”