by A.C. Turley

Created on: October 04, 2009

To the average person, sports drinks and energy drinks seem to be nearly synonymous. Both types of beverages advertise under a healthy platform of increasing performance levels to some degree, and both consist of similar ingredients such as high sodium and carbohydrates. The targeted demographics for both drinks even overlap, with sports drinks generally geared toward athletic males between 20-30 years old, and energy drinks promoted heavily to early adults between 18-25. So, what is the real difference between them? When do you choose a sports drink or an energy drink?

To determine that it is necessary to look behind the hype. To begin with, sports drinks have been around since the 1960's when Gatorade was created to help athletes combat the wretched heat in Florida, and from the onset have been focused on enhancing the overall performance of serious athletes by helping with rapid rehydration and refueling the muscles. These drinks claim to be "thirst quenchers" as Gatorade's old campaign slogan used to state (Gatorade is thirst-ade, for that deep down body thirst). This deep quenching is needed because during prolonged physical exertion the human body loses electrolytes, which are "substances that become ions in solution and acquire the capacity to conduct electricity" needed for normal body functioning like connecting synapses in the brain (Stoppler). Specific electrolytes like sodium regulate water in the body, and potassium helps regulate heartbeat and muscle function. The more the body works, the more it loses fluids (sweats), expending electrolytes, which can result in fatigue and dehydration. Water alone is sufficient to rehydrate someone with a typical workout of up to 45 minutes of aerobics, or less strenuous activity, but for more hardcore workouts, water may not be optimal because it actually shuts off the thirst need quicker, possibly leaving the athlete without necessary fluids.

That's where sports drinks come in. Sports drinks like Gatorade, Powerade or Aquis contain combinations of electrolytes and carbohydrates (like fructose and glucose). The electrolytes, particularly sodium, are supposed to encourage the body's thirst even more, making the athlete drink more fluids during the workout thus discouraging dehydration and keeping the athlete's energy up. As US FDA regulations are minimal on these drinks, sodium levels vary, meaning consumers should research which amount is best for their use based on exercise regimen and health factors. Those

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