Sports drink vs. Energy Drink
July 23, 2007 by PFIThat is a great question that confuses a lot of people. Personal trainers need to know the differences between energy drinks and sports drinks so they can provide the right answer when asked this question. An energy drink usually implies that it contains legal stimulants (caffeine, guarana, taurine, various forms of ginseng, ect) or supplements to increase your energy levels. Some of these supplements are unproven and may be potentially dangerous so beware! Certain aspects of sports drinks make them ideal for use and not all energy drinks share those elements. Energy drinks may be higher in sugar than recommended and that can reduce digestion and upset your stomach too. The stimulants in energy drinks may cause stomach irritation and the increase in heart rate is undesirable as well. Most energy drinks won’t contain essential electrolytes required for exercise. I’d recommend using a sports drink or beverage and not an energy drink before or during exercise. For more info: http://www.gssiweb.com/Article_Detail.aspx?articleid=310
