Best sports drinks in 2020 for weightlifting, running and more

Nuun

Personal trainer and owner of a fitness studio Holly Roser tells CNET that Nuun is the perfect sports drink for hydration and energy, she says. “Made with only electrolytes and caffeine, these little tablets are easy to put in your water and make it a soft drink,” she said, adding that they are great for morning runs because of the content in caffeine.

Nuun’s full line of products promises to help you get through grueling workouts, but Nuun Endurance is specially formulated to support you during a sweat session for 90 minutes or more. It is widely used by marathon runners, triathletes and other long distance practitioners, for professional and recreational purposes.

Each tablet contains 15 grams of sugar, 380 milligrams of sodium and 200 milligrams of potassium, as well as chloride, magnesium and calcium. Together, these ingredients prevent cramps and keep your muscles moving during long workouts.

I have used Nuun Endurance during training for long distance races and it has not disappointed me yet. I usually only use it for runs of 8 miles or more, but I also took out a tablet when I felt I needed more energy for a shorter run.

Liquid I.V.

Let’s do a little math here: what do you get when you have a gym in a warehouse, subtract air conditioning, add summer temperatures and multiply by one of the most intense fitness regimes. The answer: sweat. Lots of sweat.

Lots of sweat means lots of lost electrolytes and IV fluid. The hydration booster says it can help replace what you lose by sweating. According to Liquid I.V., a packet of hydration boosting powder is equivalent to drinking three bottles of water because of something called Cell transport technology – I do not necessarily doubt the allegation, but take it with a grain of salt.

That said, the formula for Liquid I.V. The hydration booster is rooted in medical therapy developed by the World Health Organization called oral rehydration salts.

The hydration booster is not a medical therapy, but as it is based closely on a hydration solution used by major health agencies for decadesI am confident that it can replenish even the most perspiring of CrossFitters.

According to Liquid I.V., salt, sugar, potassium, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and, of course, water, come together in the right amount to provide nutrients to your bloodstream faster than water alone. It is also gluten-free, dairy-free, GMO-free and vegan.

Propel

Low-intensity exercises, like easy walking or cycling, don’t really require a sports drink – you don’t usually put your body through enough stress to need extra calories, sugar or electrolytes, especially if you exercise for less than 60 minutes.

However, it is sometimes pleasant to sip a flavored drink. And if you want to do it, you might as well choose one with certain health benefits. Propel has been around for a while (since 2000) – it is actually part of the Gatorade family. It has probably stood the test of time because it tastes good and has no calories.

Propel revamped its “fitness water” in 2019 with the launch of Propel Vitamin Boost, which contains the same amount of electrolytes as the original Propel but also contains vitamins B3, B5, B6, C and E.

Vitamin Boost contains two grams of sugar, but I’m in favor of that compared to the original Propel, which uses sucralose and acesulfame K for sweetness. I also like that Propel Vitamin Boost is free of dyes or dyes – it’s one of the only renowned sports drinks.

Ultima

Lipsa Shah, certified personal trainer and yoga teacher, recommends Ultima Replenisher as a sports drink for those looking to lose weight because it is sugar and calorie free.

“I turn to Ultima when I have a long day of teaching hot yoga in a room over 100 degrees and personal training,” Shah told CNET. “Electrolytes are essential for muscle function and allow you to do your best and [Ultima] gives you that without the calories. ”

Ultima Replenisher has no sugar or artificial sweeteners – it is sweetened with stevia – and the first ingredient listed on the powder packages is magnesium citrate, which is a good indicator that this product is high quality. Magnesium is one of the electrolytes lost through sweating; that it is the first ingredient on the list means that it is the most common volume ingredient in Ultima Replenisher.

Ultima powder also contains calcium, zinc, manganese, chloride, potassium, sodium and phosphorus – all essential nutrients that need to be regenerated after good sweating.

Powerade

Powerade has just launched new products for the first time in over a decade: the brand’s latest new product was Powerade Zero sugar-free in 2007. The new Powerade Ultra targets people looking to build muscle and strength – with its creatine formula, it should help you do just that.

Powerade Ultra contains the same electrolyte formulas as other Powerade products (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium), but it also includes branched chain amino acids and creatine.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, so they’re essential for new muscle growth. BCAAs have a different structure – a branched chain structure – which makes them more bioavailable. Research shows that drinking BCAA supplements can increase muscle protein synthesis (the process by which muscles develop) up to 22%.

Your muscles naturally produce creatine, but studies have shown that creatine supplements increase muscle growth short term and long term. the The International Society of Sports Medicine called him “The most effective ergogenic nutritional supplement currently available to athletes in terms of increasing high intensity exercise capacity and lean mass during training.”

Harmless harvest

We are becoming super natural here. No, not supernatural – Great natural, as in the most natural drink you can drink during exercise and at the same level as water.

It’s hard to find an all-natural sports drink, as most are packed with artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors. Even sports drinks that do not contain them are still made in factories or laboratories and infused with minerals that may not be as bioavailable as those found in natural products.

Shah recommends Harmless Harvest coconut water to those looking for a truly natural alternative. Although it is not explicitly marketed as a sports drink, Harmless harvest coconut water contains the ingredients you should look for in a sports drink: sugar, sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. The only real ingredient on the bottle, however, is organic coconut water. Coconut contains all of these minerals without the need for fortification.

“It contains all of the electrolytes your body needs without any of the artificial ingredients,” says Shah, who tries to stay as far away from processed foods and drinks as possible. “Not only does coconut water hydrate, it helps your muscles and reduces pain, and coconut water has been better than most energy drinks I have tried in the past.”