What we wear, drive, ride is a matter of personal choices. It’s no different when it comes to hydrating for performance.

What we drink is a matter of personal choice – some only drink tap water while others swear by the latest hydration product. How much we drink is also personal – some drink very little, while others gulp bottles at-a-time. The challenge with the latter choice is that most of us don’t know how much fluid our bodies really need to perform at their best.

The reality is beverages are not created equal. Make it personal so your body gets what it needs to perform.

On September 9th at our Caledon Gran Allenamento, 20 individuals will receive their personal hydration profile from the clinical team at Cleveland Clinic Canada. We will talk hydration level, sweat rate and a number of other quantifiers. You can still be one of the lucky 20 – just register here.

But in the mean-time, here is a sample of some of the data that will be included in the hydration information package that each of our guests will receive at the event.

Why Use Sports Drinks?

Sports drinks help replace fluids lost from exercise and they provide carbohydrates for energy. They also help replace electrolytes (e.g. sodium and potassium) lost through sweat. In addition, sodium stimulates thirst and fluid retention.

When Not to Use Sports Drinks:

- Exercise duration less than 60 minutes
- Random drinking not related to exercise
- Sipping throughout the day or as a drink with meals

How to Choose a Sports Drinks:

Carbohydrates (sugar): Ideal is 6% carbohydrates (6 g carbs/100 ml of drink). Higher carbohydrate content can lead to cramping or other gut issues due to slower absorption rates.

Electrolytes (sodium, potassium): Ideal is to closely match to the amount lost in sweat (see chart below). The addition of electrolytes can help reduce the risk of over-hydration (hyponatremia) and cramping.

Beverage Comparison Chart