Photo: Detroit Lions

There might be a plethora of sport drink options on the market, but some athletes still aren't hydrating properly. This is true in all sports and at every level, but it's particularly a problem in high school football. Last year, heat stroke was the cause of death for four young football players -- but it's preventable.

That's Fit had a chance to talk to about hydration with Matthew Stafford, former Georgia Bulldog and current Detroit Lions quarterback after going #1 in the 2009 NFL draft. Having grown up in Texas and played college football in the South, Stafford has always been cognizant of the importance of getting enough water. He's now taking part in a joint effort between Gatorade and the NFL called Beat the Heat.

That's Fit: Have you had any scares or personal experience with severe dehydration?

MS: I had never really cramped or had a problem, and then, when [Georgia] was playing South Carolina, I cramped up so badly. I had both legs going at the same time -- it was scary, I couldn't even walk. I realized then how important it is to not just hydrate during the game, but before.

The Gatorade monarchy is over, a plethora of sports drinks rule the aisles these days But with all those colorful labels, wild flavors and new brands seeking your attention, buying the right sports drink can be confusing.

Over at this Runners World video, sports dietician Leslie Bonci says proper hydration requires a beverage with the right balance of three important ingredients -- carbohydrates, sodium and potassium. Eight ounces of sports drink should contain:

• 14-15 grams of carbohydrates -- more is not better -- extra carbs won't transfer to your muscles, they'll slosh around in your stomach.
• At least 110 mg sodium
• 35-50 mg potassium
  
  

Don't let Crazy Wild Berry or Flashy Grape guide your sports drink purchase. Check the label instead.

Source

For years, Gatorade has been promoting its electrolyte-based drink as the athlete's choice. When we exercise, we lose a great deal of these body salts in our sweat, making their replenishment almost equally important as fluids. This is where Gatorade (and in recent years, Powerade) has excelled over other so-called sports drinks, and probably why most football coaches don't have tubs of Ensure dumped over their heads.

But in an ever-changing economy, many people find their disposable income to be less and less worth spending on things like sports drinks (that's assuming there's any disposable income to speak of at all). So, if you'd prefer to tuck your money away for what you consider to be more worthwhile things than electrolyte-replacing sports drinks, you can always make your own version of it at home.

Men's Health magazine suggests the following DIY recipe for a Gatorade-like, isotonic drink:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 large pinch of salt

While it may not taste as good as Fierce Berry or Frost Glacier Freeze Gatorade, it should still provide you with approximately the same replenishment as those more expensive drinks.

Source

Depending on how long you workout and exactly what kind of exercise you're doing, your body needs different things from you. Hydration is important across the board, but when it comes to drinking fluids there's a big difference between water and sports drinks. Do you need the calories and electrolytes? What about protein? Is plain water better in some situations?

Experts say that if you're exercising for an hour or less at one time all you really need is water. Only when your body is subjected to long endurance-type activities for more than an hour is it in need of a calorie boost and electrolyte replacement. If you're drinking calories during or after a shorter workout you're really just canceling out all the energy you just burned!

Source