Did you know...that sports drinks can be just as bad as soft drink?
If you watch any sport on TV, or pay attention to advertising you might end up thinking that sports drinks are important for peak performance -- but they should definitely be consumed with caution!
If only I could get enough electrolytes, I could become an Olympic champion!
-Sam Rosehill
Drinks like Gatorade, Powerade are marketed at athletes and claim to provide the best "hydration and fuel" for "optimal performance". These brands are everywhere. Check out the logos on the bottles consumed by footballers after a try, or on the drinks cart at the cricket. These products are front and centre in supermarket and convenience store fridges, and are often thought of as a healthier choice compared with soft drink because of their association with sport.
What are the ingredients in sports drinks?
According to Sports Dieticians Australia, which is Australia’s peak professional body for dietitians specialising in sports nutrition, the important ingredients in sports drinks are carbohydrates, electrolytes, and flavouring.
Carbohydrates in this case means sugar. In most sports drinks, this usually consists of sucrose (which is 50% glucose, and 50% fructose) and straight glucose.
Electrolytes are the addition salt, usually consisting of sodium and potassium. Conveniently enough, sodium actually encourages fluid intake. This literally means that these drinks can actually make you more thirsty. On the bright side, these electrolytes also replace the minerals that are lost through sweating, and do help with fluid retention and rehydration.
Flavour is just what it sounds like, and is added to make it taste better.
Source: https://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/factsheets/fuelling-recovery/sports-drinks/
If we unpack the claims made by sports drink marketers, they're all pretty much true and correct. If you're an elite athlete (or even a weekend warrior), you probably do need to rehydrate quickly. Sugar is a source of energy, so it certainly fuels exercise and optimal performance, and most people would agree that sports drinks taste pretty good.
If you would like to discuss your diet, lifestyle and oral health needs book a consultation with Dr Kate Amos or Dr Sam Rosehill at Ethical Dental on 6652 3185 or book online.
To learn more about how your diet may be affecting your oral health check out our articles Did you know… Diet soft drink is harmful to oral health?, Alcohol Consumption and Oral Cancer and ‘Did you know… too much dietary acid causes tooth erosion?.
Like most things in life, if sports drinks are consumed in moderation they are unlikely to impact your general or oral health. However from a dental perspective, anything that has a lot of sugar or acid can cause tooth decay and dental erosion.
To put this into perspective, a bottle of Gatorade has a pH of 2.9, and 5 teaspoons of sugar. A bottle of Coca Cola has a pH of 2.5, and 9 teaspoons of sugar.
If the pH of a food or liquid is below 5.5, then our teeth start losing some of their mineral structure. So if sports drinks are being consumed regularly, then this can lead to an unhealthy oral environment and a higher risk of dental disease.
Did you know sports drinks can contain just as much sugar, and be just as acidic as soft drink?
So should everyone avoid sports drinks?
Sensible advice from sports dietician Girard Eberle on the argument recommends that most people exercising for up to 60 minutes should stick to water. Elite or endurance athletes may benefit from rehydrating with sports drinks, but it should be noted that if you are exercising to lose weight -- then immediately drinking a lot of sugar is not going to be very helpful.
If you are an elite or endurance athlete and do plan on consuming sport drinks, make sure your oral hygiene is exceptional, don't brush your teeth within 30 minutes of consuming the sport drinks (or follow sips of sport drinks with sips of water). We also recommend using a remineralising toothpaste like Pronamel, and you consider an additional remineralising agent like Tooth Mousse.
If you would like to discuss your oral health, then you can click here to schedule a consultation at our Coffs Harbour or Dorrigo locations, or call us on 6652 3185
