2023-07-16 14:24:26
The PRIME energy drink has sparked controversy in the past week, particularly with the warning from Health Canada. These sports drinks contain very high amounts of caffeine, but are they really necessary during physical activity?
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A nutrition expert answers the question live on TVA Nouvelles.
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First, nutritionist and doctoral student in nutrition, Myriam Beaudry reminds us of the importance of making the difference between an energy drink and a sports drink. “Energy drinks will stand out for their very high caffeine content and sports drinks will have more sugars and electrolytes,” she explains.
The duration and intensity of physical activity should be considered before consuming the sports drink.
“For light-intensity physical activity, such as a 1.5-hour walk, the sports drink will not be necessary. On the other hand, if you exercise for more than an hour and a half and if it is very hot, these drinks will become relevant for having more energy with carbohydrates. Their salt content is relevant if you sweat a lot,” adds Ms. Beaudry.
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A disturbing confusion
Sports drinks and energy drinks are nearby in the shops. From there, where is the importance of doing your research well so as not to confuse one with the other. “You have to look at the product you buy, check it. Even more for children, the parent must watch what he is going to buy. Especially for energy drinks that contain a lot of caffeine, which is absolutely not recommended for them,” says the nutritionist.
Such a concentration of caffeine in a single drink is largely inadvisable for children, or even unsafe. “We find between 150 and 180 mg of caffeine. The maximum allowed by Health Canada is 180. For an adult in a day, the maximum of caffeine is 400mg (4-5 cups of coffee) and for children 10 years old, no more than 1-2 soft drinks (regarding 45 mg of caffeine) are recommended”, she comments.
Do sports drinks improve performance?
The electrolytes found in sports drinks are not the factor that improves performance, it will be more the carbohydrates.
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“It is the preferred source of energy for the muscles during physical activity. After 1h30, the fact of replenishing energy reserves with this type of drink helps performance, ”adds the doctoral student in nutrition.
Caffeine can actually create a performance-enhancing effect, but it’s not necessary to buy the drinks sold in stores, according to Ms. Beaudry.
“There are homemade recipes that you can make with water, orange juice, maple syrup and salt. This will perfectly reproduce the ingredients you need for better performance,” concludes the nutritionist.
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