Question

How do hypotonic sports drinks work?

Answer 1

Sports drinks are liquids that are specially made before or during exercise to help people rehydrate. They are typically rich in the most productive supply of sugar, carbohydrates. Sports beverages typically include sweeteners and preservatives, as well as carbohydrates that are essential in preserving fitness and sports efficiency.

Complete answer:
Based on their dosage relative to the human body, or tonicity to give it a technical name, sports energy drinks are broken down into three distinct groups. Isotonic, Hypotonic and Hypertonic.

-Hypotonic liquids have a lower liquid, sugar and salt content than blood. Hypotonic beverages have a lower glucose and salt content than blood. This ensures that for rapid hydration and electrolyte release, they are absorbed into the bloodstream at a quicker rate.
-Hypotonics can also contain carbohydrates, helping to add to the overall consumption of sugar.
When we liquid a hypotonic drink, the fluid travels through the intestinal walls and through the blood vessels by osmosis. This indicates fast rehydration, as the drink is easily ingested into the lining of the stomach and absorbs the dissolved water efficiently. The chance of bloating, cramps and the feared GI distress that can also come with other energy drinks is much smaller.
-Hypotonic drinks will also provide us with a fast top-up of electrolytes, essential salts and minerals lost in sweat to better maintain muscle activity and stabilise our fluid levels.
-To supplement normal carbohydrate consumption and top-up muscle glycogen reserves, generally consumed post-workout. It can be taken to satisfy the heavy energy needs at ultra-distance races, but must be used to substitute missing fluids in tandem with Isotonic beverages.

Note: Although the best alternative for rehydrating the body is water, drinking large amounts can create an electrolyte deficiency in the body. This disease is known as water poisoning and it can be fatal, but it is very rare. It happens as vast amounts of plain water are drunk to replace the fluid and electrolytes lost by either hot weather or exercise, or a mixture of the two, caused by excessive sweating.
The resulting low electrolyte concentration will induce overhydration, which disrupts the work of nerve cells. Extreme hydration can result in disoriented activity, epilepsy, coma or even death.Many sports beverages consist of ingredients that replenish fluids and electrolytes in a ratio close to that normally present in the human body to reduce the chance of water poisoning. Some materials, however, contain low electrolyte concentrations, so their over intake could also create an imbalance of these minerals.