Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 66, January 2015 | Seite 38

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Nutrition

Quench Your Thirst
While good old H2O is always going to be a runner’s tried and trusted whilst
training or on race day, there are also healthy alternatives that can keep your
body hydrated and replenished. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

W

hen you run, your internal temperature rises and blood-flow to the skin increases. This
transfers heat away from the body’s inner core and water is released through sweat,

which means that you need to replenish your body’s water, electrolytes and sodium
chloride (salt). So what are your options when hydrating? A sports drink with added electrolytes
rehydrates well while adding a combination of sodium and carbohydrates, which in turn help more
water to be absorbed. (When you’re not training, it’s also vital to keep your body hydrated in order
to keep energy levels up.)

These days the market is flooded with sports drinks, many with extra punches of concentrate and
sugar, but there are a few simple but healthy and effective alternatives you could look at:
• Coconut Water contains essential electrolytes, punching more potassium than a banana!
There is no added sugar or fat, and it’s one of the healthiest options to replenish lost nutrients.
It contains easily digestible carbs from natural sugars, which makes it an easy alternative to
sports drinks.
• Green Tea gives you a natural caffeine kick and antioxidants increase the body’s ability to burn
fat as fuel, which improves muscle endurance. For the endurance jun