Want a Sports Drink that Works as Hard as You Do?

Many of us reach for a sports drink when we exercise, work in the yard, or just spend a lot of time outside in the summer. We know we’re going to sweat.

But sweat isn’t just water and salt. It’s a mix of vital nutrients that our bodies need. If not replenished, our systems can become unbalanced, and our health can be compromised. The effects may be sudden, in the case of dehydration or heat stroke. Or they may be gradual, in the case of deficiencies that lead to chronic illness or a heart attack.

We all know to stay hydrated. How we do it makes a difference, too.

Why to Avoid Many Sports Drinks

Many athletes, weekend warriors, and Little Leaguers reach for sports drinks that are easy to come by at the grocery or convenience store. Those can be high in sodium and carbohydrates, though. They lack vitamins and minerals. Some are made with artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, or the artificial sweetener called sucralose.

As a Mom, those drinks concerned me, with their neon blue and red coloring and their sugar content. As someone on a health journey the past few years, I’ve started reading more product labels. I did not like what I saw when it came to those drinks.

How could something that’s supposed to be good for me, after I’ve been doing exercise that’s supposed to be good for me, be filled with less-than-good-for-me ingredients?

I’m a proponent of consuming natural foods to refuel during and after exercise. I’ve tried the gels and energy chews during endurance events, but I prefer bananas and trail mix instead of their sweeter, gooier counterparts.

I used to carry water in one bottle on my bicycle. In the other, I carried a lower calorie Gatorade – because it was what I knew and what we had. At that time, I hadn’t studied about the nutrients we lose when we sweat. And I didn’t understand the importance of giving our bodies the essential vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids that we need for optimal health. Powerade would have given me B6, B12, niacin and  a trace of magnesium. Vitaminwater, well, sounds healthy, but read the label – just six vitamins and a highly processed sugar.

Try the Rebound sports drink instead

I learned about a sports drink called Rebound after I became a distributor for a company that sells digital photo books and gifts. (I know, crazy connection, right? Read my disclosure statement here.)  That company was a division of a larger health and wellness company called Youngevity, and its products piqued my own personal interest in health and wellness.

While I trained that year for a 100-mile charity bike, I also started learning about nutritional deficiencies. I learned that Youngevity’s Rebound fx that had no artificial colors and flavors. They had formulated Rebound for an NBA All Star who had used other Youngevity products to regain his health. He wanted a better sports drink to use during and after basketball games, to help him finish strong.

Rebound helped me get through my 100-mile bike ride, and it’s been my family’s go-to sports drink since. I drink it almost daily, during and after workouts. My son uses it during his sports seasons and sometimes takes it to school for lunch. It’s helped him replace sodas and many juices that he consumed. I still cringe when he wants a neon-blue Powerade, but we parents pick our battles. At least he’s not trying to replenish lost nutrients with soda, which actually pull minerals out of our bodies.

Rebound powder, in the single-serve stick pack or 30-serving canister, has only 8.5 grams of sugars and 10 grams of sodium, along with dozens of vitamins and plant-derived mineral elements that are responsible for a wealth of bodily functions. See the ingredients here. It also comes in a can, but the grams of sugar double to 17.

What Rebound contains, and why it’s important:

Potassium and sodium – Most Americans get excessive amounts of sodium in their diets, from processed foods including table salt, and not enough potassium. Heart health requires the right balance. Potassium plays an important role in muscle and nerve function, electrolyte regulation, water balance, and blood pressure control.

Biotin – One of the 8 vitamins in the B-complex, biotin promotes healthy nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver and mouth. It’s important in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. As a co-enzyme, it’s involved with energy production. Biotin converts food to energy by facilitating the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates into glucose and breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Inositol – It helps control fatty buildup in the liver and heart, and it aids in the metabolism of nutrients into energy.

Amino acid complex – They help build and repair tissue in the body, which can help performance and stamina, and aid in recovery time.

Folic acid – This nutrient helps the body make healthy new cells.

Plant-derived mineral elements – Minerals have a role in nearly every bodily function, but our bodies cannot make them. We must get them through foods. But if the topsoil and crops are deficient in minerals, we don’t get them that way, either. Colloidal minerals from plant matter are the easiest to absorb. And while heavy concentrations of copper, selenium and zinc are harmful, trace amounts are essential to human health.

Taurine – An amino acid that supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and minerals in the blood, some studies suggest that taurine may improve athletic performance.

Ginseng – It is a herbal root thought to boost the immune system, concentration, and endurance.

Green tea – With antioxidants and caffeine (though less than coffee), green tea increases physical performance and endurance.

Your Turn

I only promote products that I use and find beneficial. Read my full disclosure policy here. And if you’re interested in trying Rebound for yourself or your family, you can click here to purchase. Or contact me for personal help.

Welcome! I’m Amy, an integrative health coach, offering grace and space for a healthier you. If you liked this article, please subscribe to be the first to get information and ideas that I share.