The Great Debate: Gatorade or Water

If there is one thing almost everyone who has ever done serious mountain biking knows, it is the value of good hydration. In fact, the matter of hydration is so important that not taking care to make sure you are well hydrated can lead to some serious health effects. A person who begins to go through the process of dehydration loses energy, experiences poor cognitive function (commonly refered to as “spacing out”), and runs the risk of disastrous health problems such as kidney or liver failure. What many people do not realize is that the effects of dehydration can begin to occur within minutes of engaging in any exerting activity. Luckily, there are many easy ways to counter dehydration that are as simple as making sure you have a water bottle full of water and you drink it often during your ride.

Not only is water important, but there are also several things you should avoid just before engaging in any heavy exertion like mountain biking. One of the biggest mistakes bikers make is drinking soda either before or on the ride. The reason soda is so bad is not the caffeine content, nor the sugar content (both of those are actually positives in small amounts) but the high sodium content. Sodium is a natural dehydrator and will dry up a good deal of the bodies’ natural water reserves as it makes its way through your system.

So the natural question is where does Gatorade fit into the whole mess? Well, actually Gatorade is a great thing to have on the trail. It contains carbohydrates, sugars, and salts that the body loses during heavy exertion. In fact, because of the formula used in Gatorade it is actually better than straight water while on the trail. Where many people run into problems is using Gatorade at times when it is not beneficial, and could be harmful.

It may not make much sense, but the fact of the matter is that Gatorade is not a good idea unless you are involved in heavy exertion. The reasons for this are the same reasons Gatorade is so good on the trail. When you are not involved in heavy exertion you do not lose the things that Gatorade replenishes. You are not using carbohydrates, you are not burning sugars, and you are not sweating out the bodies’ salt supplies. So when you take that great big gulp of your favorite flavor you are actually giving the body more than it needs, and when the body gets more than it needs it tries to store it. In other words, it becomes fat or excess sugar floating around in the blood stream causing damage to blood veins and other parts of your internal structure. Over enough time this can lead to obesity and diabetes no matter how active a lifestyle you maintain.

So what is the best policy to remain well hydrated during the trail? Well, a good rule of thumb is to drink 16 or more ounces of water before you ride, keep a Gatorade or other sports drink handy for the ride, and when the ride is over drink some more water. This will keep you full of all the right minerals, keep enough water in the body, and provide long term energy for even the toughest of trails. Remember that while your body is tough, taking care of it will help make sure it is around for a little bit longer.

Related Posts

• January 15, 2009 -- ZeroGoo Hydration Bladder Dryer Review
• July 31, 2008 -- Dehydration, the Forgotten Enemy