The Sports Drink You May Be Throwing Away

You may be unknowingly throwing this sports drink away, and you may even have some in your fridge right now.  The masquerading liquid: pickle juice.  It turns out that the sodium and electrolytes in pickle juice are great at combating cramping and dehydration, especially in hot weather.  Many NFL players and other professional athletes drink this nontraditional beverage during games or training sessions.  Instead of throwing away the leftover juice next time the pickle jar is empty, save the leftover brine for a tough workout.

If the thought of downing the stuff disgusts you, fortunately there are other alternatives.  Coconut water has comparable electrolytes and has excellent health benefits.  Whatever source you choose, the key is to drink more than just water.  A misconception many people have is believing that salt is bad for you and should be avoided at all cost.  True, sodium will make you retain more water, so you should cut back on it if you need to make weight for a match, but your body needs salt.  Drinking lots of water is highly recommended, but if you don't have any salts, you won't have any electrolytes to replace the ones you lose through sweating and urinating.

However, it is certainly possible to overdo it on the sodium.  Too much sodium puts your body in an acidic state, which is harmful for your muscles.  On the other hand, potassium puts your body in an alkaline state.  For optimal strength, you want you to be in an alkaline balance, which means you need more potassium than sodium.  Opt for more fruits and vegetables to get enough potassium.  The key is balance, and fortunately, the more potassium you consume, the more sodium you are allowed to consume.

Don't Throw it away,
Jeff