• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

As school activities and sports ramp up, be sure to stay hydrated

August 23, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The beginning of a new school year is full of fresh starts.

It’s also a time when many school teams begin to kick into high gear — creating lots of opportunities to work up a sweat and get thirsty.

There are team tryouts, practices and, of course, games and tournaments.

By checking this chart, you can see that a piece of cheese and sunflower seeds, or peanut butter on a bagel, have more sodium and potassium than a sports drink. (Courtesy of Michigan State University Extension)

Sports drinks are a popular way to slake a thirst, and they do serve an important purpose. But most recreational athletes and exercisers don’t lose the level of electrolytes that warrant drinking a sports drink.

Most of us are better off with water.

Sports drinks were designed primarily to help elite athletes to stay hydrated and to improve their performance.

Of course, cool packaging, notable flavor names and bright colors do make them appealing to youths.

Just remember, the purpose of sports drinks is to replenish electrolytes as they are lost through perspiration, and this electrolyte depletion happens at an extreme level.

In some circumstances, sports drinks are the better choice.

For instance, if your child is outside in intense heat for an hour or more while doing vigorous activity, such as long-distance running or soccer, sports drinks will provide hydration faster because the glucose and sodium they contain help the body absorb water faster than just the water on its own.

But, if your child is active outside for less than an hour and is doing intermittent physical activity, or is simply riding a bike, they are better off with water.

Sports drinks are mostly water, with the addition of carbohydrates, sodium and potassium.

Food sources have these, too.

So, to replace carbohydrates after an intense workout, you can eat a piece of fruit instead, such as a banana or orange, which gives additional nutrients as well, and doesn’t have added sugar.

A Yale study found that more than one in four American parents considered sports drinks to be healthy for kids. But they actually are considered a sugar-sweetened beverage, a category that is shared with soda, energy drinks and flavored coffees.

A 20-ounce bottle of a sports drink has about 34 grams of added sugar.

Therefore, sports drinks are not meant to be a substitute for water unless the circumstances call for it — again, consider the intensity of the exercise and the time in the heat.

Remember, healthy snacks, without so much added sugar, can replace electrolytes, too.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Published August 24, 2022

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Interfaith Memorial Service

January 26, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

… [Read More...] about Interfaith Memorial Service

Mattamy Homes Welcomes Newest Community in Chapel Crossings

January 25, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Mattamy Homes is excited to open its newest community, Timberdale at Chapel Crossings, in the Chapel Crossings … [Read More...] about Mattamy Homes Welcomes Newest Community in Chapel Crossings

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

02/04/2023 – Growing African Violets

The UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, 36702 State Road 52 in Dade City, will host a seminar on growing African violets on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. For information and to register, visit EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 02/04/2023 – Growing African Violets

02/04/2023 – Historical Association

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Participants can discover and discuss historical events, places and people of Zephyrhills and Pasco County. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 02/04/2023 – Historical Association

02/04/2023 – Republican Women’s Club

The Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club will meet on Feb. 4 at 9 a.m., at The Groves Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes. The guest speaker will be Commissioner Jack Mariano. Breakfast will be served (cost ranges from $5 to $11). The meeting is open to the public. For information, email Sandy Graves at   … [Read More...] about 02/04/2023 – Republican Women’s Club

02/04/2023 – Rescue meet-and-greet

Carters Canine Rescues will be at the Connerton Market Days on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 21100 Fountain Garden Road in Land O’ Lakes, in the clubhouse. Three of the shelter’s rescues will be on site and available for a meet-and-greet. There also will be a basket raffle with proceeds going to the shelter. … [Read More...] about 02/04/2023 – Rescue meet-and-greet

02/05/2023 – Make a bird feeder

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a DIY bird feeder class on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., for kindergarten through third grade. All materials will be provided. Parents should keep in mind that some of the materials used for this program may contain ingredients that could trigger allergies. Masks are recommended but not required. Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 02/05/2023 – Make a bird feeder

02/07/2023 – Dulcimer lessons

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., will host free mountain dulcimer lessons on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. The dulcimer will be provided. The class is limited to 12 persons. Walk-ins are welcome if you bring your own dulcimer. Registration is required by calling 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 02/07/2023 – Dulcimer lessons

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: