Let’s get this out of the way before you read any further: water isn’t included on this list! It’s something you should be drinking without needing someone to tell you why. The three other drinks are in addition to your normal water intake. They provide unique nutritional benefits to help you before, during, and after your exercise routines.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a look at the drinks!
Protein Shakes
Regular exercise means you need to up your protein intake for a couple of reasons. Mainly, it helps repair your muscles, so they get stronger and don’t feel as sore. This is how you see nice gains – but it also helps you perform better in your next workouts because you’re not as sore.
Most of your protein should come from eating right and getting the proper food in your system. Nevertheless, some of you can struggle to meet your protein intake, which is why protein shakes are a great drink to have. They give you 20g of protein right away after a workout – just be sure to find some that are low fat and low calories.
Probiotic Drinks
The ironic thing about protein is that it can lead to some digestive distress. The more protein you eat, the more likely you are to feel a bit bloated and gassy. Also, if you’re following a healthy diet, then you’re eating more greens and fiber, which can also make you feel a bit more bloated than usual.
As such, probiotic drinks become a great tool in your health arsenal. One of the biggest probiotic drinks benefits is that they ease your digestion and can help with bloating. Drink one after your main meal, and you’ll see less gassiness on a regular basis. You also benefit from better digestive health, which is good for your overall immune system and wellness.
Electrolyte Drinks
Your body gets rid of a lot of water when you exercise – it’s how it cools you down and prevents overheating. However, when you sweat a lot, you also lose many of your body’s essential electrolytes: sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc.
While water helps to replace what you lost during a workout, it doesn’t replenish your electrolytes. That’s why you might feel tired or a bit dizzy after exercising – so you could benefit from electrolyte drinks. They replace lost electrolytes to aid hydration and keep you feeling good after working hard.
One thing to note about electrolyte drinks is that you don’t need very powerful ones. Try to avoid ones with massive amounts of sodium in them, as they can cause you to take in too much salt. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water when taking electrolytes.
Adding these three drinks to your diet can aid your exercise routine in several ways. Protein shakes and electrolytes improve recovery, which helps you perform consistently in your next workouts. Probiotics deal with any digestive issues, allowing you to stick to a healthier diet without feeling any negative side effects. You don’t need to drink these beverages, but they can certainly help!