Energy drinks vs sports drinks, which is better?

Have you ever heard of energy drinks and sports drinks before? Just because they both provide energy quickly, many people think these two types of drink are the same. Even though in fact, these two drinks are clearly very different. What are the differences and which is better between energy drinks and sports drinks?

The difference between energy drinks and sports drinks

Different consumption goals

As the name implies, energy drinks are a type of drink that is intended to increase energy, concentration stamina, and endurance. Energy drinks are usually relied on when you need to "refill" energy quickly due to work demands or other activities.

While sports drinks are a type of beverage that is suitable to drink before, during, and after exercising. This is because sports drinks are believed to be able to replace the body fluids and electrolytes that are lost quickly during sports and other strenuous activities.

Different content

As mentioned earlier, energy drinks can make the body more energized and stamina in a short time. That is why this drink contains caffeine as its main energy source.

In addition, energy drinks are also equipped with sugar, B vitamins, herbal extracts such as ginseng, taurine, and L-carnitine. Of course, these ingredients are not found in sports drinks.

Carbohydrates, electrolytes, minerals, sugar, and several vitamins help support the main task of sports drinks. Various types of minerals in sports drinks are potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride. In fact, there are some sports drinks that come with vitamin C and vitamin E.

Different impacts

Caffeine is one of the dangerous ingredients in energy drinks, reported on the Very Well Family page. Not without reason, energy drinks have high amounts of caffeine and sugar which are intended to support the function of the drink itself, namely as a provider of energy and stamina for the body.

Unfortunately, drinking energy drinks too often can lead to concentration problems, nutritional imbalances, and damage to organs in the body. Many studies have found that the high enough caffeine and sugar content in these drinks can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, and an increase in heart rate.

Gradually, all of these things are bad for heart health. In addition, the hobby of drinking energy drinks can make you addicted due to the influence of the caffeine content.

It is different from sports drinks which actually have good benefits. But on the other hand, drinking too much sports drinks is also a bad risk for health. Enough sugar content can damage teeth, and even cause long-term problems if drunk too often. For example diabetes and weight gain.

So, what drink is better?

When viewed as a whole, sports drinks are more recommended to drink than energy drinks. Why? Because the content and function of sports drinks are felt to be better for supporting body functions.

Compared to energy drinks that contain lots of caffeine and sugar, sports drinks are equipped with carbohydrates, electrolytes, and minerals that have a positive effect to restore lost fluids and electrolytes.

However, drinking sports drinks every day is not really recommended for those of you who are not doing sports, are not dehydrated, and are not suffering from diarrhea. The reason is, there is a high enough sugar content in sports drinks.

If you drink it often without supporting activities, this sugar will only accumulate and increase the amount of calorie intake in your body. Over time, this can lead to being overweight.

Conversely, when drunk in sufficient quantities and accompanied by regular exercise, sports drinks can actually provide optimal benefits.