Staying hydrated
> Whether you opt for a carbonated or still drink, choose one that is designed to replenish lost calories and nutrients
THIRST is how our body tells us that we need to drink and how much to drink. It is an evolutionary trait of an organism that is mainly water and needs water to survive.
On average, we lose approximately a cup of water from exhaling, two cups of water from sweating, and six cups of water through healthy bodily functions.
We also lose electrolytes – minerals like sodium and potassium that regulate the body’s fluids.
Of course, we get most of it back from the beverages that we drink, but about 20% of the water we absorb comes from food, especially fruits.
Let’s say it is a hot day and you are thirsty for a cold drink. You open the fridge and are given two options: still drinks or carbonated drinks. Which one will you choose?
Those who are health conscious will most likely go straight for the still drinks as carbonated drinks have a bad reputation of being sugar laden and bad for you. But that is a misconception. Technically, carbonated water is water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved.
Invented in 1767 by Joseph Priestley in Leeds, England, carbonated drinks were meant to be a digestion aid.
Still drinks, on the other hand, do not have bubbles and are slightly easier to be absorbed by the body. They are also much easier to drink quickly than carbonated beverages but a little boring by comparison.
Some carbonated drinks such as club soda, soda water, sparkling water, or fizzy water do not contain any additional sugar. Nevertheless, they are more acidic than still water and some, more than others.
The acidity does not affect the human body adversely, but it can affect your teeth.
Then you have your sodas and pop which are sugared, have colourings and flavourings disguised as a refreshing drink.
However, there is a third type of carbonated drink, one that is designed to replenish lost calories and nutrients during exercise.
Lucozade Sport is an example of a beverage that contains sugar in the right dose needed to replenish energy lost through physical activities.
So, how would you choose what to drink?
The folks behind Lucozade Sport say your choice of whether to consume a still or carbonated drink should depend not on the carbonation but on the other ingredients of the drink, as well as the activity you are engaging in where hydration is required. As for the acidity level of carbonated drinks, it is quickly neutralised. The human body robustly maintains pH equilibrium via acid-base homoeostasis and will not be affected by consumption of plain carbonated water. A solution to prevent tooth decay because of the carbonation is to use a straw. Lucozade Sport was the official isotonic drink for the annual Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon. For those who missed the event on Sunday, they can still try Lucozade Sport in both carbonated and still variants. The drinks are available at all retail outlets nationwide. For more, visit the Lucozade Sport website.