There’s a new sports drink in town, and it’s pushing Gatorade, protein shakesand chocolate milk out of the market to become the ideal post-workout option: coconutwater. U.S. researchers have found that its high levels of electrolytes and antioxidantsmake it a winner. A study from Indiana University Southeast examined Gatorade, Poweradeand coconut water, and found that the latter has roughly five times the amount ofpotassium per liter as the former two. Potassium is a key electrolyte necessary to battlemuscle cramps. However, Gatorade and Powerade were found to have slightly moresodium, which is a key electrolyte necessary for those who perform strenuous workouts andsweat hard. While Gatorade has become the standard in sports recovery, it hasalso come under some scrutiny as athletes become more conscious about sugar intake. Notonly do they fall short in potassium, but Gatorade and Powerade are chock-full of thatsweetness that can add unnecessary calories. Then there’s also the fact that coconutwater is a natural product drawn from inside green coconuts, while sports drinks tend tobe uber-processed concoctions. The American diet tends to be heavy on sodiumand light on potassium, so if you’re looking for balance and a change from sportsdrinks, coconut water is a natural and recommended option that could be even better foryou. Continue Reading

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