Hydration Help

June 14, 2012
We all know drinking water is important for dancers, especially when the temperature is sky-high and you’re soaked in sweat during class. But with all the benefits sports drinks claim to have, should you be supplementing your hydration with those, too? DS consulted dance nutrition experts Marie Elena Scioscia, MS, RD, CDN, of The Ailey School, and Peggy Swistak, MS, RD, CD, of Pacific Northwest Ballet, to get the lowdown on popular sports beverages.
Coconut Water

Claim: The high potassium content in coconut water makes it a better choice than sports drinks for optimal performance.

Verdict: It’s not bad, but it’s no miracle drink.

Coconut water is fairly low in calories and has more potassium per serving than a banana—so if you like the taste, it’s a good choice. “But if you’re exercising heavily and sweating profusely, you’ll do better with a traditional sports drink like Gatorade for electrolyte replacement,” Scioscia explains.

Vitaminwater

Claim: In addition to providing vitamins, different flavors promise “energy,” “revival,” “glow” and more.

Verdict: The claims are mostly false and the vitamins are most likely unnecessary.

“If you’re eating well, taking a multivitamin and drinking vitaminwater, you could be getting too many vitamins, which is just as dangerous as too few vitamins,” Scioscia says. Swistak adds, “The labeling of ‘energy,’ ‘weight loss,’ ‘antioxidants,’ etc., is misleading—there’s not enough of any ingredient to do anything of the sort.”

Coffee and Energy Drinks

Claim: The caffeine will give you energy.

Verdict: Depending on how your body reacts to caffeine, that’s possibly true. But these aren’t the best choices for hydration and should be used sparingly.

“Caffeinated drinks could help rev up your energy, but too much caffeine can dehydrate you and waste B vitamins,” says Scioscia. Overloading on caffeine can also cause “irritability, shakiness or an upset stomach,” Swistak says.

“Exotic” Fruit Drinks (like Fuze and açaí-berry drinks)

Claim: Like vitaminwater, these drinks promise a variety of things, such as weight loss and increased stamina.

Verdict: They won’t hurt you, but they won’t help you much, either.

“None of the claims these kinds of drinks make have been proven true,” Swistak says. “They might taste good though, so there’s no problem with drinking them—if you can afford the extra calories.”

Gatorade

Claim: Gatorade replenishes electrolytes lost through sweat and stimulates thirst so you’ll be sure to drink enough to rehydrate.

Verdict: It lives up to its claim! Gatorade is one of your best options.

Gatorade is great for replacing electrolytes, according to Scioscia. Not only will it quench your thirst, but it will also prevent an electrolyte imbalance, enabling you to keep dancing. The low-calorie version is your best bet.

The Sweaty Truth

Electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium, keep your muscles and nerves functioning, which is why they’re so important for dancers. You lose electrolytes when you sweat—in fact, you may even find that your skin gets salty because of the sodium leaving your body. Failure to replenish your electrolytes can cause cramping, nausea, light-headedness and spasms. Yikes!

The Bottom Line

Most fluids you drink (excluding alcohol) will prevent dehydration. Even watery fruits and veggies can help keep you hydrated. But be wary of advertising claims on sports beverages. Unless you’re in dire need of electrolytes, your safest bet is plain old water—zero calories, zero potentially harmful side effects! You can always add a slice of lime or lemon for flavor.