I am fairly certain that shortly before my Wednesday morning Kickboxing class, the majority of my students are chugging their drink of choice to gain a bit of extra energy for the workout to come. Some will enjoy the steaminess of coffee or tea. Some will endure the winter morning chill mixed with a frosty aluminum can containing one of the many carbonated energy drinks available. And a few will simply choose a well-hyped water packed with vitamins and a splash of flavor. There was a time when choices were limited on liquid energy, but check any store's refrigerator section these days and the selection is colorfully generous. There is no shortage when it comes to a beverage fit for fitness. The trick is determining which beverage is best for your needs, because they do differ in purpose.

One of the main reasons for drinking any energy drink, especially for the purpose of exercise, is its fluidity. Sweat and you will need to replace water in your body. As well, the safest precursor to exercise is hydration in order to maintain good coordination throughout your routine as well as lowering body temperature, heart rate and the perceived rate of exhaustion. The energy drink is good for these and more. However, what is the difference between an electrolyte replacement and an electrolyte replacement with protein? Further, what is the difference between sports water and the carbonated "energy drink".

Electrolyte replacements were created for the person who will be enduring more than an hour of moderate to high intensity exercise. This drink will furnish carbohydrates for replenishing blood sugar in order to sustain the inertia. It will also provide electrolytes that are lost through perspiration, making them good choices post exercise as well. Their basic components are glucose, sucrose, potassium and chloride. Some examples of these drinks include Gatorade, AllSport, Powerade and Recharge among many others! One word of caution for consuming these beverages is that too much intake can lead to gastro-intestinal distress due to the slowing of absorption.

The next option is an electrolyte replacement with protein. In addition to the benefits of a regular electrolyte drink, the added protein is favored by weight lifters because it has shown positive results in repairing muscle tissue post exercise, which results in hypertrophy. This drink has also tested well in lowering central fatigue and eliciting a higher release of insulin after your workout has ended. Unfortunately, like the regular electrolyte replacement drink, ingesting protein supplements during exercise is also known to cause gastro-intestinal disturbances. Another word of caution is that large amounts of this type of drink can increase plasma levels which proves toxic to the brain. Due to its possible toxicity, make sure to use these drinks rationally. Moderation is always key! Examples of electrolyte replacement drinks with protein are Accelerade, Avalance and Sobe Sports System.

Now, if you simply want a jolt for the bloodstream, drinks such as Red Bull, Adrenaline, Monster are probably the item on your must have list. These chilled little tin cans pack up to as much caffeine as four cups of coffee. Beware of the seemingly innocent beverage packaged in the quaint miniature can. It is true that the caffeine in these drinks serve to give you a jumpstart, they also improve awareness as well as play a part in better contractibility in heart function, but researchers caution that few studies have proven little more. In fact, the studies currently available warn of the dangers of these drinks due to some of the ingredients such as ephedra or ephedra-like substances, which can cause among many things heart problems. Most energy drinks also lack formulation for quick absorption of fluids which can lead to dehydration. Ingesting these drinks to better your workout can be likened to.

This leaves us with sports water. Since sports water studies have shown little more than a better tasting alternative to plain water your best bet is to save your money. But, if you prefer a splash of sugar to stomach your water, your options include Vitamin Water, Propel Fitness Water and Hansen's Purified Energy Water. Tea can also be construed as energy water, since it contains caffeine and only a hint of flavor. In all honesty, even I feel the need for a small infusion of caffeine to perform at my best during exercise and my shelves are well stocked with black and green teas. In choosing tea, I am enabled a small rush for kicking and punching as well as a shot of antioxidants to aid in fighting germs and even aging.

In this day and age, we are quite lucky to have so many options when choosing energy drinks to enhance our exercising experience. Educating oneself with scientifically researched data will ensure that we are purchasing products that will meet our fitness level energy needs and also assist in keeping our bodies healthy so that we fully enjoy our daily activities.