You are familiar with the exercise drink known as isotonic drink or energy drink but do you know about electrolytes for staying hydrated during your sports practice? You have probably heard of them but how do they differ from isotonic drinks? How do you consume them? We're here to shed some light on the subject, are you ready?
Isotonic drinks are designed to provide your body with everything it uses up during exercise, thus allowing you to stay in shape throughout your practice. Indeed, drinks contain carbohydrates, sodium and water and compensate for nutrient and mineral losses produced during exercise. They also contain vitamins B2 and B6, which help to combat muscle fatigue, vitamin C which helps protect your cells from oxidative stress and minerals to compensate for losses in sweat.
For sessions of over 1 hour, they are THE drink you need!
Isotonic drinks are availabe as powders, tablets and ready-to-drink bottles.
NB: If you want to prepare them in advance for a race, we recommend that you drink them within 24hrs and keep them cool.
To find out more about isotonic drinks:
Electrolytes allow you to stay hydrated and compensate for mineral losses during short or low-intensity workouts. The sodium and magnesium they contain compensate for mineral losses in sweat. Vitamins B2, B3 et B6 help to reduce fatigue. There is therefore no need for carbohydrate intake. However, if exercise is prolonged, mineral intake should be complemented by energy gels or bars to avoid a slump!
We explain everything in detail in this tip:
As you may have gathered, the decision to drink an isotonic drink or electrolytes will depend on the duration of your workout.
> If you're going for a short, low-intensity workout, lasting 1 hour maximum, opt for electrolytes which will compensate for salt and mineral losses. If the session is prolonged, make sure you complement this with energy gels and bars for carbohydrate intake!
> If you're going for a long session, lasting over 1 hour, you can drink the ISO isotonic drink which will provide you with carbohydrates on top of salts and minerals.
> If you're going for a long session, lasting over 1 hour, we recommend the isotonic drink: ISO designed for workouts of less than 3 hours and ISO+ designed for workouts of more than 3 hours. This will provide you with carbohydrates as well as salts and minerals, to compensate for energy losses.
There you have it! Now it's over to you to choose the most suitable drink based on the duration of your practice and thus make the most of your sports session!
As a sport enthusiast, I did dancing for a long time before discovering triathlon, which became a real addiction right from my first race! I am a fan of Sprint and Olympic distances, and I like the variety that this sport offers both in terms of its practice and the environment in which I can grow. Triathlons offer interesting challenges to look forward to with pleasure as the key!