The value and utility of water is often overlooked, especially when seen in comparison with manufactured drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade. Recent scientific studies have revealed that many people go about their daily routines in a state of mild dehydration. While this deficiency is not serious in the immediate future, there could be negative consequences in the long run. Even a 1-2 percent chronic deficiency in hydration levels could affect all aspects of healthy living, including cognitive function, circadian rhythm and sexual function. It was also found that proper functioning of salivary gland, risk of developing kidney stones, urinary tract cancers, are all dependent on the daily intake levels of water. In this context, people who workout regularly should adopt a well-planned re-hydration program, in order to replenish the expended quantities of water and other essential salts and minerals.
Thirty two of the fifty five attorneys workout for an hour for five days a week, which is a substantial exercise regimen. But each individual has his/her own rate of sweating and losing electrolyte content. This means that different individuals of the law firm should customize their fluid intake program to suit the particular needs of their bodies. Considering the lengthy workout regimen adopted by most lawyers, there is a strong case for consuming beverages such as Powerade and Gatorade during and after the workout period. Since sports drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade contain carbohydrates in addition to electrolytes, they provide a more comprehensive replenishment when compared to water.
In the case of standard variety of Powerade, one serving of the drink (approximately 244 grams) can provide 78 calories of energy, which is derived from the 15 gms of sugars present in it. One serving of the drink also contains 54 mg of Sodium and 32 mg of Potassium, along with traces of Vitamin C and Iron. The Sodium and Potassium are usually included in the form of their citrates. It has also got salt, Phenylalanini, Sucralose, Malic Acid, Potassium phosphate, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B2. The other good thing about Powerade is that it is completely devoid of fat and cholesterol.
What make the sports drinks all the more appealing is the various flavours and varieties in which they are available. Popular flavors include grape, lemon, mixed fruit, cherry, orange, sour melon, etc. For those lawyers who are overweight, there is the option of consuming low calorie varieties of Powerade and Gatorade. In the low-calorie varieties, conventional sugar syrups are replaced by a mixture of high fructose corn syrup, sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Of course, for consumers it is always a trade-off between cost and benefit. While palatable water is available for negligible cost, the sports drinks can cost several dollars when consumed regularly. Moreover, the manufacturers of Powerade and Gatorade (Coca-Cola and Pepsico respectively) adhere to high standards of quality in processing these drinks. But the same cannot be said about drinking water. On the flip side, the sports drinks have the disadvantage of adding excess calories and being expensive to buy.