Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Chris Mazdzer, Olympic silver medalist in the sport of luge and a TrueSport Athlete Ambassador. Today I want to talk with you about energy drinks because it’s important to first know that energy drinks and sports drinks are not the same thing. Energy drinks have high doses of caffeine and sugar that can negatively impact your body and athletic performance.
Whereas sports drinks contain water, electrolytes, carbohydrates, and they help you replenish your body after long practices or competitions. It’s not surprising that energy drinks appeal to young athletes. Given that energy drink companies often target young people with their advertising. Being a smart consumer is essential if you’re going to make the right decision for your long-term health. Did you know that an energy drink can contain upwards of 2 to 3 times the amount of caffeine as a single soda?
When I was younger and earlier in my career, when I wasn’t feeling very good before a workout, I would take energy drinks to try to boost up my energy levels. But the problem was that created an artificial high with a spike in glucose that I couldn’t sustain. And I learned that instead of taking an energy drink, I needed to focus on my sleep, my nutrition, my hydration, because those were the root causes of my problems.
All of us will eventually have to make the best decisions we can for ourselves. When it comes to energy drinks, more times than not, making the decision to avoid them is actually the best way to go. So, the next time you’re feeling bogged down and tired, I encourage you to take a step back and reflect on how you’re training, how you’re eating, how you’re sleeping, because proper recovery can go a long way in increasing your overall energy levels and your ability to perform at your best.
