Is it in you?

I hope not.

Gatorade, Propel, and most sports drinks may not actually be the best thing to reach for when you want that post-workout fix. Although many athletes and even coaches covet these drinks for their ability to replenish electrolytes lost during exercise, they may actually have the opposite effect on your body.

First, unless you are running Lake Merritt and then coming in and doing a CrossFit workout (I know some of you are), you probably don't need to be drinking any of these sports drinks to begin with. A post-workout drink is really only suitable for some one that sweats profusely during exercise.

Despite their healthy reputation, sports drinks contain nothing more than sugar, and chemical and artificial colors; a liquid candy if you will. The best thing for your body immediately following a workout is plenty of plain water and/or a natural mineral rich liquid. A good example is coconut water, it is completely natural and contains no added sugar (be sure to check that the only ingredient is coconut water). It is a good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and exceptionally high in potassium. These are many of the electrolytes that are lost when you sweat. It is also important to note that when you ingest a ton of sugar after a workout, your blood is redirected to your stomach to digest it, causing a decrease in blood volume levels in other areas of your body where it is most needed, like your muscles. So, do your body good and don't buy into the flashy health claims on labels.

Here's a recipe for a "Quick 'n' Healthy Sports Drink":
8 oz filtered water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tbsp. maple syrup, optional
1/4 tsp. sea salt
2-4 Tbsp. whey

Mix all ingredients together in an 8 oz glass.