How do hypotonic sports drinks work?
1 Answer
Jun 27, 2015
Hypotonic sports drinks replace fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating.
Explanation:
Sweating results in the loss of body fluid and electrolytes such as chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
If unchecked, it leads to dehydration and eventually heat stroke.
Sports drinks contain water, salt, electrolytes, glucose, and fructose.
The solute concentration in hypotonic sports drinks is less than in blood, so they are hypotonic with respect to blood.
Thus, they are quickly absorbed into the blood stream to rehydrate the body.
Hypotonic sports drinks have low carbohydrate content, so they give the athlete little energy.
They are ideal for rehydration and for low-perspiration athletics.
