5 things you should never take before exercising

Many wonder what to take before exercising. When your body is dehydrated, you do not have the same energy for muscle or physical wear. You need to be balanced before a workout, so what you take before is very important. As a basic rule, it is recommended to drink up to half a liter of water before exercising, and continue hydrating during and after exercising. It takes quite a bit of water to replace the fluid loss from an exercise session, and we must be careful with our decisions to stay hydrated. Thinking about this, we decided to make a list of the drinks that you should AVOID before exercising:

1. Energy drinks with dairy products Dairy products contain protein, carbohydrates and fat, which is why they are very heavy and our body usually digests them very slowly. For all this, dairy products in general are not a good idea before exercising. They could make you feel heavy and low on energy. Instead, you can opt for protein shakes to which you only add water, so you will get the benefits of protein without the fat and without the heaviness on your stomach.
2. Sugary fruit juices The juices you get in convenience stores are usually the worst options to drink before exercising, most are full of calories, which is the same as drinking a soft drink, they also have a high amount of artificial sweeteners, flavorings and preservatives and even in some cases sodium. None of this hydrates, on the contrary. Instead, try adding fresh fruits to your thermos or water bottle, try pieces of strawberry, blackberries, mint, peppermint or whichever you like best. It is also a good option to drink coconut water, this will help you recover the electrolytes that you will lose during exercise.
3. Intoxicating drinks Alcohol dehydrates, inflames and impacts our balance and our ability to make decisions in a negative way, and none of this helps your body be in better condition for physical wear and tear. If what you are looking for is to wake up or feel more alert to exercise, our recommendation would be coffee.
4. Carbonated drinks Any carbonated soft drink will make you feel inflamed, with abdominal pain or bloating and gas. In addition, these soft drinks usually contain sodium, which, as we mentioned before, retains liquids. Instead, choose a cold green tea that will be high in antioxidants and, because it is water-based, will help you hydrate.
5. Sports drinks These drinks usually have high sugar content or sugar supplements that negatively impact our bodies. They may help you with the rush you need to exercise, but once the effect wears off, you will feel drained of energy. Instead, try fresh tomato juice (preferably freshly made) which contains potassium, natural sugars, and will help regulate your blood pressure. Take these recommendations into account for your next exercise session, stay hydrated, before during and after physically exhausting yourself. Remember that it is not just the exercise you do, you also have to give your body tools to recover.