Are energy drinks beneficial for Soccer?

Report by John Friedewald and Anthony Remm

Energy drinks, there’s a few. Red Bull, V, Mother, Monster and Rock Star. They all taste pretty good and are believed to give you the boost you’re after. Designed for increased energy, they can contribute to short term memory loss, gastrointestinal problems, irregular heartbeat, increased body temperature, anxiousness and more.

After having a V or a Red Bull, you do feel uplifted and energetic. However, this sudden energy boost is not to last. The copious amounts of sugar in these drinks that provide the boost and taste are absorbed into the bloodstream and leave shortly after which can leave you feeling more fatigued than to begin with. Not a useful tool for soccer.

The high percentage of carbohydrates in these drinks, often make it harder for any nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. With this in mind, optimal muscle performance throughout the game may not be achieved. The carbs also slow down the rate of fluid absorption, (another critical element for soccer) which makes it harder to rehydrate during and after the game.

The caffeine in these drinks can act as a laxative, which can lead to loss of stimulant through excess urination. Dehydration will occur as a result. Too much caffeine causes excess sweating, jitters and increased heart rate. This is hardly ideal before competition.

Let’s talk about what drinks are beneficial to you before, during and after a game. Powerade and Gatorade for example are just some of the better choices. They both contain electrolytes, a type of sodium (salt) that helps your body retain and use fluids more effectively. Sodium in drinks is always good because it influences rehydration whilst allowing your thirst receptors to remain in normal sequence so you keep sensing thirst. The down side is the amount of sugar they contain, this can be good for energy, though energy from food types is preferable.

Some other types of drink will trick your thirst receptors into thinking the body is hydrated when in actual fact it is not. Sports and energy drinks with high amounts of sugar will often cause this reaction.

Water is always the simple and effective option. Drinking 400ml – 600ml of water each hour, 3 hours before a game will ensure adequate hydration. Drinking a litre of water an hour before the game however, will not ensure hydration. Fluid consumption does need to be over a period of time.

In summary, energy drinks won’t give you the energy needed before a game. Water, Powerade and Gatorade are just some of the better choices to ensure hydration. There are plenty of other good options for hydration and recovery.

For further information, contact either:

John Friedewald on 0405 489 065

Anthony Remm on 0449 149 133

Nick D’Amore on 0407 917 062