The good news is, water isn’t the only thing you can drink to replenish lost fluids.

Here are some drinks that will replenish your tired body:

1.    Chocolate drink

Losing too many electrolytes through sweating can also cause an array of symptoms, including fatigue, muscle cramps, and mental confusion. Chocolate milk can help with that. Its high water content can hydrate and replenish essential electrolytes, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Studies have found chocolate milk to be very beneficial, particularly for cyclists, endurance athletes, and runners. One study from 2010 showed that chocolate milk improved recovery and subsequent performance in cyclists more effectively than an isocaloric carbohydrate drink. A 2011 study found milk more effective than water for combating exercise-induced dehydration in children.

 Chocolate milk for post-Workout has

• high water content
• essential electrolytes
• carbs to replace lost glycogen

2.    Coconuts

We all know the many benefits of coconut water, including its high level of antioxidants and nutrients. So of course it’s no surprise that it’s a good post-workout beverage too. Like Gatorade and other popular sports drinks, coconut water contains high levels of electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium.

In 2012, one study found coconut water to be just as beneficial for post-workout recovery as both sports drinks and water. But the findings also noted that drinking coconut water and coconut water concentrate could cause bloating and an upset stomach compared to sports drinks. So you may want to avoid throwing back a coconut water like you would a sports drink and instead hydrate slowly.

Coconut water also contains less sodium than sports drinks, which is critical for replenishing after sweaty workout sessions. While endurance athletes should probably reach for something else, coconut water is proven to be a great option for lighter workouts.

Coconut contains:

• high levels of potassium and magnesium
• lots of antioxidants and nutrients
• less sodium than sports drinks

3.    Cherry juice

Antioxidant-rich cherry juice aids in reducing inflammation and benefits muscle recovery and function.

One 2010 study examined marathon runners who drank cherry juice both before and after their run and concluded that the juice contributed to quicker muscle recovery. It does this by increasing antioxidants and decreasing inflammation and lipid peroxidation.

A study from 2006 backed up this claim, showing that cherry juice not only decreased muscle damage, but also significantly prevented strength loss when compared to a placebo. While cherry juice can be beneficial for both endurance athletes and everyday workouts alike, it’s important to find the unsweetened version and keep your fill to just one serving (10 ounces).

Cherry juice contains

• aids in anti-inflammatory response
• decreases muscle damage
• prevents strength loss

 4.    Black and green tea

Your relaxing cup of tea has more benefits than you think. Research shows that tea, both green and black, can be effective in fat oxidation (the process of where fat are broken into smaller molecules that get stored and used for energy) during aerobic exercise and post-workout recovery. Much like cherry juice, tea’s high levels of antioxidants have been shown to help reduce muscle soreness and recover muscle strength quicker.

In one particular study from 2010, trained male athletes found many benefits from drinking tea after completing intensive sprints. Their bloodwork showed that they had higher antioxidant levels and lower cortisol levels after consuming tea rich in the antioxidant theaflavin. The tea also provided less DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) for the athletes.

Tea for post-workout:

• is effective in fat oxidation
• reduces muscle soreness
• recovers muscle strength

The research assessed the effects of alcohol withdrawal on bone turnover in postmenopausal women who drank one or two drinks per day several times a week.

Researchers at Oregon State University measured a significant increase in blood markers of bone turnover in women after they stopped drinking for just two weeks.

Bones are in a constant state of remodelling with old bone being removed and replaced.

In people with osteoporosis, more bone is lost than reformed resulting in porous, weak bones. About 80 percent of all people with osteoporosis are women, and postmenopausal women face an even greater risk because estrogen, a hormone that helps keep bone remodeling in balance, decreases after menopause.

Past studies have shown that moderate drinkers have a higher bone density than non-drinkers or heavy drinkers, but these studies have provided no explanation for the differences in bone density.

Alcohol appears to behave similarly to estrogen in that it reduces bone turnover, the researchers said.

In the current study, published online July 11 in the journal Menopause, researchers in OSU’s Skeletal Biology Laboratory studied 40 early postmenopausal women who regularly had one or two drinks a day, were not on any hormone replacement therapies, and had no history of osteoporosis-related fractures.

The researchers found evidence for increased bone turnover – a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures – during the two week period when the participants stopped drinking.

Even more surprising: the researchers found that less than a day after the women resumed their normal drinking, their bone turnover rates returned to previous levels.

“Drinking moderately as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and exercise may be beneficial for bone health, especially in postmenopausal women,” said Urszula Iwaniec, associate professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU and one of the study’s authors.

“After less than 24 hours to see such a measurable effect was really unexpected,” Iwaniec said.

Iwaniec, OSU’s Skeletal Biology Laboratory director Russell Turner, and researcher Gianni Maddalozzo assisted OSU alumna Jill Marrone with the study, which was Marrone’s master’s thesis.

This study suggests a cellular mechanism for the increased bone density often observed in postmenopausal women who are moderate drinkers, Turner said.

The researchers said many of the medications to help prevent bone loss are not only expensive, but can have unwanted side effects.

While excessive drinking has a negative impact on health, drinking a glass of wine or beer regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle may be helpful for postmenopausal women.

“Everyone loses bone as they age, but not everyone develops osteoporosis,” Turner said.

“Being able to identify factors, such as moderate alcohol intake, that influence bone health will help people make informed lifestyle choices,” Turner added.

Source: India Times