Best natural recovery drink for runners

As you approach the first water stop along the racecourse, you see sports drink in some of the cups and water in others.

Which should you reach for? That depends. Running time and distance, level of intensity, individual fitness, environmental conditions and even personal preference all factor in to what you should drink--and when you should drink it.

Having to decide between the array of drinks that line your grocery store's beverage aisle is even more daunting.

Sure, just about all of those beverages--even the ones that are caffeinated or high in sugar--count toward your fluid needs.

Best recovery drink for endurance athletes

But some options are simply better than others, especially when you're striving for peak performance and optimal hydration. "Runners need to make informed beverage choices that fit their individual needs," says Dallas Parsons, R.D., a sports nutritionist in Toronto.

Taste is certainly key, since research has proven that we're likely to stay better hydrated if we enjoy what we're drinking.

But runners also need to read labels closely to find out the intended use

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