Anyone who leads an active lifestyle knows that nutrition is an important component to staying healthy and getting the most out of your workouts. Whether you are exercising to maintain a healthy lifestyle, enjoy entering marathons, or perform at competitive or professional level in sports, you are likely selective about the food and drinks you choose to consume. Sports drinks can be an easy way to supplement your workouts with additional nutrients and functional benefits to help optimize your performance – and recovery. These days, there are an abundance of choices when it comes to sports drinks, but that doesn’t mean they are all healthy and high-quality options. In this article, we will outline the reasons why Graasi barley grass water makes the perfect sports drink.

Hydration

Perhaps the most obvious reason barley grass water makes a great sports drink is because barley grass water is hydrating. Regardless of how active you are, research suggests that many people may be chronically dehydrated. Breathing, sweating, and excretion are all ways that your body loses water daily, so the more you are breathing and sweating in exercise, the more water you need to rehydrate to help with various bodily processes including temperature regulation, blood flow, digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. According to Sarah Eby, MD, PhD, a sports medicine specialist with Mass General Brigham and Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, “When you don’t have enough water in your system, it essentially thickens the blood and affects the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. This lowers the amount of oxygen that your muscles get. Water also helps lubricate your joints. When you’re dehydrated, you’re also less able to flush toxins out of your system, and you can’t cool yourself as efficiently. This can put you at risk for heat-related illness.”

Barley grass is extremely nutrient dense and contains several health benefits that aid in hydration. First, barley grass contains chlorophyll which is considered to have “blood building” properties due to the similarity between the chemical structures of hemoglobin and chlorophyll molecules. Barley grass also contains iron which helps with oxygen circulation which can counteract the decrease in oxygen your muscles get when you are dehydrated.

The amount of water you need varies depending on your weight, how much you exercise, and which exercises you are doing. We recommend you look into how much water is best for you based on your lifestyle and body type. Barley grass water is an effective way to stay hydrated with more than just plain water.

Clean Source of Energy

Barley grass has also been shown to be a clean source of energy production, and anyone who participates in any form of exercise knows that energy is an important component of completing an exercise. There are four components of barley grass that lead to increased energy production in the body: antioxidants, B vitamins, amino acids, and iron. Among the antioxidants present in barley grass, chlorophyll and saponarin are the two that contribute to energy production. Chlorophyll supports increased oxygen flow to the body’s cells, helping boost vitality and reduce tiredness, and saponarin is a natural flavonoid that may help the liver and increase energy. While barley grass contains several B vitamins, three of the B vitamins (B1, B2, and B3) that are present help to convert the food we eat into energy. Additionally, two of the eight essential amino acids found in barley grass serve a role in energy in the body: valine makes energy and isoleucine regulates energy. Finally, the role of iron in the transport of oxygen to the blood is essential for providing energy. Barley grass can naturally help boost your energy to help fuel your workouts.

Blood Sugar

In general, blood sugar levels typically go down during exercise because using your muscles helps burn glucose. Since Graasi barley grass water is lightly sweetened with organic cane sugar and monk fruit, Graasi offers additional benefits for post-workout recovery. The organic cane sugar in Graasi can help get blood sugar up if you have participated in types of exercises that can lower blood sugar. On the flip side of that, monk fruit does not cause any spike in blood sugar because it is a plant-derived nonalcoholic sweetener that contains no grams of sugar. Some exercises that produce adrenaline may raise blood sugar, so it is always important to understand your personal patterns to know what your body needs post workout.

Immune Boost

A strong immune system is an important part in maintaining an active lifestyle and participating in sports at any level. Another added benefit of Graasi barley grass water is that it is infused with your recommended daily allowance of vitamins C, D, and Zinc to help boost your immunity. While the obvious benefit of having a strong immune system may be that it means you are healthy enough to participate in exercises, studies also have suggested that immune cells may mobilize during exercise to counter exercise-induced inflammation and preventing muscle damage by lowering levels of interferon. A strong immune system keeps you at peak performance and helps reduce inflammation that can come with exercise.

Conclusion

Nutrition is a major component in staying healthy and maintaining an active lifestyle. If you are looking to supplement your workouts with a nutrient-dense sports drink, barley grass water is a great addition! Barley grass naturally contains minerals and antioxidants that boost hydration and offer a clean source of energy production in the body. Graasi Barley Grass Water makes it easy for you to incorporate barley grass in your active lifestyle with a ready-to-drink barley grass water with vitamin C, D, and Zinc for the added immune boost. As a USDA certified organic barley grass water, you can trust that Graasi has the highest quality ingredients to fuel your body and take your workouts to the next level! Add Graasi to your workout routine today!

 

 

Sources:

Hydration Tips for Athletes | Mass General Brigham

What Is Hydration And How Does It Benefit Your Health? | Food Revolution Network

Why Does Exercise Sometimes Raise Blood Glucose | ADA

Some Benefits of Exercise Stem from the Immune System | Harvard Medical School

Cereal Grass: What’s in it for you! edited by Ronald L. Seibold, M.S.