Think about playing golf on a hot summer day …. blazing sun, wind, running up and down hills, swinging the golf club over 90 times and all done anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to play 18 holes! What a great way to spend the day. Yet, most golfers show up at the course with nothing more than a container of plain water (or some other beverage) not giving a second thought to the fact that the better hydrated, the better endurance and stamina to make it to the end of the 18-hole round comfortably.
Taking a sip of water with added electrolytes at each hole (that’s just 18 sips) will improve your endurance and stamina for a stronger finish!
Adding electrolytes enhances the ability of water to hydrate the human body (much better than water alone.). What are electrolytes? An electrolyte is an electrically charged mineral that your body requires to function at its most optimum — the most important electrolytes are sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium. Electrolytes maintain fluid throughout the body because it’s the electrolyte minerals in the correct proportion that hydrates the body… which water alone can’t do.
I first learned about electrolytes when I read an article about Deb Vangellow, LPGA Master Professional who teaches golf in the hot weather of Sugarland, Texas. She praised the addition of electrolytes in her water when she teaches golf during the extremely hot temperatures on the golf course. Here in Pennsylvania, we can get pretty hot in the summer months, but nothing like Texas. I bet you have had the experience of excessive sweating and wilting as the game goes on. There is a way to counter-act that 14th hole slump and golfers should do what other athletes do …. make sure you hydrate using electrolytes.
I never play golf without my favorite electrolyte drink. I use a product called Electrolyte Supreme from Jigsaw Health. I chose this brand because it has very high-quality ingredients and does not use cane sugar as their sweetening agent. They sweeten their product with organic natural sweeteners. I found a great article written by Dr. Deborah Graham, Golfers are Dehydrated and Here Are 8 Reasons Why, where she states “sugar and corn syrup (which most sodas and sports drinks are full of) can draw fluids to the intestines away from the rest of the body, reducing cell function and performance”. Bottom line, the hit of sugar may taste great, but will hinder the stamina and endurance you need to play 18 holes comfortably.
I have tried different electrolyte products over the years but settled on www.JigsawHealth.com . I had been using their magnesium supplement with great success so I decided to try out their powdered electrolyte solution that comes in little individual packets (which I carry in my golf bag) and easily add to my water. I like the fact that their product contains complementary minerals and vitamins to convert plain water into a balanced combination of key electrolytes and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, sodium and potassium (and those energy B vitamins).
There are plenty of other electrolyte drinks on the market like Gatorade, Nuum, Pedialyte, all advertising the same benefits – but I settled on Jigsaw Health electrolytes for very specific benefits. Take a look at this handy chart which compares different brands to the Jigsaw Health Electrolyte Supreme.
