Why Are Carbonated Drinks Bad for Swimmers?

A swimmer's body must be in peak physical condition. Swimmers need to take care of their bodies. Carbonated beverages do little to assist swimmers in competitions, and in some instances, detract from performance during a meet. Many doctors and nutrition experts state that avoiding these drinks can help a swimmer keep his head above water.

  1. Gas

    • Many athletes, including swimmers, tend to carbo-load in the days leading up to an event. Grain-based diets rich in pastas, breads and cereals help the swimmer build up lasting energy to channel through the pool lanes. But the carbohydrates found in beverages like soft drinks are the wrong kind of carbohydrates. They are also the wrong type of calories to take in. These empty-calorie drinks may make you feel bloated or gaseous. This unwanted effect could weigh you down and prevent you from performing your best in competition.

    Sugar

    • Too much sugar is not healthy for anyone. Many carbonated drinks are loaded with sugar or a sweetener like aspartame, and these substances are quickly carried to the bloodstream en route to the pancreas. The pancreas is signaled to go into overdrive, and it pumps out as much insulin as it can. Insulin causes the body to reduce testosterone in the bloodstream. Found in both men and women, testosterone controls calcium depositing in the bones, and massive sugar intake may then cause your body to not add calcium to its bones.

    Caffeine

    • Many carbonated drinks contain caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can get your central nervous system up and running, and it can be an easy to habitually consume it. Too much caffeine can keep you up all night with pre-competition jitters. Harmful effects from high caffeine intake include dehydration, muscle tremors, headaches and anxiety.

    Sodium

    • Carbonated drinks can contain large quantities of sodium, which may cause high blood pressure. This can lead to other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. The sodium also increases thirst, causing the drinker to only want to drink more.