Medical experts have revealed that our body is more than capable of coping up with mild dehydration and that sports drinks are only necessary in lengthy endurance events.
Researcher John Brewer of the St Mary's University said that the reduction in body weight associated with water loss could have a beneficial impact on some endurance runners, adding that athletes could train themselves to cope with mild dehydration, The Independent reports.
Brewer said that each litre of fluid lost equated to approximately one kilogram of body weight, adding that carrying around less weight had a positive impact on endurance performance.
He also pointed out that the sugar added to sports drinks to increase the body's absorption of fluid were necessary only for lengthy endurance events.