Drink Up!Kasady Smith

Introduction

During a sporting event, you may use Gatorade or water to keep you hydrated or to help you perform better. Does it really work?

Problem

Do drinks you use during sporting events really help you perform better? Does it make a difference between genders?

Background Info.

Energy drinks like Monster or Rockstar can cause our heart rate and blood pressure to increase, and can cause us from losing sleep that we need.

It also makes us dehydrated if we use it during exercise.

Background Info. Cont.

Caffeine masks the intoxicating effects that would normally trigger the body to pass out.

When you depend on energy drinks, you miss out on essentials such as fiber and good quality protein.

Hypothesis

I think drinks like Gatorade and water would help keep you hydrated but wouldn’t actually affect the way you perform. I also think drinks like Rockstar and Monster would give you a real boost of energy but then you would have a sugar low.

Materials

Stop Watch 16 cups 8 Subjects (4 boys, 4 girls) Measuring Cup A journal or graph to record data 1 sports drink + water

› Gatorade

Variables

Independent: the different drink each runner consumes.

Dependent: what happens to the runners when they consume the drink.

Controlled: how much each runner gets to drink and how far each runner runs.

Procedure

Time your subjects when the run from basketball ½ court line to basketball baseline, then full court and back (this is their “before” time).

After they run, have each one of them drink one of the same energy drinks (don’t forget to record data!).

Procedure cont.

Have them drink ½ cup of the drink. EVERYONE NEEDS TO DRINK ALL THE

DRINKS!! Wait at least 15 minutes before you

time them again (have them run the same distance like their “before” time).

Procedure cont.

Repeat all the steps until all your runners have drank & ran for each drink.

Results…Boys

Caleb Ia

n

Camer

onCod

y0

5

10

15

20

25

BeforeGatoradeWater

BeforeGatorade Water

Caleb18.12 sec.

18.28 sec.

20.51 sec.

Ian18.72 sec.

18.38 sec.

20.15 sec.

Cody17.91 sec.

16.93 sec.

19.35 sec.

Cameron

16.97 sec.

18.00 sec.

20.46 sec.

Results…Girls

Destin

yAn

di

Sara

h

Chelsey

0

5

10

15

20

25

BeforeGatoradeWater

Before WaterGatorade

Destiny19.41 sec.

20.44 sec.

18.56 sec.

Andi15.78 sec.

18.36 sec.

16.28 sec.

Sarah21.16 sec.

22.41 sec.

20.12 sec.

Chelsey21.35 sec.

21.97 sec.

22.35 sec.

Conclusion

I was completely surprised that with nothing in their body their times were better by a second or greater.

Their times with the Gatorade were all less than their times with water except for one person.

Works Cited

Sharon, Lynn. "Energy Drinks Have Side Effects You Should Know About." The Effects Energy Drinks Can Have on Our Body. 24 Sept. 2007. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/385857/the_effects_energy_drinks_can_have.html?cat=5>.

Works Cited cont.

"OUS Professors Study Effects of Energy Drinks." Ironton Tribune. 13 Nov. 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.irontontribune.com/2010/11/13/ous-professors-study-effects-of-energy-drinks/>.

Works Cited cont.

"Energy Drinks Generate Full Throttle, Monstrous Questions." AARP. 22 July 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.aarp.org/food/wine-beverages/news-07-2010/energy_drinks_generate_full_throttle_monstrous_questions.html?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-FOD-WBV&HBX_PK=energy_drinks&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=energy%2Bdrinks&utm_campaign=G_Food&360cid=SI_159284637_6180408541_1>.

Thanks!!

Thanks to all the people who helped me with my project!