Drinking cola after exercise will lead to electrolyte loss, mainly potassium ion loss and calcium ion reduction.
Potassium ion loss: Cola contains caffeine, which to a certain extent can increase glomerular blood flow, reduce tubular reabsorption, and have a weak diuretic effect. Therefore, it will accelerate the water in the body to be discharged with urine, thus leading to potassium ion loss. In addition, ingestion of large amounts of granulated sugar in cola can lead to inward movement of potassium ions, thus lowering the amount of potassium ions circulating in body fluids.
Decrease in calcium ions: the caffeine in cola can combine with calcium in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing the absorption of calcium, combining with free calcium in the body and then discharged through the urine, making the free calcium decrease; in addition, cola is rich in phosphoric acid, and drinking a large amount of cola in the absence of water will produce high phosphorus, which will lead to a decrease in calcium ions.
After exercise, the body would have sweated a lot and lost water and electrolytes, and if you consume cola containing caffeine at this time, it will further aggravate the loss of body fluids and electrolytes; acidic metabolites, such as lactic acid, accumulate after exercise, and fatigue will occur. If you supplement with cola, which is rich in phosphoric acid, at this time, you can make body fluids acidic, which may further aggravate fatigue.
The carbonic acid in cola can cause flatulence and discomfort in the stomach, which is not conducive to post-exercise recovery. Therefore, salt boiled water or alkaline drinks can be supplemented after exercise to neutralize the acid and alkaline in the body, which is conducive to relieving fatigue.