Banana, Pedialyte, and The Highest Paid Women in Sports

A coach at our “home court” in Paranaque once advised me to bring Pedialyte (a drink designed to help rehydrate babies with diarrhea) during a whole-day tournament, along with plenty of bananas. Coupled with sound advises of “bring several extra shirts, don’t allow sweat to dry up in your body, don’t drink sodas, don’t sit around but keep on moving to keep the body warmed up, and don’t eat too much during the lunch break,” I figured there’s nothing wrong with trying to do exactly as I was told.

Now, bananas are a fine source of fuel energy and aids in quick energy release. That’s why you’ll see them in abundance in sports events. They are also a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in proper muscle contraction. So, especially during tournaments when players tend to engage in more intense games and matches, and for considerably longer periods of time, food aids such as bananas are a must.

My friends actually thought it’s funny that I kept on buying Pedialyte whenever I join badminton tournaments. I always joked that I get a huge psychological boost knowing that I’m always fresh and rehydrated with my “sports drink.” It’s actually a bit pricey, about P190 for a 1-liter bottle, but I only mix it with my water anyway so one bottle lasts the whole day. The good thing about Pedialyte is that it is an excellent source of electrolytes, to replenish what is lost by the body through perspiration and also to help prevent muscle cramping, which I’m a bit prone to. You might be surprised to know that although it isn’t being marketed for that specific purpose, Pedialyte is now making an increasing appearance in the locker rooms of international athletes.

Speaking of athletes, four of the highest paid women in sports turned out to be from the tennis circuit (in order): Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams, and the newly retired Justine Henin. Number  5 is golfer Michelle Wie.