It has the flashiest commercials and the best athletes endorsing it, but there may be better options than the pregame portion of the Gatorade G Series. Something as simple as good nutrition and being hydrated can be just as important as sports drinks.

Craig Dickinson, health teacher and wrestling coach, believes sports drinks can be helpful during practice or competition but does not think the Gatorade Prime helps you compete at another level.

“The only thing you really need to drink is water,” Dickinson said. “How long has man been around and how long has Gatorade been around?”

He also urges athletes and students to eat properly before and exercise.

“I usually tell the kids that complex carbs are good, so a lot of the kids like to eat things like bagels,” Dickinson said. “You want something that’s going to give you energy right away.”

Abbey Tadros, senior cross country runner, can feel a difference when she eats healthy foods rather than unhealthy foods.

“Whenever I eat food that is bad for me, I feel heavy, and my body just doesn’t work as well,” Tadros said. “When I eat healthy food I feel a lot better, and I just feel a lot smoother.”

Although eating well before exercise is crucial, making sure you have the right diet after workouts is also important, Dickinson said. Dickinson stresses the importance of getting proteins after workouts to help the body heal.

Some athletes, like Justin Hilton, senior basketball and volleyball player, turn to protein shakes for nutrients.

Hilton has a shake he takes after workouts and a shake he takes before going to bed.

“They help me by building muscle and getting extra protein,” Hilton.

Dickinson said if an athlete is not getting enough protein in his diet, protein shakes can be a good supplement for it.

“If they’re not consuming enough protein naturally, then a protein shake might not be a bad idea,” Dickinson said.