 Anastasi says the problem is that many electrolyte drinks also have things that you don't want excessively in your body. That's why he says to check drink labels. You may be taking in way too many calories, way too much sugar, and you also may be well above your recommended dietary consumption of those substances that I mentioned. So I think, as with anything, it's a balancing act. Anastasi says choosing whether to drink plain water or grab an electrolyte drink should depend on your level of activity.