Ingredients. Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Gum Arabic, Natural Flavor, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Yellow 6.
Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Gum Arabic, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Natural Flavor, Yellow 5.
Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Salt, Calcium Lactate, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Gum Arabic, Purified Stevia Leaf Extract, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Yellow 6.
Ingredients found in Gatorade drinks:
“Water, sugar, maltodextrin, fructose, citric acid, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, salt, natural flavor, calcium lactate, ascorbic acid (to protect flavor), magnesium oxide, beta carotene (color).”
Reality check: Gatorade is essentially sugar water with some electrolytes added. And sugar water has a lot of calories.
Ingredients. Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Modified Food Starch, Natural Flavor, Red 40, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Caramel Color.
The electrolyte replenishing properties of Gatorade come from two ingredients; salt, and monopotassium phosphate. The sodium and potassium can help improve your athletic performance when you've lost too many electrolytes through sweat.
Does Gatorade Have Caffeine? The simple answer is no. Caffeine is a stimulant found in tea, coffee, and soda, but it is not present in Gatorade. However, you will find electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, in Gatorade, which are essential to keep you hydrated.
Gatorade Fit is the newest electrolyte beverage from Gatorade and is formulated for those seeking healthy, real hydration with no added sugar.
The reason Gatorade includes so much sugar is that sugar can be useful during prolonged exercise. When you're exercising, your body is typically using a blend of fuel types for energy, including sugar (a simple, sweet-tasting form of carbohydrate).
For kids involved in intense and prolonged physical activity, sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade may provide a quick source of energy (simple carbohydrates) and may help replace electrolytes such as sodium and potassium that are lost with sweating.
The sodium and potassium in cola is much lower than Gatorade, with only 11.2 milligrams of sodium and 18.6 milligrams of potassium. It's important to note that the serving sizes when comparing Gatorade vs. soda are different, with Gatorade being 20 ounces and the soda 12 ounces.
PETA officially lists Gatorade as a vegan beverage, so that gives reassurance to many vegans. There are no animal products or by-products added to Gatorade. It is listed as Kosher so we know that its filtration processes are vegan.
Gatorade was developed at the University of Florida in the mid-1960s, and acquired by PepsiCo in 2001. Coca-Cola launched Powerade in the 1980s to compete with Gatorade, but Coke's version never caught up.
Powerade boasts more micronutrients than Gatorade, with magnesium, niacin, and vitamins in each serving. The basic draw of sports drinks is their ability to provide the body with electrolytes, substances that help the body regulate chemical reactions and maintain a balance of bodily fluids (per Cleveland Clinic).
Gatorade is not unhealthy, but it does have high amounts of sugar and salt. People who are inactive or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease should take into account the salt and sugar in a bottle of Gatorade in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
Pediatricians often recommend Gatorade for people who are suffering from mild dehydration due to diarrhea or the flu.
Best Overall: Gatorade
The levels of electrolytes (sodium and potassium) are moderate and sensible with 160 mg of sodium and 45mg of potassium per 12 fluid ounce serving. You can also find Gatorade varieties with higher sodium, zero sugar or no calories depending on your needs.
Water is one of the best fluids to consume to help you to stay hydrated when you're sick. The reason for this is that water doesn't contain any calories, sugar, or preservatives, which are things that can cause dehydration. Don't discount the power of a decaf or warm beverage that's low in caffeine.
Pros: Depending on the brand, coconut water has fewer calories, less sodium and more potassium than the typical sports drink. Generally, it also has no added colors and only natural flavors (from other juices, for instance). Cons: After an intense workout, the most important electrolyte you need to replenish is sodium.
Gatorade Zero has no sugar while maintaining the same proven hydration and fueling benefits of Gatorade Thirst Quencher. With three refreshing flavors to keep you in the game, you won't even miss what's missing.