A 32-oz. The first thing we notice about Gatorade is how colorful they are. A researcher who’s worked with Gatorade in the past told NPR that Gatorade shouldn’t be singled out as the “bad guy.” She emphasized that parents need to evaluate sugar consumption from all sources when helping their child make the healthiest decisions. This article provides several useful tricks to reduce your…. According to Gatorade’s website, the drink was “born in the lab” when researchers looked at why athletes were falling ill after strenuous exercise in the heat. This is essential to prevent dehydration and complications, like bronchitis and ear infections, plus make it easier to flush out mucus. When it comes to electrolytes, there are a lot of different ones but if we about the ones that are actually important, it includes sodium chloride, calcium phosphate and potassium bicarbonate. These artificial dyes are derived from petroleum and may increase the risk of hyperactivity in children. When you exercise, it’s important to stay hydrated. The name Gatorade is known around the world as one of the most popular sports drinks on the market. Healthy Energy Drinks: Is There Such a Thing? Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, The 8 Most Nutritious Nightshade Fruits and Vegetables, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, The Best 12 Healthy Eating Books of the Year. The brand's healthier option, G2, has 7 grams of sugar, 8 grams of carbs, and just 30 calories per 12-ounce bottle. And according to the Berkeley study, most people who drink sports drinks at least once a day aren’t as physically active as they should be. Gatorade ingredients To see whether Gatorade is good for hangovers or not, we need to examine what it’s made of. Is Gatorade good or bad for you? A standard bottle of Gatorade contains around 130 calories, and if a drinker doesn’t burn all of these calories, he or she could gradually gain weight. "Gatorade Zero will address the large and growing demand by athletes for additional hydration options," Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi said at a … Gatorade raises the blood sugar levels of the drinker. Is Gatorade good for you? This is when you should drink it, according to a nutritionist. You have to try it for yourself to be sure, but if you do like it and it feels good, then it can be a great beverage choice. Learn about the best pre-workout nutrition strategies. Scientific evidence shows that Gatorade has the ability to increase athletic endurance. However, the sports beverage can actually be harmful to one’s health when not used as originally intended. Gatorade contains sodium, which has been linked to high blood pressure. In theory, the drink allows you to train harder, for longer, by supplying … There are also some physical symptoms you can be aware of that signal you may need tohydrate with something more than water. It can be bad for you if you frequently use it as a regular refreshment. The presence of food dyes in Gatorade has also been a matter of concern. Gatorade is good for you if you lead an active lifestyle. There are transporters present in our kidney which actually helps in ensuring that the concentration of each one of them stays intact. Seeing that it is so popular, the question is Gatorade good for you, becomes a tricky subject. The extra sodium could increase the risk of high blood pressure over time. However, you have to remember that there is quite a lot of sugar and food dye that goes into making this a tasty enhancement drink. Check out some of the most nutritious nightshade fruits and veggies from tomatoes to goji berries. What Are Electrolytes? The extra calories from a sports drink could contribute to weight gain. Is Gatorade Good for You? Likewise, people ask, is Gatorade good when you have a cold? Here are five protein cookie recipes to refuel post-workout. Foods like fresh fruits and vegetables are the best source of carbohydrates and electrolyte replacement. It is also in sports drinks, such as Gatorade. Because of the electrolytes in the drink, studies have shown that it can be beneficial to people who have the stomach flu. With this in mind, is drinking Gatorade good or bad for people’s health and sports performance? Gatorade helps athletes by providing them energy, preventing dehydration, and reducing muscle cramps. Most people even consume Gatorade as a regular soft drink with meals or a soda replacement. However, sports drinks like Gatorade contain sugar and electrolytes like sodium and potassium. These are meant to replace potassium you lose during exercise. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Are Gatorade and other sports drinks a good idea? Gatorade is an excellent choice for physically active people. Gatorade’s high electrolyte content was designed to help athletes who had lost electrolytes during a game. While it’s marketed as a sports drink, athletes aren’t the only ones drinking Gatorade. A standard bottle of Gatorade contains one-third of the daily recommended dosage of sodium, so people who drink multiple bottles per day can exceed their recommended sodium intake just from the drink alone. High Blood Pressure. Cons- high sugar content, high sodium content, not so good if you're not exercising. When consumed often, the sugar content of Gatorade can also contribute to tooth decay, especially in children. Gatorade is good for you if you use it to re-hydrate or replenish your electrolytes. All rights reserved. 1, and Yellow No. Sports drinks can help replace what we lose during longer duration exercise, especially in the heat. Here comes the question: is Gatorade good for you? Gatorade was discovered as a solution to help the Gators football team battle dehydration in the Florida heat, and it eventually leads to the birth of the sports drink industry. As we previously mentioned, Gatorade is designed to replenish numerous electrolytes lost after a strenuous workout. In fact, Berkeley researchers say the sugar in sports drinks may be contributing to the child obesity epidemic by increasing caloric intake. 40, Blue No. Gatorade has been the go-to energy and performance drink for many people, especially during and after workouts. The health benefits of a drink are determined by its ingredients. Gatorade was developed to help replace the electrolytes that athletes lose when they sweat so much that they become dehydrated. You can benefit from Gatorade’s electrolytes: However, you should try to avoid drinking too much Gatorade if you lead an inactive lifestyle, if you eat foods with lots of salts, and if you have or are at risk of developing diabetes. An imbalance may lead to an electrolyte disorder. First up, let’s chat chemistry. Although it is not entirely clear how it works, it is believed that the electrolytes in the drink play a part in reducing the hangover effect. Your body is constantly working around the clock to keep itself in balance. In conclusion, the verdict on whether or not Gatorade is good for you is all up to you. So, what about use of sports drinks for the average person? They work to keep your body, muscles, and nerves functioning properly. The American Dietetic Association recommends drinking sports drinks such as Gatorade when you exercise for an hour or longer at moderate to high intensity 3. Eating lots of sugar is a surefire way to raise your risk of many different diseases. Within the US, Gatorade accounts for roughly 75% market shares in the sports drink category. However, you should note that people exercising for less than 60 to 90 minutes may not need Gatorade to maintain or improve performance. Many athletes feel re-hydrating with Gatorade is a good idea, and so more is better, but in reality, drinking Gatorade excessively could be dangerous. The sodium and potassium electrolytes are needed to help the body function normally. For example, when most people are either going for a jog or they are running for weight loss, they tend to carry a bottle of Gatorade with them to sip. It is also good for reenergizing yourself when you are losing a significant amount of fluids during sickness. The question “is Gatorade good for you” in the ’80s and ’90s was never really asked, and there really wasn’t a lot of electrolyte drinks to choose from. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-gatorade-bad-for-you Is Gatorade Good For You? 5. Gatorade is good for you if you lead an active lifestyle. Electrolytes are minerals that maintain your body’s ionic balance. The reason why there's so much sodium is to make you thirsty so you'll buy more. While Gatorade can help you stay hydrated, it’s best to only drink it when needed. They’ve also been linked to cancer. That’s the only way we can improve. FD&C Blue No. In the UK it goes head to head with Lucozade Sport. Also of importance to note is that Gatorade contains food dyes, such as Red No. A 20-ounce serving of Gatorade’s Thirst Quencher contains 36 grams of sugar. Gatorade’s low-calorie version, G2, substitutes acesulfame and sucralose for sugar. Healthy living is all about a holistic and balanced approach, with a…. Tracking your nutrition has so many benefits, from helping to manage food intolerances to increasing energy, avoiding mood swings, and fueling the…, Trying to eat healthy, exercise more, or get into mindfulness and meditation? The manufacturer of the drink claims that it was created by scientists who were searching for a solution to the illness that athletes experienced after exerting themselves during sporting events. Is It a Cold Or Flu? Because of this, it is recommended that Gatorade should be taken in moderation. For expert advice on how to eat healthier and get the nutrients you need, check out these top healthy eating books. If you are extremely active and are concerned with dehydration and electrolyte loss, then Gatorade can be beneficial. Electrolytes coming from natural sources without added sugars and dyes are recommended. This is what makes sports drinks popular. It contains rehydrating electrolytes but also has a high concentration of sugar. Drinking the product in moderation and in a way that shadows the intensity of your workout can definitely be a big factor as an effort to avoid the health risks addressed previously. Is Gatorade Good For You? Unfortunately, many people feel that Gatorade has some nutritional benefit. Gatorade is sold as an exercise enhancement drink. Although Gatorade was created as a sports drink, statistics show that it is widely consumed by people, especially boys, who lead sedentary lifestyles. Discover a list of foods that can give you energy and help you beat fatigue. Gatorade has been listed by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 hangover cures. Instead of another lumpy shake, replenish your energy with what you really want to eat. The drink can also replenish electrolytes that have been lost for other reasons. Gatorade contains carbohydrates and electrolytes to help individuals refuel and rehydrate during and after exercise. The standard bottle of Gatorade has 34 grams of sugar, and although it replaces the sugar lost during exercise, it is still enough to raise blood sugar levels in most people. Long-term consumption of Gatorade can have negative effects, especially among drinkers who are not active athletes. The ‘Negative Effects’ of Gatorade, A standard bottle of Gatorade contains around 130 calories, and if a drinker doesn’t. Aside from replenishing our lost electrolytes, Gatorade doesn’t have many other benefits. Gatorade competes with PowerAde, a Coca-Cola product, and Vitamin Water brands worldwide. It's not necessarily bad either, but it's not necessary. One study showed that cyclists were able to endure for longer when they drank Gatorade, compared to those who drank water instead. Other products that may have potassium Diet or protein drinks and diet bars often have potassium. G2 contains 40 calories for every 16 ounces, which is fewer than half the calories of regular Gatorade. You can benefit from Gatorade’s electrolytes: after an intense workou. One way it does this is with “ionic solutions,” called electrolytes. Is Gatorade zero good for you? As with many sports drinks, there has been a long and still ongoing debate as to whether or not Gatorade is healthy, and if it benefits the body or does harm to it. It’s important to keep track of your saturated fat and sugar intake so that the bars don’t cause you to overeat these food groups. Gatorade is like most other foods and drinks because it has its benefits when it is taken in moderation, but excessive consumption can lead to health problems. Gatorade was developed to replace crucial electrolytes and carbohydrates while hydrating at the same time. Consuming too much Gatorade may lead to high blood pressure. Is Gatorade good for you? The answer; Gatorade is not good for you. bottle of Gatorade contains 800 mg of sodium, which is 33 percent of the daily recommended dose. The reason why there's so much sugar is to give you energy while exercising, but if you're not exercising your body will store the sugar as fat. It's healthier than soda pop by a long shot because it's got a lot less sugar, I'm pretty sure. But while Gatorade may contain less sugar than soda, is it actually good for you? For people who aren’t exercising for at least one hour, five days per week, water is the best bet for staying hydrated. It is advertised as a thirst quencher as well as an effective beverage to rehydrate the body. Find out how in this FREE Video: No thanks, I Don't Want To Lose Any Weight Right Now. Is Gatorade Bad For You? Do not use a salt substitute or "lite" salt without talking to your doctor first. Pros- low calories as you said, good with exercising, and it's tasty. It can be bad for you if you frequently use it as a regular refreshment. 1 is a food color that is commonly used in a number of food products and consumer products. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. It replenishes the electrolytes in your body, but some scientists believe that the phosphorous in this compound can displace the calcium in your body and destroy your bones. Prolonged consumption of Gatorade can lead to weight gain. Gatorade is good for you if you use it to re-hydrate or replenish your electrolytes. 14 Simple Ways to Stop Eating Lots of Sugar, You Should Eat These Cookies After Every Workout, Pre-Workout Nutrition: What to Eat Before a Workout. Experts suggest parents limit their children’s consumption of sports drinks like Gatorade due to their sugar content and artificial colorings. In fact, it is one of the most popular sports/re-hydration drink on the market. Research on the long-term safety of these artificial sweeteners is ongoing, but not yet conclusive. Gatorade protein bars can be good for you, provided you are including them in a well-balanced meal plan. If you prefer something cold, reach for Gatorade or Powerade. WHAT ARE ELECTROLYTES? Keeping this in view, is Gatorade good for kidney patients? What about Gatorade? The main short-term benefits of Gatorade are hydration and replenishment of electrolytes. It can be in the right context. This balance is essential for nerve, muscle, and brain functioning. As one of the best-selling sports drinks in the market, Gatorade is widely consumed by athletes, and some people even use it as a hangover remedy. However, you should try to avoid drinking too much Gatorade if you lead an inactive lifestyle, if you eat foods with lots of salts, and if you have or are at risk of developing diabetes. Eating the right foods before a workout can maximize performance and speed up recovery. You May Also Like : ... Sugar free Gatorade is able to give you these nutrients without you having to consume all the sugar that usually goes along with them. Gatorade was developed to combat the loss of fluids and electrolytes from perspiration. 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