Although sports drinks are very popular and are marketed to promote recovery and hydration. There is some science that supports they may not be the best thing for athletes in every type of situation. This article has been put together to show some of the downsides of using sports drinks in the wrong circumstances and to bring up some alternatives that may be better suited for athletes at different points. When considering the use of sports drinks there are a couple of things to make note of.
Let’s start off first with some important facts Gatorade was formulated in the 1960’s by Florida scientist to help football players to restore electrolytes lost during competition. Gatorade is owned by Pepsico and their competitor Coca-Cola owns Powerade. The two of those companies together make up nearly 100% of the market. This market is about US$4.8 billion according to Forbes magazine. Keep in mind that both Coca-Cola and Pepsico are in the business of selling pop which is an not an ideal beverage for an athletes to consume. Although this is a sports product there are some drawbacks in terms of how healthy they may actually be.
Sugar Content
Gatorade has a lot of sugar in it and not just regular sugar but refined sucrose type of sugar. This is highly addictive and very saturated within this drink. The recommended serving of Gatorade on the label is 8 ounces which contains 14 grams of sugar. However, athletes typically would consume the entire bottle which is usually 32 ounces. This is about 56 grams of sugar being ingested which is the equivalent of sugar in nearly 2 cans of pop. Regardless of how much energy is being expended that is a lot of sugar especially considering the kind of sugar being used is the kind that spikes blood sugar which is definitely not ideal when it comes to optimizing performance during a competition. Spikes in blood sugar are incredibly challenging to overcome.
Bad for Teeth
Citric acid is also found in sports drinks this is very harmful to teeth on its own. It is increasingly detrimental when mixed with sugar. According to the American Dental Association both citric acid and sugar can erode teeth and promote tooth decay. According to a study by the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry Gatorade was more harmful to teeth than Coca-Cola and second only to Red Bull.
Artificial Colours
For aesthetic purposes and to differentiate the flavours from one another sports drinks come with artificial colours. Although these colourings are government approved there is some evidence that the colours associated with these beverages can have an impact on children and may not be as safe as previously expected. For example there is evidence that seems to suggest that with the blue dye that is used it does in fact turn your tongue blue. It also may discolour other parts of your body tissue including the brain. Some of these colours impact lab rats with cancerous tumours and also impact children with ADHD.
Marketing
One of the things that sets Gatorade apart is the brand ambassadors that use the product like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams as well as other professional athletes. What may be the most surprising thing of all is that although they may use sports drinks they may not be using it to the degree that people think they are. Water is probably the biggest source of hydration these athletes use. They often use the signature green bottles which disguise what is actually being consumed. According to some sources may even be a completely different sports drink called Biosteel which was the case a few years ago in the NHL. Please see the links below for more information on this.
In the article “Is Gatorade Dangerous for Your Heath?” on the website the Heath & Fitness CheatSheet author Lauren Weiler wrote:
So, is Gatorade really dangerous? It depends on your level of physical activity and how much of the drink you’re consuming — if you’re a marathon runner or someone who partakes in hours of strenuous activity, then the electrolytes that Gatorade offers may benefit you. But, if you’re just working out for an hour at the gym, then the excess sodium and sugar are not necessary, and water will do just fine.
It should be noted that when Gatorade is most useful is when athletes are training significantly and sweating profusely. If they have multiple practices or games then sports drinks are useful if it is just one game or practice than water is fine.
Post Workout Recovery
Is Gatorade the best option for a post workout recovery? One of the best things to drink is chocolate milk, chocolate almond or soy milk as it has so many positive proteins and nutrients which sports drinks don’t have. Take a look at this website for more information. http://www.rechargewithmilk.ca/?drink=sports-drink&gclid=CIiJ-OGZ69ACFZGHaQodn_0Mkg#compare
If you wold like to know more information about BioSteel which is a healthier alternative to other sports drinks. These two links are highly recommended.
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