Alternative to Gatorade?

kittens2cute

What is a good alternative to Gatorade? We have been dealing with some very high heat/humidity lately and my son (11) will be starting football practices soon. So he'll definitely need something other than water to rehydrate, but I don't want all that sugar!

Panda8ach

I get Asda (UK... Walmart?) sport drink zero... It's a bit meh in taste but does the trick

allyphoe

Diluted Gatorade. Homemade oral rehydration formula. Water plus electrolyte tablets.

For me, I'd rather my 11yo drink sugared Gatorade plus water than drink artificially sweetened Gatorade equivalent plus water, assuming that electrolyte replacement is necessary. My second two suggestions are not going to be palatable the way Gatorade is.

jennybearlv

My husband drinks G2. It's Gatorade with less sugar. 40 calories for 500 mL. He does not like diet sodas but thinks the G2 tastes good. We buy big packs of it at Costco.

deannalfisher

dilute Gatorade - especially if his practices are offering it; there are homemade versions of Gatorade you can make (google it)

pedialyte can work

If he needs it for the calories. vs just the rehydration (electrolytes), then my recommendations would vary
stuff like nuun, skratch and gu make rehydration drinks that are lower in sugar but with salt

if he needs something more calorific - then I personally use tailwind, but its more of a carbohydrate supplement rather than just rehydration

cwolfman13

When my kids are doing sports I just let them drink regular Gatorade...sugar has it's place.

kittens2cute

deannalfisher wrote: »

dilute Gatorade - especially if his practices are offering it; there are homemade versions of Gatorade you can make (google it)

pedialyte can work

If he needs it for the calories. vs just the rehydration (electrolytes), then my recommendations would vary
stuff like nuun, skratch and gu make rehydration drinks that are lower in sugar but with salt

if he needs something more calorific - then I personally use tailwind, but its more of a carbohydrate supplement rather than just rehydration

Nope don't need it for calories, just to rehydrate. He's a husky kid and will be sweating profusely in this heat/humidity once he has 2-hour per night football practices 4 nights per week.

deannalfisher

then I would go with something like Nuun (tabs that dissolve in water) or similar - but if sweating that profusely, need to watch for sodium and may need to add a salt tab (counter intuitive, but salt helps with water/liquid absorption in the gut - personally I use BASE salt but there are various alternatives - salt stick, salt tabs)

NorthCascades

Nuun tablets for the win. Seriously. They're like Gatorade but without the nasty taste.

mabearof6

Another vote for Nuun tabs here. Most running stores carry it, if you just want to get a tube to try. Another option is Body Armor if you want something ready made.

GottaluvFood

Chocolate milk.

Google "chocolate milk workout" & you'll see the research. Basically, any flavored milk is a perfect protein/carb ratio for rebuilding muscles after a work out. It comes vacuum-packaged now.

cwolfman13

praykathy wrote: »

Chocolate milk.

Google "chocolate milk workout" & you'll see the research. Basically, any flavored milk is a perfect protein/carb ratio for rebuilding muscles after a work out. It comes vacuum-packaged now.

OP is looking for hydration and electrolytes...

TeaBea

Crystal Light Pure Energy has electrolytes.....made with Truvia. It's like 15 calories per 8 oz.

cwolfman13

I use coconut water on long hot rides, but my kids won't touch it. My kids are like little stick figures and they go like crazy, so they generally just need whatever calories they can get.

JetJaguar

Another vote for Nuun tablets. The supermarkets in my area even carry it in a couple of flavors - it'll be by wherever they keep the protein powders and such. I'll also carry a tube in my jersey pocket on long bike rides in case I refill my water bottles somewhere.

maddymama

I love EmergenC Electromix. It's basically an electrolyte mix without any sugars in it. I have issues with the large amount of added sugar in Gatorade and with the use of stevia that have been added to other drinks. Stevia gives me headaches and makes me insanely thirsty after consumption. This is the best electrolyte mix that I have found. It's portable, affordable, and not sweet!

NorthCascades

JetJaguar wrote: »

Another vote for Nuun tablets. The supermarkets in my area even carry it in a couple of flavors - it'll be by wherever they keep the protein powders and such. I'll also carry a tube in my jersey pocket on long bike rides in case I refill my water bottles somewhere.

FYI, they're 2 for $10 right now at Whole Foods.

asianolikeyou

Dilute it or, even better, add natural flavors to your water (squeeze of lemon or lime, cucumber and basil, etc.)

mkeonem

Another vote for Nuun. We order it off amazon cause I haven't found anywhere that sells it off the shelf here where I live.

DancingMoosie

EmergenC electro-mix does not have sodium, at least the one I have doesn't, so I have to add salt to it. I like powerade zero. Propel makes a powder packet mix (like Crystal light) that you can add to bottled water, zero cals. I've tried the strawberry kiwi and grape flavors.

CipherZero

Sodium is what a sweat-drenched football player needs; it's lost much more readily than potassium. Simple sugar also help as they get readily converted to glycogen that muscle needs to function, as opposed to HFCS that gets metabolized much slower by the liver.

deannalfisher

maddymama wrote: »

I love EmergenC Electromix. It's basically an electrolyte mix without any sugars in it. I have issues with the large amount of added sugar in Gatorade and with the use of stevia that have been added to other drinks. Stevia gives me headaches and makes me insanely thirsty after consumption. This is the best electrolyte mix that I have found. It's portable, affordable, and not sweet!

also doesn't have any salt which is a key element to electrolytes - this only has potassium

ChelzFit

PowerAde Zero

KendraMonster

Kirkland (costco) offers a vitamin water zero alternative that is Zero calories and carbs.

PaulaWallaDingDong

ChelzFit wrote: »

PowerAde Zero

+1.

When I jog in the heat, I feel dopey the rest of the day, so I try to work in a Powerade Zero. It might be helping. Could also be a big fat placebo. It's basically just replacing soda that costs about the same, so at least it's not a big investment.

dewd2

When it is really hot I use Gatorade Endurance. I also use NUUN.

Sugar is not the enemy here.

Mouse_Potato

Another vote for Powerade Zero. It's a lifesaver when I'm out riding my horse in this weather!

cs2thecox

Another vote for Nuun.
Also High Five Zero - same idea.