Your Opinion on Gatorade?

Hey guys!

I'm just wondering everyone's opinion on gatorade.

Is it good to drink? Is it nutritional? Is it good enough to put into a healthy body? Does it fit into "clean eating"?

Thanks!

Kailee

Replies

registers

It has a ton of sugar. I drink "powerade zero" I think gatorade also has a "zero calorie" version.

hush7hush

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

justavoice1989

i think gatorade is fine, but would take it in moderation. definitely dont replace water with gatorade, but once in a while i think it is okay for your body. i wouldnt consider it as part of a clean diet, but it does have some nutrients.

chevy88grl

The only time I drink Gatorade is right after I leave the gym and I only drink the recovery one. I don't think it's bad per se, but it does have quite a bit of sugar in it.

CuteAndCurvy83

I think plain old water is best. Gatorade was made for people doing long intense workouts in which they would lose sodium and potassium. I'm fairly sure that any more the average person get enough sodium from their daily diet. I think Gatorade is great if you are dehydrated, and need that boost of the minerals, but not as a workout drink.

corsayre8

Seriously high levels of sugar. When I went through Bikram Yoga teacher training, (four to six hours of yoga a day in a 106+ degree room), we were advised toot drink it. The sugar, while providing energy, actually acts as a diuretic, causing your body to excrete fluids. There are lots of healthier and more efficient ways to hydrate your body.

Pebble321

I think of it as a sugary treat, ie. empty calories.

If you have been working out and want a sugar hit, go for it, but don't forget to count the calories.
I guess there must be sugar free versions but they are probably sweetened with artificial sweeteners, so you can decide for yourself if they work for you!

It wouldn't fit into any definition of "clean eating" that I know - it's basically sugary flavoured water. The clean version would probably be to drink water and eat an apple

jenilla1

It's just like fruit punch or soda. It's just flavored sugar water with some extra minerals and chemicals you probably don't need anyway. It's not a clean food by any standard I can think of. But you might want to drink it if you like the taste. Nothing wrong with that once in a while. Make sure you count it in your calories. Sugar water adds up. :drinker:

Charger440

I tastes NASTY!!!

lovejoydavid

Hey guys!

I'm just wondering everyone's opinion on gatorade.

Is it good to drink? Is it nutritional? Is it good enough to put into a healthy body? Does it fit into "clean eating"?

Thanks!

Kailee

It's useless outside of carbohydrate replacement during training (or, perhaps, illness). It has many times more sodium than potassium, making it a bit of hypertension generator. However, a great deal of research has pointed to it being superior for rehydrating during training (you will tend to drink more gatorade than water, water may quench thirst before full hydration has occured), and it has a good mix of sugars (drinks with single sugars, particularly those with just fructose tend to saturate gut transporters and slow transit of carbs, which is not ideal when trying to fuel during a run). I use it exclusively for running, I don't drink it as a casual soft drink.

chizzledfrmstone

I personally would only use it after a workout or cardio for more than 1.5 hour.

- It's acidic just like soda which can cause cavities. I think the pH is 2-3 which is lower than orange juice!
(http://biology.clc.uc.edu/scripts/pHResl.pl)

- Doesn't really have enough electrolytes to "replenish" the body.

- Off the top of my head I think it has Dextrose/Malto Dextrose?? Nothing wrong with that but if I'm getting carbs through out the day I'll choose a different source.

I don't know anything about the new Gatorade versions but I'm sure I could make a better drink for myself.

lovejoydavid

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

I think that one makes no sense. At least with the carb mix, you can use it to replete lost glycogen stores. The zero versions are just salt water! I admit, just as we use isotonic solutions for volume resuscitation in the hospital, an oral fluid with sald or sugar is better absorbed across the gut, so there is that, but the mix of sodium to potassium is just a nightmare for general use.

bloodstar

One Suggestion, try the G2 brands, while they contain a little Sucralose, also contain a bit of sucrose. I've found the taste to be less cloying and "thick" as the regular Gatorades, And with the fewer calories (20 per 8 oz versus 50 per in regular Gatorade).

I am not a nutritionist, but you could theorize that having a little bit of regular sugar with the Sucralose would counteract the body cravings you see with a lot of the zero calorie sweeteners. But that's just a thought and I don't think there have been any studies to suggest this actually happens.

As an aside, unless you're hammering out monster workouts, you would probably be perfectly fine with some sort of water or flavored water of some sort. Gatorade was created at the University of Florida with the idea of rehydration for football players doing crazy 2 a day workouts in the summer. Us mere mortals usually don't reach that level of intensity.

chizzledfrmstone

Hey guys!

I'm just wondering everyone's opinion on gatorade.

Is it good to drink? Is it nutritional? Is it good enough to put into a healthy body? Does it fit into "clean eating"?

Thanks!

Kailee

It's useless outside of carbohydrate replacement during training (or, perhaps, illness). It has many times more sodium than potassium, making it a bit of hypertension generator. However, a great deal of research has pointed to it being superior for rehydrating during training (you will tend to drink more gatorade than water, water may quench thirst before full hydration has occured), and it has a good mix of sugars (drinks with single sugars, particularly those with just fructose tend to saturate gut transporters and slow transit of carbs, which is not ideal when trying to fuel during a run). I use it exclusively for running, I don't drink it as a casual soft drink.

I thought Fructose strictly used GLUT 5 receptors?

lovejoydavid

I personally would only use it after a workout or cardio for more than 1.5 hour.

- It's acidic just like soda which can cause cavities. I think the pH is 2-3 which is lower than orange juice!
(http://biology.clc.uc.edu/scripts/pHResl.pl)

- Doesn't really have enough electrolytes to "replenish" the body.

- Off the top of my head I think it has Dextrose/Malto Dextrose?? Nothing wrong with that but if I'm getting carbs through out the day I'll choose a different source.

I don't know anything about the new Gatorade versions but I'm sure I could make a better drink for myself.

The idea for using a mix of mono, di, and polysaccharides is that different transport proteins have been identified for a variety sugars (GLUT 5 for fructose, for example). These proteins, however, can be saturated if only a single sugar is present. For fastest absorbption (important if you in the that first 30 post exercise, or looking for a rapid infusion during a race), you want to have a well balanced mix that maximizes transport. Clearly pointless for just health purposes, of course.

lovejoydavid

Hey guys!

I'm just wondering everyone's opinion on gatorade.

Is it good to drink? Is it nutritional? Is it good enough to put into a healthy body? Does it fit into "clean eating"?

Thanks!

Kailee

It's useless outside of carbohydrate replacement during training (or, perhaps, illness). It has many times more sodium than potassium, making it a bit of hypertension generator. However, a great deal of research has pointed to it being superior for rehydrating during training (you will tend to drink more gatorade than water, water may quench thirst before full hydration has occured), and it has a good mix of sugars (drinks with single sugars, particularly those with just fructose tend to saturate gut transporters and slow transit of carbs, which is not ideal when trying to fuel during a run). I use it exclusively for running, I don't drink it as a casual soft drink.

I thought Fructose strictly used GLUT 5 receptors?

Exactly, if fructose is the only one present, than GLUT 5 is rapidly saturated and the rest of the fructose gets to wait in line, which does not make much sense.

registers

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

I think that one makes no sense. At least with the carb mix, you can use it to replete lost glycogen stores. The zero versions are just salt water! I admit, just as we use isotonic solutions for volume resuscitation in the hospital, an oral fluid with sald or sugar is better absorbed across the gut, so there is that, but the mix of sodium to potassium is just a nightmare for general use.

Are you saying the ratio of sodium to balance isn't a good balance? I wouldn't use a liquid to replace glyocgen stores. Another consideration is what type of exercise you just did to replace the glyocgen? Low intensity cardio, no point. Even if glyocgen stores aren't depleted enough to use all the glucose produced, It would have adverse side effects from my understanding.
As you stated yourself it's better absorbed. The way I use is it is to prevent dehydration, correct me if I am wrong.

registers

Hey guys!

I'm just wondering everyone's opinion on gatorade.

Is it good to drink? Is it nutritional? Is it good enough to put into a healthy body? Does it fit into "clean eating"?

Thanks!

Kailee

We're all talking about different reasons for it's purpose. The best question to ask is... "why do you want to take gatorade?" Just for calories, or for a workout recovery, or for hydration??

chizzledfrmstone

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

I think that one makes no sense. At least with the carb mix, you can use it to replete lost glycogen stores. The zero versions are just salt water! I admit, just as we use isotonic solutions for volume resuscitation in the hospital, an oral fluid with sald or sugar is better absorbed across the gut, so there is that, but the mix of sodium to potassium is just a nightmare for general use.

Are you saying the ratio of sodium to balance isn't a good balance? I wouldn't use a liquid to replace glyocgen stores. Another consideration is what type of exercise you just did to replace the glyocgen? Low intensity cardio, no point. Even if glyocgen stores aren't depleted enough to use all the glucose produced, It would have adverse side effects from my understanding.
As you stated yourself it's better absorbed. The way I use is it is to prevent dehydration, correct me if I am wrong.

I've got a better rehydration technique.

1.) Get Cholera
2.) Oral Rehydration Therapy
3.) ???
4.) Profit

wildon883r

I drink Gatorade G2 when i feel the need for a cold flavored drink. MiO is also a alternative as is Fuze Slenderize but mostly water. It's not an every day thing and most times it's a cup or less when i do drink it.

WolffEarl

Waste of money in my opinion. Cold water from the fridge .. Life is good.

lovejoydavid

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

I think that one makes no sense. At least with the carb mix, you can use it to replete lost glycogen stores. The zero versions are just salt water! I admit, just as we use isotonic solutions for volume resuscitation in the hospital, an oral fluid with sald or sugar is better absorbed across the gut, so there is that, but the mix of sodium to potassium is just a nightmare for general use.

Are you saying the ratio of sodium to balance isn't a good balance? I wouldn't use a liquid to replace glyocgen stores. Another consideration is what type of exercise you just did to replace the glyocgen? Low intensity cardio, no point. Even if glyocgen stores aren't depleted enough to use all the glucose produced, It would have adverse side effects from my understanding.
As you stated yourself it's better absorbed. The way I use is it is to prevent dehydration, correct me if I am wrong.

I think the salt to potassium is designed to replicate that which is lost from sweat, which is fine. However, if you are using it strictly to replace sweat loss during activity, then I would have to ask what you are using for fueling, as anything (Gu, etc) has as much sodium. That is, if you are eating something else and still using the zero cal sports drink, you are simply doubling sodium and expense. If you are not fueling at all, I would again have to ask why. Now if you are talking about using the zero cal strictly to replace sweat loss after the activity, well, I suppose so. Though water with any small meal would have the same absorption. As to just general us, we should have an intake of about 2:1 potassium to sodium (I shoot for almost five grams of K a day, less that 2300 Na, if I can), that is just for the heart and vasculature. Gatorade, and most like it, have 5:1 in favor of sodium. Once again, that is fine if you using it alone to replace sodium loss during activity, or to prevent hyponatremia during a longish race (though I further salt supplement during a marathon event), but not for just anything.

lovejoydavid

Is the zero calorie version actually good for you, though?

I think that one makes no sense. At least with the carb mix, you can use it to replete lost glycogen stores. The zero versions are just salt water! I admit, just as we use isotonic solutions for volume resuscitation in the hospital, an oral fluid with sald or sugar is better absorbed across the gut, so there is that, but the mix of sodium to potassium is just a nightmare for general use.

Are you saying the ratio of sodium to balance isn't a good balance? I wouldn't use a liquid to replace glyocgen stores. Another consideration is what type of exercise you just did to replace the glyocgen? Low intensity cardio, no point. Even if glyocgen stores aren't depleted enough to use all the glucose produced, It would have adverse side effects from my understanding.
As you stated yourself it's better absorbed. The way I use is it is to prevent dehydration, correct me if I am wrong.

I've got a better rehydration technique.

1.) Get Cholera
2.) Oral Rehydration Therapy
3.) ???
4.) Profit

Not a fan of the good people of Florida that brought us this product?