Gatorade - Good or Bad?

roxy_babya2
roxy_babya2 Posts: 31
in Food and Nutrition
As of 3 weeks ago, I only drink water and the milk I add to my cereal, but sometimes I will drink a 12 oz Gatorade just to add some variety. I am not big on tea, water flavors, or coffee. I keep hearing that Gatorade is just as bad for you as soda is. I quit drinking soda 3 weeks ago though! Please help me with any advice and what I can drink in place of Gatorade if it really is that bad for you. Thanks!

Replies

  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Powerade zero
  • roxy_babya2
    roxy_babya2 Posts: 31
    What is the difference between the two aside from calories?
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    I would label it 'unnecessary'. Unless you're a high performance athlete, you don't need it. Therefore, it's just another caloric beverage ..... same **** different pile as a can of coke or a glass of juice
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    What is the difference between the two aside from calories?
    ...calories seem like a good enough reason to me lol

    Both are fine as far as your health, but I like to save my calories for food. If I can cut calories by swapping a drink I do it.
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    and I say that as someone who had a G2 today lol.

    Decent enough as a flavoured water I suppose
  • workaholic_nurse
    workaholic_nurse Posts: 727 Member
    What we tell our patients is that if you insist on drinking gatorade dilute it with water at a 1 to 1 ratio. Otherwise it ends up dehydrating you due to the sugar content.
  • MommaChocoLatte
    MommaChocoLatte Posts: 389 Member
    I have a biased opinion... I work at a Pepsi/Gatorade warehouse lol.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    I believe Gatorade has about half the calories and sugar of soda. So not as bad for you, but still a fairly high calorie beverage. If it fits in your calorie allotment, I see no harm having some. I prefer not to drink my calories though as it's empty calories.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    Sports Drinks: Conclusion

    Sports drinks are not necessarily bad for you. In fact, if you are exercising, sports drinks can even help you to perform better. If you aren't planning on engaging in serious exercise however, sports drinks aren't necessary, and you should probably stay away from them. Forget the sports drink and grab a glass of water, you'll be a healthier person if you do.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    What’s in Gatorade?
    ■Water: Good
    ■Sucrose syrup and glucose-fructose syrup: Just Sugar
    ■Citric acid: Natural, provides tartness,
    ■Natural and artificial flavors: ?
    ■Salt, sodium citrate: Provides sodium, electrolytes
    ■Monopotassium phosphate: Provides potassium, another electrolyte
    ■Ester gum: An emulsifier, made from wood
    ■Sucrose acetate isobutyrate: an emulsifier and for used for orange flavor, artificial
    ■Yellow 5: Coloring that causes problems in asthmatics, being phased out in some countries.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    it s a waste of calories and full of sugar
  • roxy_babya2
    roxy_babya2 Posts: 31
    Thanks everyone! I think I will cut Gatorade out as well. I just read a few articles about cutting up fruit and cucumbers and putting them in a pitcher of water for a few hours to get some more flavor in water. So I will start doing that to get a variety of flavor. I appreciate all of the feedback!

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