Received this email from a client this week and wanted to share my answer because I’m asking about the truth about sports drinks a lot.
Q: “I drink a ton of water during the day and that has never been a problem for me. But, one of my biggest vices is Gatorade. I don’t drink it everyday, but I absolutely love it and always have. I typically have a few 32oz bottles a week. Now, in addition to the Flybarre challenge [barre class], I still take 4 or 5 Flywheel classes [spinning], so I do need to replenish. My quick question to you is what is your stance on Gatorade or other sports drinks? Hopefully, it’s not negative . . . .
Thanks again for all your help thus far, and look forward to chatting next time.”
A:
Here’s the deal with gatorade:
(In Gatorade melon flavor), the ingredients are:
Water, Sucrose, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Gum Arabic, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Yellow 6, Red 40.
In short, it’s made of water, sugar, chemicals, salt and food coloring. If you’re intention for working out is to feel healthier, ease your muscles and joints, shed pounds, gain energy, etc, then I wouldn’t say that this is the best option to replenish and hydrate. But, good news! I have a few other options that may make you feel even more hydrated and replenished that are still super sweet and wont comprise taste!
Also, just taking a look at a 32oz (Gatorade Fierce Melon flavor),
the serving size is 4 in a container. Meaning, that if you finish the entire bottle,
you’re taking in a total of 200 calories, 440mg of sodium, 120 mg potassium, 72g carbohydrates
and 56 grams of sugar (equivalent to 14 tsp of sugar, which is a lot!)
Here are some other options that will help you feel great, are sweet like gatorade, even more replenishing, higher in electrolytes and totally natural- no chemicals or food colorings that will wreak havoc to your joints energy and body:
– Coconut Water– in a 32oz container, there is a total of 80 calories, 50 mg sodium, 940 mg potassium, 22g carbohydrates
and 22g sugar (equivalent to 5.5 tsp of sugar), so less calories, carbohydrates and sugar than gatorade. Also, Coconut water is higher in electrolytes than gatorade, more natural (the ingredients are all that you can pronounce- coconut water + less than 1% natural sugar + vitamin c), The potassium is amount 9 times the amount in gatorade, which helps your muscles regenerate! If you don’t like the natural flavor of coconut water, I would recommend the flavored varieties (pineapple or mango).
– Recharge: an all natural sports drink that is the most like gatorade. my clients love it and it tastes more like fruit juice without the added chemicals or food colorings. P.S. According to nutrition experts, Dr. John Douillard, in the UK, any food item sold with food coloring must have a warning on the label that it may have an adverse effect on the activity and attention off children. Can’t be good for adults either, right?
Recharge doesn’t have artificial food dye (the color is derived from “fruit and vegetable juice) and you can pronounce all of the ingredients – total plus: (FILTERED WATER; WHITE GRAPE, APPLE, RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, AND PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATES; NATURAL FLAVOR; FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE (COLOR); SEA SALT) . The total amount of calories, sugar and carbohydrates is high – similar to gatorade but this is derived from fruit concentrates, not white sugar so it’s going to effect your body differently). : 210 calories, 100mg sodium, 340mg potassium (more than gatorade), and carbs and sugar is most like gatorade too- 72 g carbohydrates, 68grams of sugar . You can get on Amazon, at Whole Foods or a local natural foods store near you.
– Sweet Chia Water: when I was running a half marathon 2 years ago, I searched for all of the best and most natural forms of energy. This drink kept me going on my long runs and even on race day. Avid athletes and marathon runners recommended it to me and it worked! Chia seeds are provide sustained energy, combat dehydration, reduce joint pain and inflammation. Because they are extremely absorbent (expanding up to ten times their original size when soaked in water and forming a gel-like substance) and absorbing thirty times their weight in water, they help regulate body fluid levels and retain electrolytes. The chia mixed with honey gives you a boost of good-for-you sugar to keep you going. Make it here and shake it up.
be energized. be replenished. be well.
xo
be well,
arielle
