Are You Drinking Adult Kool-Aid®?
Not All Sports Drinks are Created Equal. SWORD® Performance Drinks Are a Healthier, More Sustainable Hydration Option
Gatorade was developed as a solution to why athletes were falling ill after strenuous activity in the heat. Researchers found that athletes were losing critical electrolytes and fluid with exertion but not replacing them. While it’s marketed and sold as a sports drink or as an exercise enhancement drink, athletes aren’t the only ones drinking Gatorade®.
Viewed as a healthier alternative to soda, children are drinking it at lunch or after practices, and in some circles, it’s even developed a reputation as a hangover cure.
Gatorade® contains electrolytes to rehydrate people and provide energy. However, it also contains high levels of sugar, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, chemical preservatives and color dyes all of which can increase people’s health risks. But while Gatorade® may contain less sugar than soda, is it actually good for you?
According to Healthy Eating Research, people’s intake of sugary drinks has increased significantly in the last 3 decades. Drinking sugary sports drinks, such as Gatorade, is associated with:
- Weight gain
- Poor diet
- Switching from healthful drinks
- Raised risk of diabetes and obesity
Still, this alone does not mean that Gatorade® or other sports drinks is bad for a person’s health. People can consume moderate amounts of sports drink and experience no negative effects.
Both Gatorade and water will help the body regain fluid lost through exercise and other physical activity. The difference is that manufacturers add additional elements, such as sugar and electrolytes, to Gatorade® and other sports drinks.
Electrolytes are minerals, such as potassium and sodium that have an impact on a person’s muscles, brain, and nerves.
When a person exercises, they lose not only water but also electrolytes through their sweat. Sport drinks help to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.
The manufacturers have designed Gatorade® for serious athletes and those involved in extended, vigorous activities. In addition to adding electrolytes to the person’s fluid consumption, it also adds sugar. Typically, serious athletes and people involved in long, strenuous activities can handle the added sugar, as they will burn it off, during their normal routines. Extra sugar is more likely to cause health complications in people who exercise less often or only for an hour or less.
Central Washington University compared calorie counts of Gatorade® and other drinks per serving:
- Gatorade contains 50 calories
- Powerade and All-Sport contain 70 calories
- Coca-Cola contains 103 calories
- Orange juice contains 104 calories
According to the same information, Gatorade® offers 14 grams (g) of carbohydrates per serving compared to 27 g in Coca-Cola and 25 g in orange juice.
The University of California, Berkeley’s 2014 paper concludes that children’s increase in sugary drink consumption, including energy drinks, may be contributing to weight gain in adulthood. Researchers also link this to chronic conditions that include type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
For most people, including children , the extra sugar, sodium, and calories found in sugary drinks are not necessary. In fact, these calories may be replacing calorie intake from more nutritious sources. In addition to calories, people should consider some other factors. Lower calorie versions of Gatorade contain artificial sweeteners that some research indicates may lead to ongoing weight problems.
A final consideration, especially for those with allergies and sensitivity, is the presence of food dyes such as Red No. 40, Blue No. 1, and Yellow No. 5 in Gatorade® and other sports drinks. These artificial dyes are derived from petroleum and may increase the risk of hyperactivity in children. They’ve also been linked to cancer.
SWORD® PERFORMANCE | Unstoppable Game-Changer in the World of Hydration
Designed to help maintain hydration using natural ingredients that serve a purpose in your body, SWORD® Performance products are American Made and backed by medical knowledge, research data, and built to do a job: protect people who work hard from heat stress and fatigue. SWORD® uses all natural ingredients with no added colors, artificial flavors, sweeteners, or artificial preservatives.
Available in two blends: select SWORD® for when you are sweating and working hard and SHIELD® for everyday light-physical mid-stress environments or when water isn’t enough. SHIELD® ZERO is an electrolyte enhanced water with balanced electrolytes that hydrates better and faster than water with zero sugar and zero artificial sweeteners that is diabetic friendly.
No matter who you are, no matter what you do, everyone has gear that they rely on to get them through the task at hand. Turns out what you’re drinking is as important as the gear you use on the outside of your body! So the next time you grab your cleats, shovel, paddle or helmet, be sure to stay hydrated and protected with Drinkable PPE®!
+shop for SWORD® Electrolyte Hydration Drinks here now
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