I’m glad this thread appeared. I’ve used Gatorade in the past when recovering from the flu. I have my own medical problems that make hot weather and dehydration an issue and I’m going to try drinking Gatorade regularly (I like the green flavor).
Sugar = good
High Fructose Corn Syrup = bad
This is correct… Gatorade from the early 80s–the earliest I could find–had 130mg sodium per 8 ounce serving and 42mg potassium. G2 is 160mg per 12 ounce serving (serving sizes increased) and 45mg potassium. So that definitely did change. You have similar amounts of electrolytes (actually a bit more in today’s serving), but serving size changed from 8 oz to 12 oz. Per ounce, it’s 13.33 mg sodium in G2 vs 16.25 for older Gatorade and 3.75mg potassium vs. 5.25.
How about SmartWater? It’s just water with electrolytes.
Thank you for the link. I’m going to be requesting the free guide it mentions.
According to that PDF, I should be adding a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to each 32 oz container of G2. That’s good to know.
Gatorade also makes Gatorade Endurance Formula for endurance athletes (marathon runners and the like). It has twice the sodium and thrice the potassium as regular Gatorade. I’m not sure if they sell it in grocery stores, though. They would probably have it at running stores.
How important is potassium? WhyNot’s link only mentions adding salt.
FWIW, back when I was doing a lot of athletic stuff in high school, I asked my doctor about this kind of thing, and his opinion was that hydration was the most important, and that we weren’t likely to run particularly short of electrolytes in your average hour or two of exercise (like say, football practice), even in the Texas summer, and to skip the sports drinks, as we didn’t need the sugar or electrolytes in such a short exercise, and that water was better overall for staying hydrated for most people. He also commented that the sodium/potassium ratio was off, and that the levels were way too high for effective hydration. He did say that if you’re a marathoner or triathlete, then there’s merit to sports drinks, but for most people, they don’t do much good.
Here’s an article that also says the same thing, only 22 years later.
As mentioned, most people really don’t need electrolyte replacement. Unless you are exercising in hot conditions for extended periods of time, drinking water and having a salty snack is more than enough.
Again, this thread is about the needs of people with specific medical conditions. It’s correct that plain water is sufficient for most people, but some have special needs.
It may not contain electrolytes and barely a trace of vitamins but there is a beverage out there called 'Sparkling Ice"
I had read about it and finally sampled it. It was delicious. Zero calories. The Blackberry flavored variety.
I mostly drink water, but for the occasional treat I can highly praise Sparkling Ice brand!
Sugar = bad
High Fructose Corn Syrup = sugar (that’s cheap and thus added to too many products in too high of quantities)
But sugar is good when needed to aid in hydration.
I missed the part in the OP that mentioned medical issues, my apologies.
Moderate amount of sugar = good.
Too much sugar = bad.
The main problem with HFCS is just that it’s so cheap that it gets used in everything, and so makes it really easy to get too much sugar.
G2 has actual sugar (along with some artificial sweeteners) rather than HFCS.
Potassium supplements can very easily be overdosed, and most of us - even those of us with crappy diets - get enough potassium from food. It’s in everything, including french fries. Generally, if your doctor wants you to supplement potassium, she will prescribe it to you in a pill, for more accurate dosing, and after doing a blood test to see how much you need.
Older recipes for ORS did often include salt substitute powder, potassium chloride, but I haven’t seen that in a long time.
I’m not sure if paragraph one is the reason for paragraph two.
I’ve gotten hooked on BAI since my office building cafeteria started carrying it about two months ago, especially the Molokai Coconut and coconut/lime flavors. It’s got electrolytes, antioxidants, and only 10 calories per bottle.
I think I’ll go grab a bottle now.
First, Gatorade does not contain HFCS so this is a digression.
Second, you’re deluding yourself if you think HFCS is really much different from sucrose or other forms of sugar. (The fructose/glucose ratio in agave nectar, that darling of natural foods, is almost identical to that in HFCS.)
Chronos is closest, though. Some sugar, some times, in some places, can be good or at least neutral. You want sugar in your electrolytes. Too much sugar, as a long-term source of empty calories in your diet, is bad, but it’s surprisingly difficult to define what exactly “too much” means.
You can “roll yer own” that tastes much better, using Morton’s “Lite Salt” for the potassium, and a pinch of regular salt, etc. WHO had a recipe for oral rehydration. If you dig around you can find the correct ratios. The problem isn’t so much that Gatorade is a little weak on what’s needed, although that’s part of it, it’s damnably expensive for what you get. Folks who are working hard in hot conditions need to drink gallons a day.
The sugars (and salts) helps allow the gut to absorb it, otherwise it will run right through. If the mix is made correctly it will never taste particularly good, this is probably an example of bean counters and marketing types.