Most people are familiar with Gatorade as a refreshing sports drink. It's the perfect drink to quench your thirst after a long walk, run, or sporting event.
Why is Gatorade more refreshing than water or orange juice after a workout?
The main "secret ingredient" is electrolytes. Other ingredients like water, zinc, and vitamin C also have nutritional value for Gatorade drinkers.
Here's an in-depth look into Gatorade nutrition facts and hydration tips for athletes.
What Are Electrolytes (and Why Are They Healthy?)
An electrolyte is an essential mineral that is found naturally in the body. Electrolyte minerals generate an electrical charge when they dissolve into bodily fluids like blood and water.
What do they do for your body exactly?
For starters, these minerals regulate the amount of water in your system. They balance your body's PH levels which are the acids and bases in the body.
Next, they're important for transferring essential nutrients to your cells. They also help eliminate wastes and toxins from those cells.
Electrolytes are shown to regulate the nervous system and boost muscle function. You'll often find people drinking Gatorade at the gym or after a rigorous cardio workout.
These minerals are proven to stabilize heart rates and improve blood pressure. Studies have also shown electrolytes to improve teeth and bone health.
Of course, electrolytes in Gatorade help people stay hydrated, the most immediate benefit.
Types of Electrolytes to Know
There are eight different types of electrolytes in the body. You can also absorb these electrolytes from various foods and electrolyte drinks like Gatorade.
They include:
- Chloride
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Bicarbonate
- Phosphate
- Potassium
- Calcium
Let's start with bicarbonate. This is the electrolyte that helps balance the PH levels in your body. It also circulates carbon dioxide in the blood.
The electrolyte that regulates the amount of water in your system is chloride. This mineral is essential for regulating blood pressure, as well.
Potassium, also found in bananas, is an essential electrolyte for cell, muscle, and heart function. Thus, if you want even more healthy electrolytes, enjoy your post-workout Gatorade with a banana and a cup of yogurt.
Sodium, an important electrolyte in Gatorade, controls water levels in the body, similar to chloride. It's also an essential nutrient for your nervous system and muscle function.
Both calcium and phosphate work together to strengthen bones, including teeth. Magnesium is important for regulating glucose levels in your blood; you need this electrolyte mineral for proper functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system.
Gatorade Nutrition Facts for Electrolyte Content
If you want to find the exact amount of electrolytes in one bottle of Gatorade, check the nutritional fact label. You'll find various types of electrolytes along with the mineral amount in grams or milligrams.
For example, Gatorade typically contains 37mg to 135mg of potassium, depending on the bottle size and flavor. If you're buying a larger size, that's about a fourth of the potassium in a banana and almost as much potassium in a small apple. Thus, Gatorade is an excellent thirst quencher to go along with a cup of fruit on a hot day.
Gatorade's sodium electrolyte count is even higher than potassium. One bottle of the sports beverage contains anywhere from 97mg to 238mg of sodium electrolytes which comes out to 4% to 10%, approximately.
You'll also find smaller amounts of magnesium electrolytes in Gatorade drinks, as well as calcium.
Other Healthy Gatorade Ingredients
Gatorade is an electrolyte-charged flavored water drink. Thus, its primary function is to hydrate and energize. For many consumers, Gatorade feels even more hydrating than regular tap water and even bottled water.
Even better, Gatorade has plenty of vitamins and minerals aside from electrolytes.
You'll find vitamin C in Gatorade, particularly in citrus-flavored varieties. Always check the nutritional fact sheet for exact amounts.
Vitamins B6 and 12 are two more vitamins found in Gatorade; this vitamin is a favorite among consumers and athletes who want to increase their energy levels.
You can also absorb these vitamins from:
- Salmon (and other similar fish)
- Farm fresh eggs
- Chicken and beef
- Tuna (fresh and canned)
- Chickpeas
- Bananas
- Avocados
- Tomatoes
Try pairing your post-workout Gatorade with a healthy salmon salad with avocado dressing and a fried egg. Fresh tomatoes with oil and balsamic vinegar also make a tasty, energizing snack with a bottle of your favorite Gatorade flavor.
If you want more vitamin C in your diet, you can infuse your Gatorade with fresh-squeezed orange juice for a more refreshing morning beverage. You can always add vitamin C supplements to your daily routine, as well.
Iron is another mineral found in Gatorade.
This mineral is essential for oxygenating blood as the main protein in hemoglobin. Iron helps circulate oxygen throughout the muscles and improves metabolism. It's also known for boosting the body's immune system.
Another vitamin you'll see listed on the Gatorade nutrition label is vitamin K. This vitamin helps prevent blood clots while improving bone health.
On the list, you'll notice zinc. This mineral is responsible for strengthening immune systems and preventing inflammation in the body. Since it's an antioxidant, zinc supplements and mineral content help decrease oxidative stress.
Zinc helps regulate blood sugar levels which is vital for cardio and working out. This mineral is regularly found in supplements supporting eye and skin health, making Gatorade an excellent beverage to accompany daily vitamin intake.
Healthy Drinks You Can Make With Gatorade
Gatorade is a versatile sports hydration beverage that can be mixed with other healthy sources.
For example, you could bring a nourishing Gatorade-based smoothie to the gym. This idea covers both your hydration and protein intake.
One idea is an "orange dream" smoothie.
This recipe calls for one part of orange-flavored Gatorade and equal parts of orange juice. Pour your liquid into a blender and choose your frozen fruit. This hydrating recipe works great with frozen mango, pineapple, and banana.
You can also blend your orange-flavored Gatorade with ice and fresh fruit. Blend in a cup of plain or vanilla yogurt for extra creaminess and protein.
Post-workout smoothies call for lots of protein.
For these recipes, add the following to your blender:
- One cup of fruit punch Gatorade
- A 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt
- One-half cup of cherries (for antioxidants)
- Frozen pineapple (one cup)
- One Frozen banana
You can also add a tablespoon or two for extra sweetness. Use honey instead of sugar since honey has more health benefits.
Cutting down (or out) alcohol is another healthy choice that can help you lose weight, get fit, and improve your mood. Gatorade is also the secret ingredient for many popular mocktails. Even better, you still enjoy those healthy electrolytes that can inspire a spontaneous evening run or night at the gym.
Simply mix your Gatorade flavor of choice with equal parts Sprite and cranberry juice for an energizing and detoxifying mocktail with friends or at home. Use blue Gatorade to make a refreshing lavender drink.
Gatorade's Purple Riptide Rush, from the "Frost" selection, makes a perfect healthy mocktail base. Its purple color catches the eye and can be mixed with lemon-lime soda or simple club soda for a refreshing post-workout hydration mocktail.
Your favorite Gatorade flavors can be frozen into ice cubes for healthy, hydrating mocktails. You can also pour Gatorade into popsicle molds to create super-refreshing, energizing treats for summer sports, jog-a-thons, and more recreational activities. Remember to bring a dependable cooler and bags of ice to keep your Gatorade pops frozen.
Gatorade pops can also be made with frozen blueberries, strawberry chunks, and mango. Electrolyte slushies also make a refreshing, hydrating alternative for summer workouts outside.
Can You Drink Gatorade When You're Sick?
Electrolyte drinks are recommended when you're sick with the flu, for example. This illness can leave patients severely dehydrated. Thus, drinking Gatorade can make patients feel even more hydrated than water or hot tea.
Cold, refreshing Gatorade can help cool and soothe sore throats. Frozen Gatorade pops are also helpful for regulating hydration during cases of flu, diarrhea, and other illnesses that cause fluid loss. Electrolyte pops are a great idea for sick children who need to ingest more fluids.
Electrolyte-packed Gatorade hits the spot and hydrates if you're struggling with nausea. Staying hydrated when you're sick helps prevent painful headaches and migraines.
If you're really struggling with nausea and diarrhea, it's best to drink an electrolyte beverage like Pedialyte; however, there are Gatorade selections with lower sugar content to consider.
How Much Gatorade Can You Drink?
Tasty and refreshing Gatorade can be consumed quickly, especially during hot days and long workouts. However, you want to stay within a certain amount to follow the recommended daily sodium limit.
The American Heart Association has set a daily sodium cap of 1,500mg; thus, one bottle of Gatorade accounts for roughly 11% of that daily intake at 270mg. Consider keeping a sodium log that measures these levels from sports beverages and foods to ensure healthy blood pressure.
You also need calories especially when you're working out, bulking up, or establishing a new sports hobby. These activities burn calories quickly, plus, you also need adequate caloric intake to avoid fatigue. Your body needs calories to regulate metabolism, process nutrients, and facilitate cell production.
Gatorade contains about 140 calories for a regular serving. People need at least 200 to 300 calories a day to function.
Highly active individuals, like athletes and regular gymgoers, need even more calories. In these cases, caloric intake should range between 2,000 to 3,000 calories, depending on gender. Generally, active men require more calories than women.
People who are bulking up will often increase their daily calories to 3,800, but they shouldn't proceed with this route without a professional opinion.
Whatever your athletic goals, Gatorade can supply sufficient hydration, electrolytes, and caloric intake.
Homemade Gatorade Recipes
Yes, you can make your own homemade Gatorade alternatives!
One of the best hydrating alternatives is coconut water. This natural beverage is packed with such electrolytes as manganese, potassium, and sodium.
Add a higher quantity of coconut water (and regular water) to fruit juice if you want to mimic the light (but refreshing) taste of fruit found in Gatorade. Next, add a little bit of natural salt to increase the sodium electrolytes. The next step is a sweetener; add honey over sugar for a natural sweetener.
You can also add some optional lime or lemon juice. This addition adds an extra kick, as well as detoxification benefits. Lastly, add some refreshing spring water to your natural Gatorade recipe.
Customize this recipe to create an impressive range of flavors just like store-bought Gatorade. Flavors include fruit punch, orange mango, strawberry, lemon-lime, grape, guava, and more. Add frozen blueberries and strawberries to your homemade Gatorade for even more vitamins and minerals.
Buy a tumbler designed to keep drinks cold. This will enhance the hydration of your store-bought or homemade Gatorade. You can also freeze your beverage the night before going to the gym.
Make Gatorade a part of your complete gym (or workout) diet by including it in a cold thermal lunch pack.
Pair your electrolyte beverage with the following snack and lunch ideas:
- Homemade fruit salad
- Baked fish with garlic butter
- Trail mix
- Peanut butter with celery
- Hardboiled eggs (and low-fat deviled eggs)
- Avocado salad
- Stuffed green peppers
You can also make protein bars and granola along with homemade Gatorade.
Make sure to keep a log of all your electrolyte and caloric intake to stay within doctor-recommended levels. Consider talking to a nutritionist about your goals to optimize your diet plan.
Enjoy Surprising Gatorade Health Benefits
It's time to incorporate Gatorade into your workout and diet plan the right way. Review this guide again as you craft the perfect fitness and food strategy for your health goals. Keep track of sodium levels while enjoying the benefits of refreshing electrolyte drinks.
Optimize these Gatorade nutrition facts with even more advice. Check out our blog for the latest trends in fitness, bulking, supplements, probiotics, and more.
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