I hear that Gatorade is not good. If so, why?!


Question:

I hear that Gatorade is not good. If so, why?


Answers:
The sugar content is high.

Drink Red Bull.....
It's definitely good....

Last I heard about Gatorade was that it was one of the best things to replace electrolytes in the body. My doctor told me that.What have you heard to the contrary?

It has a high sugar content. Should not drink it if you are diabetic.

glorified sugar water. unless yer very active, probably not doin a lot for you. i'm not a dietician, just what i heard

Because it contains too much sugar

Too much sugar accumulates in the body with excessive use of sports drinks. It is ok to drink them occasionally but dont overfo it. Also, some people eith liver problems should not drink it.

Because if you drink a whole bottle of Gatorade you are consuming about 56 grams of sugar,this is not required in a normal sedentary lifestyle. And in this situation it could be considered "bad" for you. Only after intense long workouts or in excessive heat would Gatorade be of any more benefit than regular H2O.

It has a high sugar content. It actually dehydrates you and therefore your performance in sport or other physical activity willl be less than if you only drank straight water. So it is best just to drink straight water.

too much sugar

Gatorade is not that good for you because the high sugar content, but it also takes the enamel off your teeth. It is one of the drinks that firefighters use when they feel dehydrated.

It has a high sugar content, but my Doctor told me it replaces electrolytes in the body. It's good if you have the stomach virus, it keeps you hydrated when you're not eating or drinking much.

Because there's nothing like plan ol' water. Some people think Gatorade is just as good and in some cases that's fine. But water hydrates you just as well and it doesn't contain a whole bunch of sugar. I mean really, i've heard someone say they were thirsty, but i've never heard anyone say " gosh my electrolytes are off today, better drink some Gatorade. But it does taste pretty darn good, especially the red one.

it raises your heart rate which is very bad

Gatorade is a non-carbonated sports drink marketed by PepsiCo. Originally made for athletes (the drink was created by researchers at the University of Florida and named for the school's mascot), it is now often consumed as a snack beverage. The drink is intended to rehydrate and to replenish the carbohydrates (in the form of sugars sucrose and glucose) and electrolytes (sodium and potassium salts) depleted during aerobic exercise, especially in warmer, more humid climates.


1 Composition
2 Gatorade Sports Science Institute
3 Competition
4 Flavors
4.1 Flavors in the United States with known introduction dates
4.1.1 1969
4.1.2 1973
4.1.3 1983
4.1.4 1993
4.1.5 1997
4.1.6 1999
4.1.7 2001
4.1.8 2002
4.1.9 2003
4.1.10 2004
4.1.11 2005
4.1.12 2006
4.1.13 2007
4.1.14 Year unknown
4.2 Flavors available outside the U.S.
4.3 Energy Bar flavors
5 GatorGum
6 Popular culture
7 Common substitutes
8 Product Reviews
9 References
10 External links



[edit] Composition
The original Gatorade contained water, sucrose (table sugar) and glucose-fructose syrups, and citric acid, sodium chloride (table salt), sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, and flavoring/coloring ingredients. It supplies 127 mg/l of potassium and 464 mg/l of sodium, and 59 g/l of carbohydrates (in the form of sugars). The current (2006) Gatorade panel claims that Gatorade rehydrates athletes better than water because the flavor makes it easier to drink. But note that the current composition of Gatorade contains High Fructose Corn Syrup. This has led many to question the effectiveness of Gatorade as a sports drink. Critics often consider Gatorade to be more of a beverage product marketed towards everyday consumers than a serious science-inspired thirst quencher.


A bottle of Gatorade, Fruit Punch flavor.Gatorade also markets an Energy Formula and an Endurance Formula. The Energy Formula was introduced in 2000 and contains more monosaccharides and carbohydrates for quick available energy needed during athletic competition. As a result, this formula is sweeter than regular Gatorade. It comes in 12-fluid ounce plastic bottles in the U.S. The Endurance Formula, introduced in 2004, contains more of the electrolytes (such as calcium and magnesium) than the typical Gatorade formula. The additional electrolytes replenish what the body sweats out during extended periods of physical exertion, especially in hot weather. Because of this, the Endurance Formula tastes saltier than original Gatorade.

In 2000, Gatorade introduced Propel Fitness drink. Propel Fitness Water is sweetened with sucrose syrup, sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Propel has the same electrolytes as Gatorade, along with some vitamins, which makes it similar to Vitamin Water. Propel Fitness Water with Calcium was introduced in 2006. Also, in 2006, Gatorade introduced its Rain flavor line, which features a lighter, watery taste similar to its Propel line but which comes in the bottle size and shape as the original Gatorade.

Gatorade revealed the Gatorade line Energy Bar in 1999. This energy bar was Gatorade's first foray into solid foods, and was introduced to compete with PowerBar and Clif Bar. Gatorade Energy Bars contain a large proportion of protein in addition to its carbohydrates. The bar is mainly made up of puffed grains and corn syrup, common components of energy bars. Gatorade is meant to rehydrate ones essential loss of water through their body as a result of amino acid sweat.


[edit] Gatorade Sports Science Institute
The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) is a facility for researching athletics and hydration. The headquarters are in Barrington, Illinois and were established in 1988. The facility has laboratories especially for studying nutrition, exercise physiology, and biochemistry.


[edit] Competition
Gatorade's main competition is POWERade, made by the Coca-Cola Company. Kool-Aid also holds a fair share of potential sports drink consumers. All Sport is a competitor marketed by Monarch Beverage Company, of Atlanta, Georgia. All Sport was marketed by PepsiCo until 2001, when Gatorade's maker, the Quaker Oats Company was acquired by PepsiCo. All Sport was sold off to the Monarch Beverage Company soon after.

Outside the United States the Lucozade energy drink (manufactured since 1927 by the pharmaceutical company now known as GlaxoSmithKline) competes with Gatorade and Powerade. Lucozade's formulation differs in that it uses primarily glucose and contains caffeine. The more direct competitor to Gatorade and Powerade is Lucozade Sport.


[edit] Flavors

[edit] Flavors in the United States with known introduction dates

[edit] 1969
Lemon Lime (green-yellow)

[edit] 1973
Orange (orange)

[edit] 1983
Fruit Punch (red)

[edit] 1993
Iced Tea Cooler (brown, discontinued in 1995)

[edit] 1997
Frost Glacier Freeze (light blue)
Frost Riptide Rush (purple)
Frost Alpine Snow (white, discontinued.)
Frost Whitewater Splash (green, discontinued)
Frost Clear Melon (colorless, discontinued)
Lemon Ice (colorless, discontinued)

[edit] 1999
Fierce Lime (green, discontinued)
Fierce Melon (orange)
Fierce Berry (red, discontinued)
Fierce Grape (dark blue-violet)
Midnight Thunder (black, discontinued)

[edit] 2001
Passion Fruit (pink, discontinued)
Starfruit (light green, discontinued)
Frost High Tide (green, discontinued)

[edit] 2002
Strawberry Ice (colorless, discontinued)
Lime Ice (colorless, discontinued)
Orange Ice (colorless, discontinued)
Frost Cascade Crash (blue, discontinued)

[edit] 2003
Cool Blue (blue)
Extremo Tropical Intenso (red)
Extremo Citrico Vibrante (yellow, discontinued)
Extremo Mango Electrico (orange)
Watermelon Ice (colorless)
Berry Citrus (red, discontinued)
Fierce Strawberry (dark pink)

[edit] 2004
ESPN the Flavor (red, discontinued)
X-Factor Fruit Punch + Berry (red)
X-Factor Orange + Tropical Fruit (red-orange)
X-Factor Lemon-lime + Strawberry (yellow-green)

[edit] 2005
Lemonade (light yellow)
Raspberry Lemonade (very light pink)
Strawberry Lemonade (pink)
All-Stars Grape (dark blue-violet, discontinued)
All-Stars Lemon-Lime (yellow)
All-Stars Berry (blue)
All-Stars Strawberry (red)
Cooler Orange (orange, limited edition, discontinued)

[edit] 2006
Berry Rain (light purple)
Lime Rain (light green)
Tangerine Rain (light orange)
Cherry Rain (light red)
Fierce Wild Berry (blue)

[edit] 2007
Strawberry Kiwi Rain (pink)
Gatorade A.M. (Tropical-Mango)
Gatorade A.M. (Orange-Strawberry)
Gatorade A.M. (Cran-Raspberry)
Gatorade A.M. (Georgia Reilly)

[edit] Year unknown
All-Stars Ice Punch (colorless)
All-Stars Tropical Punch (orange, discontinued)
Gatorade Smoothies (Orange, Fruit Punch, Mango, Strawberry)
Citrus Cooler (Yellow-orange) (4th flavor, introduced during the 1980s after fruit punch; gained popularity as Michael Jordan's preferred flavor). Per Gatorade's website, this flavor now has limited US distribution.
Strawberry Kiwi (pink)
Cherry Rush (Deep Red, Discontinued)

[edit] Flavors available outside the U.S.
Active
Alpine Snow
Antarctic Freeze
Arctic Snow
Apple
Apple Ice
Berry Citrus
Berry Rain
Black Ice
Blueberry
Blue Bolt
Blue Raspberry
Blue Thunder
Bryan Letteri
Cascade Crash
Challenge
Citrus
Citrus Cooler
Citrus Fruit
Citrus Water
Cool Blue
Cool Blue Raspberry
Cool Cascade
Coom Rush
Dudi
Extremo Citrico Vibrante
Extremo Mango Electrico
Extremo Tropical Intenso
Fierce Berry
Fierce Citrus Fruit
Fierce Grape
Fierce Lemon
Fierce Lime
Fierce Melon
Fierce Orange Cherry
Fierce Strawberry
Fruit Punch
Furia Intensa
Glacier Freeze
Grape
Grapefruit
Greg "The Hammer"
Green
Green Apple
High Tide
Kiwi
Lemon
Lemonade
Lemon Chill
Lemon Ice
Lemon Lime
Lemon Mix
Lime Ice
Lime Rain
Mandarin
MANGO
Maracuya
Nespera
Orange
Orange Grapefruit
Orange Ice
Orange Mix
Passion Fruit
Peach Cooler
Pink Grapefruit
Pro
Raspberry
Red
Red Orange
Red Tornado
Riptide Rush
Sky Blast
Strawberry Ice
Strawberry Kiwi
Strawberry Passion Fruit
Strawberry Watermelon
Tangerine
Tangerine Rain
Tropical
Tropical Burst
Tropical Fruit
Tropical Storm
Watermelon Chill
Watermelon Ice
White Ice
Wild Water Rush
X-Factor Crosby Formula 87
X-Factor Fruit Punch + Berry
X-Factor Lemon Lime + Strawberry





[edit] Energy Bar flavors
Berry (discontinued)
Chocolate
Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip

[edit] GatorGum
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Gatorade sold a brand of chewing gum called GatorGum. The product was manufactured by Fleer Corporation, was available in each of Gatorade's two original flavors (lemon-lime and orange) and was rather sour-tasting by normal chewing gum standards.

GatorGum's foil packaging advertised that the product "Helps Quench Thirst". Like all chewing gums, the product would not actually rehydrate the body on its own. However, it may have contained electrolytes to assist the human body with the rehydration process.


[edit] Popular culture
Perhaps the most notable presence of Gatorade is the "Gatorade Shower" (originally called The Gatorade Dunk) at the end of a football game, where players from a winning team, usually after a significant victory or championship, grab the Gatorade cooler, sneak up behind the head coach, and pour the contents over his head. This modern-day tradition began in the mid-80's when Jim Burt of the New York Giants doused head coach Bill Parcells during the 1985 season. Burt's teammates picked up on this practice and popularized it during team's championship season of 1986-87. The tradition gained widespread popularity, and coaches at all levels get the dubious dunk.[1]
In Clerks., Dante Hicks' (Brian O'Halloran) hockey teammates request free Gatorade from the Quick Stop convenience store.
In The Waterboy, Coach Klein (Henry Winkler) tells Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) that Gatorade is better than water, in an effort to harness his inner rage for use on the football field.
Gatorade's 1991 "Be Like Mike" ads featured Michael Jordan, the superstar for the Chicago Bulls who had just won his first NBA championship. They began airing in August of 1991 and soon the phrase 'Be Like Mike' was being said all over the world. Bernie Pitzel, Creative Director of Bayer Bess Vanderwarker, Gatorade's Agency of record at the time, wrote the lyrics. Music composers Steve Shafer and Ira Antellis wrote the music. A more detailed account of the creation of the Be Like Mike campaign is contained in Darren Rovell's book entitled "First in Thirst"
Late Comedian Mitch Hedberg, making a reference to Gatorade's traditional marketing campaigns that focus exclusively on the athletics market, has said in his stand-up comedy:
"You know, people think I'm into sports just because I'm a man. I'm not into sports. I mean, I like Gatorade, but that's about as far as it goes. By the way, you don't have to be sweaty and holding a basketball to enjoy a Gatorade. You could just be a thirsty dude. Gatorade forgets about this demographic. I'm thirsty for absolutely no reason. Other than the fact that liquid has not touched my lips for some time. Can I have a Gatorade too, or does that lightning bolt mean 'No'?"
In Paul Simon's song, "Papa Hobo" on his self-titled album, he sings, "I'll be living off Gatorade, planning my getaway."
Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters had a brief conversation about Gatorade during the Skin and Bones acoustic concert during a break when Taylor was drinking it. Taylor said he was getting his electrolytes up, Grohl responded sarcastically he must be sweating a lot because of all the ballads (Due to the fact he doesn't drum nearly as much as he would at a rock show). Supporting the fact that it is now often consumed as a snack beverage.
On season 23, episode 2 of SNL, the commercial parody was for a Gatorade-like sports drink called "Cookie Dough Sport." The video for it can be seen here: [2]
The Connecticut legislature passed a law in 2006 that banned soda in public schools. Despite Gatorade's image as a health conscious beverage, it too was banned.[3]
Singer Michael Jackson drinks Gatorade while on tour, as does singer Anthony Keidis, guitarist The Edge and drummer Stewart Copeland.

[edit] Common substitutes
A number of "electrolyte replacement drinks" have been introduced in both commercial and non-commercial contexts. Two of the more popular home recipes are:

Water, vinegar (usually a strongly flavored vinegar such as apple cider), molasses (sometimes blackstrap), and sometimes other flavorings such as honey and/or ginger (usually powdered). This is called switchel. [4]
Water, Kool-Aid mix, various salts, and sometimes other minerals such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). This makes a more "Gatorade-like" drink than switchel




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