The science of Gatorade

[Greg Mihalik]

" The science of Gatorade"

Even on a 2 year old thread, it still reads like an oxymoron.

[Roger Caffin]

There is no science involved, just marketing.

Cheers

[Rick Reno]

Fire away!

[Bob Gross]

Actually, I kind of like Cytomax. More importantly, I take a variety of these drink powders. When I tire of one flavor, I try another, then another. On a week-long trip, I probably go through 10 ounces of Gatorade, Cytomax, Powerade, Vitalyte, and my own custom-mixed stuff (maltodextrin, electrolytes, and a bit of flavor).

If I am walking downhill, I drink mostly water. If it is moderate uphill, then I drink half-strength sports drinks. If it is steep uphill, then I go to the straight stuff.

–B.G.–

[Desert Dweller]

As a former endurance athlete I can testify that my observations of overuse and improper or no cutting of Gatorade with water has enabled me to witness more cases of mid-race and post race severe hypoglycemia than I care to remember. I don't touch the stuff. Plain, balanced electrolytes and as much water as you can drink periodically throughout the day and good nutrition is more than adequate for extended periods of high exertion.

[Mark]

Dehydration is a real worry here in Greece during the summer months, i've tried several specialist drinks but either end up with a bad tummy or end up with the signs of dehydration.

Started making my own hydration mix and have found it to be better than anything store bought.

I just use a pinch of salt and a small cup of fresh orange juice (non sweetened) per litre of water.

Don't bother with any sugar as i tend to pack for a food stop around half way, also have a bag of mixed nuts and raisins in my rucksack pocket if i feel i'm running low on energy.

[Bob Dromgoole]

"Caution, Rant Ahead"…
The 'science' of Gatorade is greed based. All about $. That's it! There is no nutritional science involved. If there is, it is very flawed and they need new 'Scientists'
I don't understand why all these nature lovers want to buy such a highly processed and toxic product containing such nasty stuff. IE..artificial colors are generally considered to be neurotoxins (among many other issues), yellow #5 is implicated in asthmatic reactions. The list of problems with artificial colors goes on and on… The sugar is largely High Fructose corn syrup, Google that and see how healthy your Gatorade is!!

"Like other sugary drinks on the market today, Gatorade uses brominated vegetable oil (BVO). BVO, used to increase fluidity and uniformity, is also used to create lead dissolving additives for gasoline, photographic paper films, fire-extinguishing materials, and agricultural fumigants. And if that wasn’t a call for alarm, more than 100 countries have outlawed the substance altogether."

Supposedly they recently removed this ingredient, but how can you trust a company (Pepsico) that would use it in the 1st place?? And why would one want to support Pepsico, destroyers of health worldwide?!

Also the sodium/potassium balance is all wrong for proper electrolyte usage by the body. There is WAY to much sodium. There should be aprox 3;1 ratio of potassium to sodium, Gatorade is about the opposite, this is not good for proper hydration!
"An example of an inorganic substance is table salt. It is simply sodium and chloride. No enzymes, thus it is enzymatically inactive and the body cannot use it. Our bodies cannot attach an enzyme to inorganic substances (minerals), except at great cost to our health."

We all here want to go light, well what about our impact on the Earth herself? Do we not want a light footprint here too?? Supporting mega-corps is NOT helping!! Pepsico is destroying the very health and well being of peoples worldwide and the planet to boot.

To make my own, much better electrolyte drink. I prefer citrus (for potassium) and a 'small' pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt, (lot's of good minerals for the body). (table salt used by Gator is extremely bad for the body, and provides no nutrition and actually DE-hydrates at the levels contained therein) And a bit of honey. (also very nutritious compared to the sucrose/glucose/corn syrup sweetener of death)….

Some basic sodium info… "It is like this. Sodium is an important mineral in the body as it is responsible for sending the message from the brain to muscles through the nervous system so that your body will move its muscles on command. When you want to move your arm or any muscle in the body, the brain sends a message to a sodium molecule who passes it to a potassium molecule and then back to a sodium molecule etc., etc., until it gets to its final destination and the muscle moves. This is known as the sodium-potassium ion exchange. Therefore without sodium, you would never be able to move one muscle of your body.

Regardless, it is not common table salt that the body needs in order to sustain life. It is sodium. Sodium just happens to be an element in common table salt which is known as sodium chloride and that is where the confusion exists. Therefore, salt is not a necessary compound in order for the body to survive, but rather sodium is the necessary life sustaining element. Ironically, sodium is found in all plants so you are getting plenty of sodium everyday without even realizing it every time you eat a food that comes from a plant."

"An example of an inorganic substance is table salt. It is simply sodium and chloride. No enzymes, thus it is enzymatically inactive and the body cannot use it. Our bodies cannot attach an enzyme to inorganic substances (minerals), except at great cost to our health."

OK, I better stop. Here's to yer health!

[Anonymous]

"OK, I better stop."

Amen to that, brother, amen to that.

That said, I did find your discourse on enzymes to be most entertaining. ;0)

[Bob Dromgoole]

I did warn ya…
Well thanks for reading through it! haha.
Hydration is a crucial issue, just tryin' to help! (or at least encourage further research)

[Anonymous]

"I did warn ya…
Well thanks for reading through it! haha."

Hey, we're all bozo's on this bus. Welcome to the party. ;0))

You're right about hydration being crucial, for sure. Have you read Kevin Sawchuck's recent BPL article on the subject? He's a relatively rare combination of physician and ultra runner, and his article is worth a look.

[Bob Dromgoole]

Yep, definitely on that bus…
I don't have the cred's to view that article, Thanks though, might have to ante up.

[Anonymous]

"Thanks though, might have to ante up."

It's worth considering. There are a number of good articles that are, unfortunately, for members only, and Sawchucks is one of them.

Another benefit of being a full member is that you don't have to sit in the back of the bus. ;o)

[Joseph Brody]

On a couple of occasions, after a long hot bike ride, I thought that a cold Gatorade would revive me, but I ended up vomiting instead. Maybe I was too far gone of dehydration already, but it was the last straw.

[Jake D]

I find that lighter drinks work much better while going hard. NUUN is my favorite at the moment for biking. Chocolate milk for afterward.. tour pro's swear by it…

for hiking i like crystal light powder or the store brand version (they says for 16.9oz bottle but i do 1 liter and it's still a bit strong)

[Author]

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