Sports Drinks: Do They Really Do That?

I know that we’ve all seen those gatorade commercials, buy this, get that, and so on. But do they acctually have any evidence to support their claims? The FDA States that for a sports drink to be effective, it must contain between 6-8% Carbohydrates and Salt, but do any of the popular sports drinks live up to this? Carbohydrates and salts help you absorb water faster, to hydrate you more quickly in sports situations, but if it is over 8%, you run the risk of dehydration. If it is under 6%, it is almost like drinking water with calories.

The Formula

If you are going to calculate the amount of Carbs and Salts in a drink, then you need a formula. Basically, You takt the amount of Carbs and add it to the amount of salts. Remember to calculate Potasium and Sodium, otherwise your calculations will be faulty. The only problem is, The salts are labeled in MG, and the Carbs are labeled in grams! To solve this, just divide the MG by 100 to convert it to grams. Then divide that by the serving size, in grams as well. Just use the mL label, as it converts exactly to grams. It is usually 240 ml, so 240 grams. Then Multiply your result by 100 to get your percentage! If it falls within the 6-8% Range it is benificial to athletes. I could be really mean and make you work it out yourselves, but I will just give you the results that I got.

Gatorade

• Carbohydrates: 14grams
• Total Salts: 0.14 Grams
• Serving Size: 240 grams
• Result: 5.8%

The Final Say on Gatorade is, close but no cigar! Rounding to the tenth decimal place inceases accuraccy, so always do that. Gatorade is basically empty calories! No matter what the commercials Say!

G2

• Carbohydrates: 7 grams
• Total Salts: 0.14 Grams
• Serving Size: 240 grams
• Result: 2.9%

Also from the the Gatorade Company, it acctually turns out to be worse than Gatorade! Again, its just empty calories. Basically worthess.

Propel

• Carbohydrates: 5 grams
• Total Salts: 0.01 Grams
• Serving Size: 500 grams
• Result: 1%

Somehow, the Gatorade Company got worse over time. This stuff is just a whole load of crap. It is almost 3 times as expensive as water, but that is pretty much just what it is. Again, its Worthless.

Vitamin Water

• Carbohydrates: 13 grams
• Total Salts: 0.07 grams
• Serving Size: 240 grams
• Result 5.4%

Some might not classify this as a sports drink, but still. Not the greatest choice for a sports drink, and empty calories as well. Probably more expensive and less effective than normal Gatorade. Just don’t buy it!

SoBe Life Water

• Carbohydrates: 2 grams
• Total Salts: 0.01 grams
• Serving Size: 240 grams
• Result: 0.8%

We’ve All seen the crazy lizard drinking SoBe, but it is probably the biggest sports drink scam ever. Less than one percent way to little of the things that your body needs to absob water more quickly. Just a Scam.

Powerade

• Carbohydrates: 19 grams
• Total Salts: 0.053 Grams
• Serving Size: 240 grams
• Result: 7.9%

Yay! A Sports drink that is actually benificial to athletes! One of the Best sprots drinks out there at just under 7.9% total salts and carbs, so it is the only on in this article that is acctually in the 6-8% range!

If you want, you can look up the information on the nutrition labels yourself, and work out the problems yourself, go do it! Feel free to constructivly criticize me, it will only make me a better writter. If you want to find out how to acctually test to see if the sports drinks have these in them, just read my my “How to Test for Substances in Sports Drinks” Article (Coming Soon!), and test them for yourself. As for the Bannana, Potasium, a salt, is found in Bannanas!