Organic Sports Drinks: Are all sugars created equal?

Refuel, replenish, and stay hydrated. We’ve all heard this advice about what to do after a hard workout. So what do you reach for after exercise: water, Gatorade, tablespoons of sugar?

Sports drinks have been popular for quite some time, but in recent years dietitians have started questioning their value because of the high sugar content.  Gatorade has approximately 20 grams of sugar in 12 fluid ounces. Similarly, Powerade has 21 grams of sugar in 12 ounces.[i]  Both Gatorade and Powerade make lower sugar options, which contain 12 grams of sugar in 20 fl oz (G2)[ii] and 0 grams of sugar in Powerade Zero.  Consuming any type of sports drink on a daily basis will easily boost your daily intake for added sugar.  The US dietary guidelines recommend that added sugar should be limited to less than 10% of calories consumed each day. Possibly it’s time for a less sugary hydration drink.

Maybe it’s time for an organic change. Food and drink analyst, Beth Bloom[iii], states that individuals tend to purchase organic products because they think the items are healthier. But that might not be the case when it comes to sports drinks; organic sports drinks don’t mean less sugar. According to dietitians, sugar is sugar, even if it’s organic. In a recent NPR story, Haemi Choi, a sports medicine doctor at Loyola University Medical Center[iv] , explains that organic cane sugar is not healthier, or nutritionally better, than the form of sugar found in regular sports drinks.

So what’s the best way to stay hydrated?  Choi suggests water.

[i] http://www.us.powerade.com/

[ii] http://www.gatorade.com/products/g-series/low-calorie-thirst-quencher

[iii] http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/01/492257166/organic-gatorade-its-still-loaded-with-sugar-folks?sc=17&f=1001&utm_source=iosnewsapp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=app

[iv] https://www.loyolamedicine.org/doctor/haemi-choi

 

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