Introduction
Whether it's a high school football game, or the World Series, Gatorade has played an important role in sports since its first production at the University of Florida in 1965. Since then Gatorade has evolved to become the official sports drink of many professional sports organizations including the NFL, NHL and the NBA.
Electrolytes
One of the primary ways that Gatorade affects the body is through the use of electrolytes. When you exercise your body, whether in the gym or playing a sport, your body sweats. As you sweat, essential electrolytes leak out of the body. These electrolytes include potassium, chloride and sodium, and they keep you hydrated as well as contributing to your muscle's abilities to function correctly. To help replace the electrolytes that you sweat out, Gatorade's recipe includes a carefully balanced mixture of these same electrolytes to keep the body hydrated and working properly. This is essential in environments where your body is pushed to the limits athletically.
Carbohydrates
Gatorade also affects your body through its inclusion of carefully measured carbohydrates. According to the official Gatorade website, the typical Gatorade beverage contains 14 grams of carbohydrate per every eight ounce serving. These carbohydrates include glucose and fructose (in the form of high fructose corn syrup) as well as sucrose. These carbohydrates first provide a sweet taste to the overall flavor of the Gatorade beverage. They also work to provide a quick source of energy during activities that work the muscles.
Osmolality
The carbohydrates in Gatorade also help in Gatorade's ability to quickly be absorbed by the body. Gatorade's manufacturing process pays close attention to a scientific principle known as osmolality. Osmolality is the measurement of particles in a solution. Gatorade aims to keep an osmolality close to that of the blood in the circulatory system. This increases the drink's ability to quickly be absorbed by the body. The quicker Gatorade can be absorbed by the body, the faster it can work on keeping the body hydrated.
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