Sports drinks, including Gatorade products, may benefit athletes and people who engage in rigorous exercise. Drinking these beverages when you are not extremely active, however, adds unnecessary calories to your diet and may cause you to gain weight, explains the Aetna InteliHealth website. Drinking water instead of Gatorade may keep you hydrated without providing these unnecessary calories. Talk to a doctor if you have questions about whether using a sports drink is right for you.
Serving Size
The serving size of Gatorade varies depending on the specific product. Most ready-to-drink beverages list the serving size at 8 fluid oz., even though many of these drinks contain multiple servings per bottle. Some beverages, such as the Pre-Game Fuel beverage and the Carb Energy Drink, list the entire package as the serving size. Checking the serving size for the specific Gatorade product you have can prevent you from inadvertently consuming more than one serving.
G Series Products
The G Series Prime Pre-Game Fuel product contains 100 calories, 0 g of fat, 110 mg of sodium, 25 g of total carbohydrate, 0 g of fiber, 23 g of sugars and 0 g of protein per serving. It also contains 10 percent of the recommended daily value of niacin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The Original G 02 Perform beverage and powder contains 50 calories, 0 g of fat, 110 mg of sodium, 30 mg of potassium, 14 g of total carbohydrate, 14 g of sugars and 0 g of protein per serving, while the G2 Low Cal 02 Perform product and power only contain 20 calories and 5 g of carbohydrates and sugars. The Post-Game Protein Recovery beverage contains 60 calories, 0 g of fat, 120 mg of sodium, 45 mg of potassium, 7 g of total carbohydrate, 6 g of sugar, 8 g of protein and 4 percent of the daily value of calcium.
G Series Pro Products
The energy drink contains 330 calories, 0 g of fat, 220 mg of sodium, 0 g of protein, 82 g of total carbohydrate and 43 g of sugars per serving. It also contains 25 percent the daily value of niacin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. The nutrition bar contains 230 calories, 4 g of fat, 39 g of total carbohydrate, 16 g of sugar, 2 g of dietary fiber, 170 mg of sodium and 10 g of protein per bar. The nutrition shake contains 360 calories, 8 g of fat, 54 g of total carbohydrate, 34 g of sugar, 1 g of dietary fiber and 20 g of protein per serving. The nutrition bar and nutrition shake also contain vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid and phosphorus. The nutrition shake also contains biotin, manganese, zinc and iodine. The Gatorade 02 Perform products, including the ready-to-drink beverage, powders and powder sticks, contain 50 calories per serving and do not contain any fat or protein. There is only one product in the Recovery class of the Gatorade G Series Pro that is a protein recovery shake. This product contains 200 calories, 1 g of fat, 33 g of total carbohydrate, 1 g of dietary fiber, 23 g of sugars and 15 g of protein per serving. It also contains 270 mg of potassium, 190 mg of sodium and 30 percent of the daily value of calcium.
G Natural
The G Natural beverage contains 50 calories and 14 g of total carbohydrate, while the G2 Natural beverage only contains 20 calories and 5 g of total carbohydrate per serving. Both natural beverages contain 110 mg of sodium and 30 mg of potassium, but the beverages do not contain any fat, protein or vitamins.
Considerations
The key electrolytes in Gatorade are the minerals potassium, sodium and chloride, according to the Gatorade website. These electrolytes are intended to replenish the electrolytes lost in thirst, but they also may stimulate thirst to encourage proper rehydration. Gatorade products do not contain wheat ingredients, so they are safe for people who need to maintain a gluten-free diet. Gatorade products, even the energy drink, do not contain caffeine and rely on carbohydrates to provide energy.
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