Powerade is a sports beverage designed to help replenish the fluids and electrolytes your body loses while working out. In addition to helping you stay hydrated, Powerade can be a source of several important nutrients for good health. Be cautious, however, not to drink excessive amounts of Powerade, especially if you are not physically active; the sugars and calories it contains can still be harmful in excess.
Potassium
One 8-fl. oz. serving of Powerade contains 25 mg of potassium. According to MedlinePlus by the National Institutes of Health, adults should consume about 4.7 g of potassium per day. Potassium is an electrolyte with several different functions in the body, including contributing to proper muscle contraction and development, sending electrical signals and processing carbohydrates.
Vitamin B-3
Vitamin B-3, one of the B complex vitamins that your body uses to facilitate the processing of food into energy, is also known as niacin. Niacin also contributes to healthy circulation and to hormone production. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the daily adult daily recommended intake of vitamin B3 is 14 to 16 mg; an 8-oz. serving of Powerade contains about 10 percent of this recommendation.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is another of the B complex vitamins contained in Powerade. Its functions include contributing to the creation of antibodies and red blood cells, to the health of the nervous system and to the metabolism of the protein in your diet. Adults need 1.2 to 1.7 mg of vitamin B-6 per day, depending on their age; a serving of Powerade contains about 10 percent of this daily requirement.
Vitamin B-12
The final B complex vitamin in Powerade is B-12. Your body uses vitamin B-12 for such functions as preventing some types of anemia, creating DNA and maintaining the health of the nervous system and blood cells. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, adults need about 2.4 mcg of vitamin B-12 per day. The 8-oz. serving of Powerade can provide about 10 percent of that daily requirement.
References
- Powerade: Products
- MedlinePlus: Potassium in Diet; David Zieve, MD, MHA et al.; May 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B3 (Niacin); Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; June 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B6 - All Information; Linda Vorvick, MD; March 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12
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