Gatorade contains sugar to fuel working muscles and electrolytes like sodium and potassium to replace those that can be lost in sweat during a workout. As with any beverage, drinking Gatorade in moderation is usually fine when you are sedentary. However, consuming large quantities of Gatorade when you aren't working out may lead to weight gain and too much sugar, sodium and potassium in your body.
Sugar
Gatorade contains 14 g of sugar per 8 fl. oz. serving, which is 6 percent of your daily sugar allowance. Sugar is added to the beverage to enhance flavor, increase fluid absorption and fuel working muscles. Drinking large amounts of Gatorade daily might add too much sugar to your diet. If you drink an entire bottle of Gatorade, you are getting about a quarter of your daily sugar allowance from this beverage alone. Too much sugar in your diet can lead to obesity and heart disease.
Weight Gain
If you are sedentary and want to consume a beverage with no calories, water is your best choice. Gatorade has 50 calories per serving, which is lower than soft drinks and most juices, but can add up if you drink a lot of the beverage. If you exercise on a regular basis and drink Gatorade in moderation, consuming the beverage should not contribute to weight gain. For example, 30 minutes of low-impact aerobics burns more than 50 calories. If you don't exercise, the calories you consume in Gatorade may result in weight gain.
Sodium
There are 110 mg of sodium in 1 fl. oz. serving of Gatorade. Sodium is important in your diet as it regulates blood pressure and ensures proper functioning of nerves and muscles. When you work out you lose sodium in sweat, which is why drinking Gatorade can be beneficial. However if you are sedentary, the sodium content of Gatorade can contribute to excess dietary sodium in your diet and cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. According to the American Heart Association, you should get 1,500 mg of sodium or less in your diet daily.
High Potassium
Potassium is an electrolyte that is essential for proper bodily function. Each serving of Gatorade contains 30 mg of potassium, which is fine in moderation and as an electrolyte replacement. However, consuming too much potassium can lead to a condition called hyperkalemia, which occurs when you have too much potassium in your blood. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include an irregular heartbeat, weakness, breathing problems, tingling and numbness, nausea and vomiting and paralysis.
References
- Gatorade.com: G Series
- Gatorade.com: What Percentage of Gatorade is Glucose?
- American Heart Association; Sodium (Salt or Sodium Chloride); July 2011
- Harvard Health Publications; Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights; July 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Hyperkalemia; February 2010
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