Gatorade, part of PepsiCo, makes sports drinks. Sports drinks are beverages designed to assist athletes preparing for, during and after competition to perform at their highest ability. Almost all sports drinks provide electrolytes while caloric values are more varied depending on the specific product. G2 is a Gatorade product and markets itself specifically as a low-calorie sports drink to be used during physical activity. Gatorade G2 is widely available in many flavors and serving sizes. While it is sold in stores bottled and ready to drink, it is also available as a powdered mixture.
Ingredients
Gatorade G2's primary ingredients are water and, according to the Gatorade website, sucrose for sweetness and calories. This is a change from the original G2 formula, which used high fructose corn syrup. Other ingredients include citric acid, salt, sodium citrate and sucralose.
Electrolytes
G2 is a sports drink, and sports drinks are defined by the addition of electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium that are lost through sweat and are needed to maintain muscle function and restore hydration. Gatorade contains 110 mg of sodium and 30 mg of potassium in every 8 oz. serving. This is 5 percent of the daily recommended value for sodium and 1 percent of the daily recommended value for potassium.
Calories
G2 is intended to be a low-calorie sports drink. This means that it does not contain very many carbohydrates, which are the body's primary source of fuel during exercise. G2 now has only 20 calories per 8 oz. serving; previous versions contained 25 calories for the same size serving.
Artificial Sweeteners and Flavoring
To provide a sweet flavor without adding more calories, G2 uses sucralose, an artificial flavoring. The other tastes are provided by the inclusion of citric acid, in addition to unspecified natural and artificial flavorings.
Shelf Life
Unopened Gatorade G2 has a 9-month shelf life without any taste degradation. It is still consumable after this date, but taste may be slightly compromised. Once opened, Gatorade recommends storing G2 in the refrigerator and drinking the remaining amount within 3 to 5 days.
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