Structure of Carbohydrates in Gatorade

If you're an endurance athlete, sports drinks are a good way to rehydrate and get a little energy boost. Gatorade is a well-known brand of sports drink 1. The carbs in Gatorade that give you that boost include sugar and dextrose, both simple sugars 1.

Structure of Sugar

Sugar is the No 2. 2 ingredient in a bottle of Gatorade after water 1. Sugar can mean a variety of different things when it comes to structure, but in Gatorade it's a disaccharide known as sucrose, which also happens to be the same type of sugar found in your sugar bowl 1. Sucrose is composed of two simple sugar molecules, glucose and fructose, that are chemically attached to form the disaccharide.

Structure of Dextrose

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Dextrose is the third ingredient in Gatorade and is an even simpler sugar than sucrose 1. Dextrose is a monosaccharide -- meaning it's made up of one sugar unit -- and is another name for the simple molecule glucose. Glucose is your body's preferred source of energy.

How Your Body Uses the Carbs

While your body is able to get an almost instantaneous dose of energy when you drink Gatorade, the sucrose needs to undergo some digestion and metabolism before the carbs get where they need to go 1. First, the chemical bond that holds the glucose and fructose molecule together is broken down by the enzyme sucrase in your small intestines, then the glucose and fructose are absorbed. After absorption, most of the fructose in the drink is converted into glucose. Then the glucose is used or stored for later use.

Because it's already a single subunit, your body does not need to do anything with dextrose. You simply absorb it and use it for energy.

Watch Those Calories

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As a source of carbs, electrolytes and water, Gatorade is beneficial to endurance athletes 1. And while the sports drink contains less sugar and calories than a can of soda, it's still a source of sugar and calories. Consuming more calories than you need, whether it's from a can of soda or a bottle of Gatorade, leads to weight gain 1. To keep weight under control when drinking Gatorade, be sure to count the calories it provides toward your overall intake 1.