Summertime heat is officially on, but replenishing fluids doesn’t have to mean drinking sugary sports drinks. Today we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on which fluid replacers are packed with electrolytes with little or no added sugar, and which sugar-bombs to steer clear of.
- It’s essential to replenish electrolytes when losing large amounts of sweat, even during shorter workouts
- Sodium is the main electrolyte lost in sweat, so a higher-sodium fluid replacer may be more desirable
- Sugar-containing sports drinks are typically only needed when exercise is longer than 60-90 minutes
LOVE IT!
nuun hydration electrolyte drink tabs
- Per tablet: 10 calories – 4 gram carb – 1 gram sugar – 360 mg sodium – 100 mg potassium
- No artificial sweeteners or colors (sweetened with stevia; colored with vegetable juice extracts)
- Per bottle: 35 calories – 17 grams carb – 5 grams sugar – 115 mg sodium – 481 mg potassium
- Ingredients include stevia & erythritol (sweeteners), sugar, fruit & vegetable juice for color, monkfruit
- Per 16-ounce bottle: 40 calories – 20 grams carb – 6 grams sugar – 40 mg sodium – 700 mg potassium
- Ingredients include water, erythritol, can sugar, coconut water concentrate, vegetable juice for color, stevia
LIKE IT!
Vitaminwater ZERO
- Per bottle: 0 calories – 4 grams carb – 0 sugar – 0 sodium – n/a potassium
- No sodium. Essentially same as water, from hydration perspective; won’t be as effective as sports drink
HATE IT!
Gatorade & Powerade
- Per 12 ounces: 80 calories – 21 grams carbs – 21 grams sugar – 150-160 mg sodium – 35-45 mg potassium
- Ingredients include sugar/high fructose corn syrup + artificial colors
G2 – blend of artificial colors + artificial sweeteners
Gatorade G Zero / Powerade Zero – still contains artificial colors + artificial sweeteners
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