It hydrates you This myth comes from a study funded by Gatorade that found people who drank their product were better hydrated than if they drank water—but only because they drank more fluids. If you drank the same volume of water versus Gatorade, you'd be equally hydrated.
Gatorade, because of its electrolyte content, helps to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated, during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.
Drinking beverages that contain electrolytes can both rehydrate you quicker than plain water and it can keep you feeling hydrated longer than plain water.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
Drinking Gatorade after 30 minutes or more of intense exercise can help quickly replace water and electrolytes you lose by sweating. However, drinking water will do much of the same thing. Gatorade is not unhealthy, but it does have high amounts of sugar and salt.
For more mild or moderate cases of dehydration, expect your body to feel better after just a few hours, but full rehydration won't happen until about three days later.
Immediately following your activity, you should consume at least 8 ounces of Gatorade to avoid dehydration. If you are sick and experiencing symptoms of dehydration, consider taking a few sips of Gatorade an hour to assess your body's tolerance and help with hydration.
Gatorade contains key electrolytes and carbohydrates. Electrolytes replace what is lost in sweat, promote the drive to drink, and aid in the maintenance of plasma volume. Carbohydrates help the body absorb fluids quickly.
Water may not provide the carbs and electrolytes than Gatorade does, but it also has zero calories. If you are only doing a low-intensity workout, water is the better choice. It's the more high-intensity workouts that require the extra perks of Gatorade.
Side Effects Of Excessive Gatorade Intake
Excess sugar can cause health problems in people who do not exercise very often. Excess intake of both sugar and salt can also lead to blood pressure issues, diabetes, and more (10), (11). However, athletes who do intense workouts can handle the added sugars.
Gatorade Cool Blue
Gatorade Cool Blue can replenish your electrolytes after a workout, a night on the town, or any time you're feeling dehydrated.
Gatorade contains 160 milligrams of sodium and 45 milligrams of potassium per serving, whereas Powerade contains150 milligrams of sodium and 35 milligrams of potassium per serving. In comparison, Gatorade is slightly better at replacing lost electrolytes.
“The basic deficiency in beverages such as Gatorade for illness-related dehydration is that there is too much sugar and not enough salt (sodium) or potassium,” said John D. Bowman, MS Pharm, pharmacy professor at Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.
The fastest way to hydrate is with an oral rehydration solution. These products are packed with electrolytes which are minerals found in your body that balance fluid levels and maintain optimal hydration. While you can hydrate fast with regular water, focus on electrolytes.
You might have an electrolyte imbalance: Electrolyte imbalances are one of the most common reasons you might feel dehydrated even after drinking tons of water: “Sometimes if we drink a lot of water but we don't take in enough fruits and vegetables, our electrolytes—sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, etc.
As the founder of Precision Hydration, people often ask me if it's possible to overdose on salt by consuming too many electrolyte drinks. And although it's theoretically possible, it's highly unlikely to happen from just drinking a sports drink.
Assuming that you mean "only" as in no foods and no other drinks, and that the individual didn't have diabetes or other sugar/insulin issues, and also assuming that the individual kept well hydrated by drinking only Gatorade, they would starve to death; 3-4 weeks is a good guess.
Gatorade Fit is the newest electrolyte beverage from Gatorade and is formulated for those seeking healthy, real hydration with no added sugar.
Research shows that milk is one of the best beverages for hydration, even better than water or sports drinks. Researchers credit milk's natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and protein for its effectiveness.
Juice, smoothies, iced coffee, ice tea, protein shakes, milk, and other drinks can be excellent alternatives to water. You should avoid relying too much on drinks with a high sugar content, such as soda, certain fruit juces, energy drinks and chocolate milk.