Wednesday, January 14, 2009

What are the benefits of gatorade? Is it really better than water?

Flavor: Gatorade has light flavoring which encourages people to drink more so they fully rehydrate. Water lacks flavor, which can keep people from drinking enough to fully rehydrate.

Carbohydrate: Gatorade contains carbohydrate to provide energy to working muscles so you can go longer and stronger. Gatorade is absorbed by the body as quickly as water. Water provides no energy to enhance performance.

Electrolytes-Sodium and Potassium: Gatorade contains a small amount of sodium which gets you to drink and helps keep fluid in your system rather than using it through urination. Gatorade also helps maintain sodium balance in your blood. Water contains no sodium, it stimulates your kidney to turn on urine production more than if you drank a sports drink. Water does not replace electrolytes.

This information came from a "gatorade friendly" document that cites various scientific studies. www.gssiweb.com/tackleheat/pdf/vswater.pdf

Here is an interesting study that was done in Washington: http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/soar/sciproj2004/BrittanyD.html

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