If you attend kids’ sporting events and pay attention, you encounter Gatorade everywhere. From the tiniest seven-year-old soccer girls to the most hulking teenage baseball players, parents are plying their kids with it, presumably thinking they need to replace the kids’ electrolytes after strenuous exertion.
Two things on that.
1. There is absolutely no science here. In fact, the science shows the opposite: Unless you are doing many hours of intense exercise, plain water is simply the best way to re-hydrate (see more on this in the Harvard Health Journal). And, even then, there are much healthier ways to restore balance in your body because . . .
2. Gatorade drinks and bars are highly processed junk food. Let’s discuss.
First, the drinks. As one of my favorite health bloggers, Yoni Freedhoff, drolly demonstrates in this brief video, they are comprised of water, a few vitamins, some salt, dyes, and tons of sugar. I guarantee if you watch his video, you will not buy them any more, and, in fact, you will kick yourself for ever having bought them in the first place.
Next, the bars. Gatorade has, of course, gotten on the protein bandwagon—not that you can blame them, with the hype. As I’ve discussed, protein bars provide excessive sugar and calories, not to mention far more protein than you likely need in your daily diet. Many of them have nutrition labels that read like candy bar packages. Gatorade’s does for sure: seven teaspoons of sugar, nine grams of saturated fat, and a whopping 350 calories.
Here are some ideas on what to send your child for replenishment after sports. Always: A 16–20 ounce bottle of cold water. Optional: a piece of whole fruit; a small baggie of nuts or sunflower or pumpkin seeds maybe with some raisins or a few dried apricots; a modest portion of 100 percent whole-grain crackers with a low-fat organic cheese stick; a bar that contains only nuts and dried fruit; or a half a peanut butter or sunbutter sandwich on whole wheat bread.
By the way, most people are not very hungry the minute they cease exercising, so you are probably fine with just water and a piece of fruit. When your kid gets home and cleans up and comes down to the kitchen hungry, feed her a wholesome meal that truly replenishes—featuring a salad, a vegetable, some high quality protein, and perhaps a complex carbohydrate like brown rice or whole-wheat pasta.
If you want to help your child stay slim and get more fit and healthy, stay far away from processed junk food marketed to look like medical necessity. As one professor of sports science put it best in this much-quoted remark: For the average person, “if they avoided the sports drinks they would get thinner and run faster.”
Thank you Kelly! I am constantly feeling pressured to buy this junk that I know in my heart is a scam and bad for my sons health. I appreciate the back up from reliable sources!
Thanks so much for adding me to your email list! As a person who used to drink tons of Gatorade when playing sports, I’m really happy to see this now and make sure I don’t repeat that mistake for my kids. What are your thoughts about zero calorie versions of Gatorade for when I’m running or playing basketball and sweating profusely? And does using the ones without any dyes make it any better?
Thank you, Kelly, for highlighting the health detriments these products offer. As a single man looking to start a family, I am certain I will be pressured to buy these products for my children in the future. However, regarding myself, the situation has already gotten out of hand. When I was only five years old, my abusive father forced me to drink three gatorade drinks per physical exertion period, resulting in my physical and mental reliance on the excess electrolytes. Today, as a young adult, I cannot make it out of bed without the refreshing taste of a Lemon Lime Gatorade. For the last several months I have been regularly attending an A.A. Group for people of all or no genders who have similarly been affected by the propaganda promoted product. I seek to soon recover from my addiction and pursue a life dedicated to an Anti-Gatorade Campaign.
I would like to ask you, Kelly, if you would be willing to come speak to my A.A. Group regarding this divisive topic. We would love to hear from a pro about negative impact Gatorade has had on society. We aim to have Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence sponsor a bill in Congress that will effectively outlaw Gatorade drinks and products alike. Before we submit this legislative initiative, we feel it would be beneficial to be briefed by an expert.
Please get back to me at your nearest convenience about you interest in addressing our group.