Gatorade is an American brand of sports-themed beverage and food products, built around its signature line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo and is distributed in over 80 countries. The beverage was first developed in 1965 by a team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Cade. It was originally made for the Gators at the University of Florida to replenish the carbohydrates that the school’s student-athletes burned and the combination of water and electrolytes that they lost in sweat during rigorous sports activities.
Originally produced and marketed by Stokely-Van Camp, the Gatorade brand was purchased by the Quaker Oats Company in 1983, which, in turn, was bought by PepsiCo in 2000. As of 2010, Gatorade is PepsiCo’s fourth-largest brand, on the basis of worldwide annual retail sales. It competes with Coca-Cola’s Powerade and Vitaminwater brands worldwide, and with Lucozade in the United Kingdom. Within the United States, Gatorade accounts for approximately 75% of market share in the sports drink category.
In its early years, the Gatorade brand consisted of a single product line, Gatorade Thirst Quencher, which was produced in liquid and powder form under two flavor variants: Lemon Lime and Orange. Today there are several product lines and flavors of Gatorade.
Does Gatorade have caffeine?
No, according to the company website, Gatorade products do not currently contain caffeine as an active ingredient. Gatorade drink was “born in the lab” when researchers looked at why athletes were falling ill after strenuous exercise in the heat. Gatorade was developed to replace crucial electrolytes and carbohydrates while hydrating at the same time. Common ingredients include Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Modified Food Starch, Natural Flavor, Red 40, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, and Caramel Color. All Gatorade products (liquid and powder formulations) are also gluten-free and are therefore suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals. The dextrose they use in these products is gluten-free.
However, in 2019, PepsiCo, Inc. the current owner of the Gatorade brand launched its first caffeinated beverage line known as the Bolt24 Energize. This product contains 50 to 75 mg of caffeine per bottle, Bolt24 Energize also delivers electrolytes from watermelon and sea salt and 100% of the daily value of vitamins A, C, B3, B5, and B6. The beverage which debuted in early 2020 comes in strawberry-lemon, orange-passion fruit, and cherry-lime flavors.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that reduces fatigue and drowsiness. It may also benefit exercise performance; research has shown that it can improve endurance and increase muscular strength. However, caffeine can cause dehydration which is a potential concern because it is a mild diuretic. Some athletes may also experience cardiac abnormalities or abdominal cramps and diarrhea related to the large intestine contractions caused by caffeine. The combination of dehydration and cramping can have particularly detrimental effects on performance.
According to The World Anti-Doping Agency, caffeine is currently on its monitoring list which means it is not prohibited but WADA is monitoring it in case it becomes an anti-doping issue in the future. The criteria for banning a drug are that: It has the potential to enhance sports performance. It represents a health risk to the athletes.
How is Gatorade different from energy drinks?
Gatorade is a thirst quencher, a fluid replacement beverage for use when people are hot and thirsty. Many energy drinks contain caffeine and about three times as much carbohydrate as Gatorade, as well as other substances such as ginseng, taurine, etc. As a result, these drinks slow fluid absorption and should not be used for those occasions when rapid replacement of fluid, carbohydrates, and electrolytes is important.
It is safe to drink Gatorade during pregnancy?
Yes, it is safe for pregnant women to drink Gatorade. In fact, many doctors specifically recommend Gatorade during the later stages of the pregnancy as they replace electrolytes losses caused by sweating (contractions), and the six percent carbohydrate solution gives a reasonable amount of carbohydrates for energy. Another benefit is that Gatorade has less salt than milk and less carbohydrate than fruit juices.
Are there harmful ingredients in Gatorade?
Drinks like Gatorade contain high levels of sugar and sodium which have proven to be detrimental to children especially when they consume a large amount of these drinks. Gatorade has the potential to lead to diabetes, kidney damage, and tooth enamel erosion and can add to the growing number of overweight children.
