(26-04-12) Sports drinks loaded with liquid sugars

by Selena Keegan

(NaturalNews) Advertisements for sports drinks tend to portray these beverages
as scientifically formulated electrolyte replacement systems designed to help
athletes rehydrate their bodies after exertion.

The combination of "science" with ad imagery and labeling for sports, is meant
to brand these beverages as crucial for an active, healthy lifestyle. However,
a review of the ingredient lists of many of these products reveals their
advanced "chemistry" bears a strong similarity to the ingredients of soft
drinks.

Gatorade's labels list these ingredients: water, sucrose syrup, glucose-
fructose syrup, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, salt, sodium
citrate, monopotassium phosphate and ester gum. The label states "no fruit
juice" -- the different flavor varieties are colored by food dyes. Gatorade is
manufactured by PepsiCo.

PepsiCo's chief competitor, The Coca-Cola Company, produces its own version of
an electrolyte replacement beverage, Powerade. The powerade drink comes in a
variety of colors and flavors.

Powerade contains water, high fructose corn syrupmaltodextrin (glucose
polymers), citric acid, salt, potassium citrate, modified food starch,
potassium phosphate, natural flavors, glycerol ester of wood rosin, guar gum,
niacinamide (B3), coconut oil, brominated vegetable oil, pyridoxine
hydrochloride (B6), Cyanocobalamin (B12).

Consuming high levels of sugary syrups can lead to weight gain, diabetes and
tooth decay. The additional factor of higher levels of salts in sports drinks
compared to sodas means these drinks can also contribute to higher blood
pressure levels. Also, some studies have linked certain food colorings to
hyperactivity in children.

The sports drink market was developed by promoting the idea that these
beverages hydrate the body more efficiently than water and that they contain a
special proportion of sodium, potassium and carbohydrates designed to quickly
restore energy.

The scientific validity of these claims is highly questionable. Drinking a
glass of water and eating a natural high-potassium snack such as a banana will
rehydrate and re-energize the body in a healthier fashion.

Another alternative is to drink coconut water, which comes from young, green
coconuts. Coconut water offers potassium and natural sugars which harmonize
better with the body than manufactured sugars such as high fructose corn syrup.
Look for natural coconut waters at health food stores rather than ones that
contain sodium and food dyes.

Sources for this article include
http://www.myomancy.com/2007/09/food-colorings-and-hyperactivity

http://www.karinya.com/sportsdrinks.htm

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In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.