So, is Powerade good for you? Well, it depends. Powerade is a sports drink made for athletes to give them energy. However, this energy comes in the form of highly refined carbohydrates.
Athletes can benefit from the Powerade carbs, electrolytes, and vitamins that help keep them hydrated and energetic.
Consuming Powerade on a usual basis is not a good idea. Powerade is made of different additives to give it the desired flavor, color, vitamins, and minerals. It is formulated for athletes and is comparatively helpful if taken in moderation.
Getting nutrients and vitamins from natural resources or food can be more reliable than consuming the nutrients from any protein shakes or energy drinks.
Powerade comes in many different flavors. It provides healthy electrolytes, but also is high in sugar. There are also zero sugar versions made with artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium that may increase the risk of several health issues. There is still some controversy about these sweeteners for long-term health impact on the body.
What is Powerade?
Powerade is a sports drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola company. They are made for your body to be in balance to give you the quick hydration and energy shot when you require it most.
Health Benefits of Powerade:
There are different ranges of power with several flavors. They come in various bright colors. There are several flavors of Powerade for choosing from, including Mountain Berry Blast, Fruit Lemon Lime, White Cherry, Punch, and Citrus Passionfruit. They taste like fruits because of some natural flavors.
Here are some health benefits of Powerade:
1. A good source of energy:
Our body needs carbs for energy. Powerade gives you energy and strength in the form of carbohydrates. The sugar found in Powerade is digested quickly, so the rise in energy is almost instant.
During intense and prolonged physical activity, your body’s store of glucose can become consumed. Powerade brings your glucose back so you can continue without any compromise on your activities.
Carbs promote muscle contraction and nerve cell function, releasing glucose and blood sugar into the blood and utilizing it for the making of different matter during breakdown during digestion.
2. Promotes hydration:
The most important benefit of the Powerade is clear, the drink helps you stay hydrated and energetic. Without any doubt taking enough water is essential to perform well. The electrolytes in Powerade might make it better than pure water.
It is more reliable to get hydrated from natural sources rather than outside. Even if you are not well hydrated can have a worse effect on your overall performance and health.
3. Electrolyte balance:
Electrolytes are chemicals that regulate your body’s water and blood pH levels. Obviously, the hydration effect is not only the key factor to drink Powerade.
When you are doing intense workouts or running, you lose electrolytes and water while sweating. Normal water is not enough to overcome your needs. You need something extra, something more energetic but less caloric like Powerade.
Consuming Powerade after workouts or running can help you keep healthy. If your electrolytes are imbalanced, then you might lead to many side effects like muscle fatigue and dehydration. That is why people who workouts daily take an electrolyte from external sources.
4. Vitamins and minerals:
Your body needs different nutrients to play different roles. This drink contains some nutrients as well, including the B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Powerade contains B-complex vitamins B-3, B-6, and B-12, all of which support energy metabolism. Also, it contains 10 percent of your daily value of vitamins B-3, B-6, and B-12.
Is Powerade Good For You?
Powerade is a sports drink designed for athletes to keep them hydrated and energetic, as they need more electrolytes than normal people. While Powerade has some benefits, there is some downside, too, like other products.
Here are the health risks of Powerade:
1. Sugar:
The main issue with Powerade is its sugar content. One 12 fl oz serving contains 21 g of sugar, and one 20 fl oz., which is a bottle of Powerade, contains 34 grams of sugar.
It has several worse effects on your body, like increasing your disease risk, leading to weight gain, risk of diabetes, and even causing fatigue.
Adding so much sugar to your diet is not a good idea. Twenty-one grams of sugar is more than 40% of your daily recommended sugar intake. Many people can consume it twice a day or more than that for the flavors.
2. Artificial sweeteners:
Sugar-free Powerade is also not good for health and causes some other health issues. These products have artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame K.
These sweeteners are FDA approved and recognized as safe, but there are also some controversial theories about them.
Consuming more than a limit of artificial sweeteners can elevate your hunger cravings level. That’s why there is some potential health problem that is advised to avoid.
3. Electrolyte imbalance:
Powerade is an energy drink that is designed for gym goers as they lose many electrolytes while sweating. Totally relying on this product can cause too much electrolyte in your bloodstream.
Therefore, if you are not doing anything that loses electrolytes- you don’t need Powerade as it causes harm to your health.
High levels of magnesium might lead to damage to your muscles and brain. Excessive sodium can lead to dizziness and even vomiting, while also increasing your risk of heart problems.
4. Sodium content:
Intake of sodium is justified in sports drinks as consistent gym members can lose sodium through sweating. You can back your lost sodium from the water; you have to go for some sports or energy drink to overcome the sodium deficiency.
Having too much sodium can cause heart issues. Those who are taking sodium in a high quantity might cause health issues. The only reason to consume Powerade is an intense workout.
Is Powerade Bad For You?
There are a couple ingredients in Powerade that can be considered unhealthy. Here are a few examples and why they are considered undesirable:
1. High-Fructose Corn Syrup
Regular Powerade’s main source of energy comes from high-fructose corn syrup, a highly refined sugar product. Fructose is not processed as well by the body as other types of carbohydrates are. Excessive consumption of fructose has been linked to increased risk for obesity and diabetes.
2. Artificial sweeteners:
Powerade Zero has Sucralose and Acesulfame K. According to some studies and anecdotal evidence, there are safety issues regarding artificial sweeteners. However these are not yet confirmed, so the FDA has approved them as safe.
3. Artificial colors:
The dyes or flavors present in artificial colors are Red 40, Blue 1, or Yellow 5 and 6. They are controversial regarding the safety issues, particularly for the kids.
Powerade Nutrition Facts:
If you’re thinking of consuming Powerade or similar products, first see the label and read the nutritional facts of the drink. Here are the nutritional fact about Powerade:
- 28 fl oz
- 2.5 servings per container
- serving size 12 fl oz (360 mL)
- Calories = 80
- Fat = 0g
- Sodium = 150mg
- Total Carbohydrates = 21g
- Sugars = 21g
- Protein = 0g
- Potassium = 40mg
- Magnesium = 0mg
Summing Up:
Powerade is a sports drink specially designed for those who consistently working out and in the gym. It gives energy and electrolytes back that you have lost during intense workouts. Powerade is available in different flavors on the market and online.
The ingredients present in it are safe and approved by FDA; consuming this drink in moderation can be the best option for anyone.
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