Sports drink giant Gatorade has introduced a new hydration drink named Gatorlyte, which they claim to be a better option than their classic Gatorade formula. According to the brand’s website, Gatorlyte is a “specialized blend of five electrolytes to deliver rapid rehydration” that contains “lower sugar and no artificial sweeteners or flavors.”
But the real question is – is Gatorlyte genuinely healthier than Gatorade, or is it just a marketing ploy? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients, and do regular people need sports hydration drinks anyway? And how does it stack up against Pedialyte, a well-known hydration brand?
In this review, we’ll break down each component of Gatorlyte to offer our take on whether it’s healthy or not. We’ll also provide our thoughts on whether Gatorlyte or Gatorade is the better option, examine if hydration drinks are necessary for the average person, and compare Gatorlyte to Pedialyte. So let’s dive in and find out more!
Table of Contents
Gatorlyte: A Closer Look at Its Ingredients
If you’re into sports or intense physical activities, you might have heard of Gatorlyte. It comes in various flavors, and for this review, we’ll focus on the Mixed Berry variant. Take note that other flavors have similar compositions.
Let’s dive into the ingredients. First up is sugar, which takes the top spot on the list. However, according to a 2019 medical review, too much added sugar can be harmful and may increase your risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Next is citric acid, which comes from a fungus called Aspergillus niger. A small group of people may experience whole-body inflammation from it, based on a medical review published in the Toxicology Reports journal.
This particular Gatorlyte flavor also contains Red 40, an artificial food dye. Unfortunately, a review on the toxicology of food dyes discovered that Red 40 was contaminated with cancer-causing compounds.
Then we have natural flavor, which is a vague term used by food manufacturers. The truth is, we don’t really know what chemical compounds they use. In our previous Athletic Greens review, we talked about how some natural flavoring agents and their metabolites have toxicity concerns.
On the bright side, Gatorlyte uses purified stevia leaf extract as a natural sweetener. It’s a plant-based alternative that doesn’t affect your blood sugar levels, according to a meta-study.
Lastly, Gatorlyte has an electrolyte blend with ingredients like potassium chloride and magnesium oxide. A Nutrients journal review revealed that electrolytes can enhance athletic performance.
Overall, we think Gatorlyte can improve athletic performance thanks to its sugar and electrolytes. However, we don’t think it’s a healthy drink overall because of the questionable additives. Additionally, we haven’t seen compelling evidence that regular folks need supplements like electrolytes and sugar instead of plain old water unless you’re an elite athlete or doing extreme, outdoor endurance activities.
Hydration Battle: Gatorlyte vs. Pedialyte
If you’re someone who is into hydration products, then you might be wondering whether Gatorlyte or Pedialyte is the better option for you. Well, in our humble opinion, Gatorlyte takes the cake!
After carefully reviewing the ingredients of both drinks, we found that Pedialyte contains two artificial sweeteners and two food dyes. On the other hand, Gatorlyte only has one food dye and zero artificial sweeteners. We think that’s a big plus for Gatorlyte!
But let’s be real here, both drinks are effective in providing the necessary electrolytes for rehydration, and they can also benefit athletes’ performance. So, it’s safe to say that they’re equally effective in that sense.
Now, we’re not here to tell you which product to buy, but if you’re stuck between the two, we’d recommend going for Gatorlyte.
Remember to always read the labels and pick the product that works best for you.
Gatorlyte vs. Gatorade: Which One’s Better?
Let’s talk about sports drinks! We all know Gatorade is a classic, but have you tried Gatorlyte? It’s supposed to be a healthier option, but how does it compare to good old Gatorade?
Here’s the deal: a 12 oz bottle of Gatorade has 48g of added sugar, which is a lot. Sure, if you’re a pro athlete like LeBron James, it might help you perform better, but for most of us regular folks who are already overweight on average, it’s probably not the best idea.
That’s where Gatorlyte comes in. We think it’s a healthier choice because it contains 75% less added sugar than Gatorade. And the other ingredients are pretty much the same, so that’s the main difference between the two.
Overall, if you’re looking for a sports drink that’s lower in sugar, Gatorlyte is definitely worth trying. But remember, like with any drink, moderation is key!
Sports Hydration Drinks: Are They Really Necessary?
You know, those beverages you see athletes chugging on the sidelines. They usually contain water, sugar, electrolytes, and some other stuff. The idea behind them is that the sugar gives you a quick energy boost while the electrolytes replace what you lose through sweat.
Now, medical research has shown that these drinks can help professional athletes who are competing in endurance events, like marathons, perform better. But here’s the thing – for the average person who works out regularly, there isn’t any medical evidence to suggest that these drinks are necessary or even beneficial.
If you’re hitting the gym for a quick 30-minute jog or lifting some weights, we don’t think you need to bother with a sports hydration drink. And if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s definitely not a good idea to consume something like Gatorlyte, because the extra calories could actually hinder your progress.
So, what’s the best option? In most cases, we think that plain old filtered water is the way to go. It’s healthier, cheaper, and just as effective.
Of course, there are some people who swear by sports hydration drinks. In fact, a sports dietitian named Derek suggested in a TikTok video that Gatorlyte can be really beneficial for athletes. So, at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what works best for your body and your workout routine.
Gatorlytes Powder vs Gatorlyte Drink
Gatorlyte is commonly known as a liquid drink, but did you know that it also comes in a powder form called “Gatorlytes”?
What’s great about Gatorlytes is that it contains the same amount of electrolytes as the Gatorlyte drink, but with more sodium. Here’s a breakdown of the electrolyte levels in Gatorlytes compared to the Gatorlyte drink:
Sodium
- Gatorlytes powder: 780 milligrams (mg)
- Gatorlyte drink: 490 mg
Magnesium
- Gatorlytes powder: 40 mg
- Gatorlyte drink: 105 mg
Potassium
- Gatorlytes powder: 400 mg
- Gatorlyte drink: 350 mg
Calcium
- Gatorlytes powder: 80 mg
- Gatorlyte drink: 120 mg
But what sets Gatorlytes apart from other electrolyte products is that it doesn’t contain any questionable additive ingredients. It’s just pure electrolytes with no added sugar or artificial food dye. In terms of health, we highly recommend Gatorlytes powder over Gatorlyte drink.
Plus, Gatorlytes is a more affordable option, priced at under $1 per serving. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check out Gatorlytes on Amazon.
Final Verdict
When it comes to optimizing athletic performance, Gatorlyte has some effective ingredients. However, we don’t recommend it overall due to the added sugar and artificial food dye, along with other questionable filler ingredients.
But don’t worry, there are better options out there! For instance, Gatorlytes is a powder formulation that contains only electrolytes and no additives, making it a healthier choice in our opinion. Plus, it has a higher sodium content, which can be especially beneficial for elite athletes who lose significant amounts of sodium through sweat during long training sessions.
If you’re looking for a natural way to replenish your electrolytes, you can always turn to whole foods like coconut water. We believe that Gatorlytes is a healthier alternative to both Gatorade and Pedialyte, as it contains less added sugar.
While hydration drinks can be helpful for some people, we think that they may not be necessary for most consumers. After all, humans have been drinking water for thousands of years, and regular filtered water is still the best option for anyone other than elite athletes in our opinion. So, make sure to stay hydrated, but don’t feel like you need to rely on fancy drinks to do so!