Usually artificial dyes are what make Gatorade to appear in different colors. I just came across with a Gatorade saying on the pack: “No artificial flavor or color.” My first reaction was like “Wow! They start listening to the consumers who do not want that artificial stuff!” And yes, this is true. As we, the consumers, started to turn our noses away from the artificial food additives, here you go, the food industry followed!
I am not so sure about the second part of their claim: “No high fructose corn syrup.” Why? Because as far as I know, Gatorade Co has never had added HFCS. They might also say: “Gluten free” or “No trans fat.” But it is important that Gatorade takes into account growing demand among the Americans for less artificial food colorants and less HFCS. And this is a positive trend!
Now let’s see what is inside of the “no artificial flavor or color” Gatorade. Unfortunately risks you take with this Gatorade are still high, DDFI = 15/5 = 3. Why so? Because of two artificial sugar substitutes (red segments in the diagram):
- The chlorinated sugar – sucralose and
- Potassium salt of an amide derivative of sulfuric acid – acesulfame potassium
- (See Propel Zero: Sucralose is not a solution for more details).
But you cannot trick your body with the artificial sweeteners without a price to pay; read an article A Role for Sweet Taste: Calorie Predictive Relations in Energy Regulation. While critics of artificial sweeteners keep raising safety concerns and the food industry keeps playing “there is nothing to worry about” mantra (as far as profits are growing), why should we, the consumers, take health risks that are completely avoidable? Does it worth to keep experimenting with sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame etc. to find out ten years later or sooner that it was bad choice which damaged your or your children’s health? The problem is that when you or your loved one is diagnosed with cancer it is nearly impossible to establish a clear connection between a food additive consumed and the disease. For this reason you have no chance even to sue the food manufacturer.
Gatorade: A fake electrolyte
And the nutritional value of the Gatorade is very low DDNF = 5/34 ~ 0.15 because sugar (sucrose) is the only nutrient (except water) it delivers. Yes, you may need some electrolytes too but the amounts you get with Gatorade are so low that you will have to drink ~ 9.5 gallons of it to consume your daily potassium and ~1.5 gallons to get your daily sodium!
With all the above in mind, it’s easy to see why plain filtered water is a better choice than any Gatorade including this of “no artificial flavor or color” one. Do you still want some sweetness? Then here is another alternative for you with “no artificial sweeteners”!
SoBe: A safer alternative
New sugar substitute Reb A (Stevia extract) appeared on shelves in SoBe Lifewater at the end of 2008. This vitamin beverage is close to FUZE Slenderize but significantly less risky because no chlorinated sugar or acesulfame potassium is added. You will get only minimal foreign food additive risk, DDFI = 6/30 = 0.2 and some nutrition too with DDNF = 30/33 = 0.9.
The main ingredients are:
- Reb A, stevia extract, is a sweetener derived from nature
- Erythritol is another sweetener. It is 60–70% as sweet as table sugar yet it is almost non-caloric, does not affect blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is partially absorbed by the body, excreted in urine and feces.
- Garcinia cambogia rind extract, see also the PDF file for more details: Garcinia cambogia rind extract
- L-Carnitine, an amino acid derivative available from many foods
- Chromium picolinate, a questionable chromium supplement (the only red segment in the diagram). It is currently recognized as not immediately toxic. Read the Statement of the Mutagenicity.
I hope this report helps to take advantage of the positive trend and to make less risky food choices for you and your kids!