The Dangers of Sports Drinks {Plus What to Drink Instead} |
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The Dangers of Sports Drinks {Plus What to Drink Instead}

admin July 7, 2014

dangers of sports drinks

Photo Credit: michelle.schrank

It’s a hot summer day. Your little man just finished his tee-ball game, and what does the mom who brought snacks hand out? A sports drink! Those boys have been playing hard, so of course, they need a little pick-me-up. 

Inwardly, I cringe whenever I see someone, especially a child, guzzle down a sports or electrolyte drink. It may rehydrate their bodies and balance their electrolytes, but it is also a toxic chemical cocktail ready to harm the body.  There are many dangers of sports drinks! 

What’s In Sports Drinks

Take a look at the ingredient list in Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange:

WATER, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, GUM ARABIC, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN, YELLOW 6

This is what most sports and electrolyte drinks (including Pedialyte) look like — some worse, some a little better. Here is a breakdown on the ingredient list, why they are used and how they affect your body.

Sugar

Too much sugar isn’t good for anyone, especially when it is stripped of all its minerals (which is true of most sugar). Frequently, companies are using genetically modified sugar beets to make sugar found in drinks. Sugar can overload your liver, decay teeth, and cause insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes. It is also highly addictive, among other things. 

Dextrose

Dextrose (also known as glucose) is used in medical applications when a patient is unable to consume enough liquids. It is also used as an artificial sweetener in foods. Excessive use of dextrose has been linked to obesity, diabetes, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and a lack of sodium in the blood. Other side effects may also occur. 

Citric Acid

Citric acid is a preservative and has an acidic or sour taste in foods. It can be harmful if you have a history of electrolyte/mineral imbalances. To learn more about the scary side effects, read here. (Note: this pertains more to those who use citric acid as a supplement or medicine, but still something to keep in mind.) 

MSG can be found hidden in citric acid. Known side effects of MSG are:

  • Headache
  • Flushing
  • Sweating
  • Facial pressure or tightness
  • Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
  • Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea

Natural Flavor

Natural flavor is anything but natural. When you hear natural, you automatically think, “Hum, it’s natural, so it must be good for me.” Far from the truth, my friends! Natural flavor is a substance derived directly from a natural item. It can be sourced from vegetables, fruits, meats, spices, and dairy products. So far, so good, right? 

Here’s the thing — the substance is extracted, then chemically altered to taste like it would have before it was modified. The flavor that was extracted often has nothing to do with the food it was used in. One example would be castoreum — it is the natural flavor used in things like raspberry and vanilla ice cream, and it is derived from the anal glands of a beaver (if you see “vanillin” on the label — you’re eating beaver anal secretions!). Other hidden things like MSG can be found in “natural flavor.” 

castoreum
castoreum
Castoreum
Castoreum

Under the Code of Federal Regulations, the definition for natural flavor is: “the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional” (21CFR101.22).

Salt

Salt is essential for your body and one of the most critical ingredients in electrolyte drinks.  Sadly, your typical table salt (umbrella popping into anyone’s mind?) is far from how God created it. Truly natural, good-for-you salt is “dirty” in appearance (i.e., not pure white). It is not chemically “cleaned” to become the white crystals we now consider salt. The process involves the use of aluminum, ferroan-cyanide, and bleach. All of its minerals are removed. When the minerals are intact, they can help balance blood pressure.  See more below about healthy salt! 

Sodium Citrate

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. It is what gives drinks their salty and sour taste. It is sometimes used to regulate acid in drinks. It is also used as an emulsifier for oils when making cheese (think American Cheese), allowing the cheese to melt without becoming greasy. It is often used for flavor or as a preservative. It emulsifies the oils with the water that is sometimes added to drinks. There are scary side effects that include loose stools, nausea, upset stomach, and vomiting. 

Monopotassium Phosphate

Monopotassium phosphate (potassium dihydrogen phosphate, KDP, or monobasic potassium phosphate) is a source of potassium used as a food additive to emulsify oils and liquids that would otherwise separate.  It additionally acts as a thickener, acidity regulator, and stabilizer. It is also used as fertilizer and fungicide. 

Gum Arabic

Gum arabic is made from the hardened sap of two species of the acacia tree. It is used as a thickening agent and emulsifier, binding the sugar into the drink. There is a question as to whether it is a sustainably harvested product. 

Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate

Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate is an unnatural sugar (sucrose) used as an emulsifier and weighing agent, adding density to beverages. It is now being used instead of brominated vegetable oil.

Glycerol Ester of Rosin

Glycerol Ester of Rosin is an emulsifier that can be used as an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus-flavored drinks. It gives a more authentic flavor to fruit-flavored water-based drinks. However, in rare cases, it has been found to cause allergic reactions. 

Yellow 6

Yellow 6 food dye has been linked to learning and concentration disorders in children. It can aggravate ADHD symptoms. There are also animal studies that demonstrate potential risks, such as kidney and intestinal tumors. In the UK, we must label foods containing them with warning labels! 

Electrolyte Drink

What to Drink Now?

Many excellent alternatives are easy to find or make.

Coconut Water

Coconut Water 

Coconut water is the liquid inside the coconut (not to be confused with coconut milk, which is made from meat). It is the perfect balance of electrolytes that your body needs. It has been nicknamed “Nature’s Gatorade.” It contains 5 essential electrolytes: 

  1. Potassium: The most important positive ion (cation) inside your cells; potassium regulates heartbeat and muscle function. Coconut water contains 295 mg, which is 15 times the amount in the average sports drink 
  1. Sodium: The most important positive ion in fluid outside your cells, and also the one most depleted with exercise, as you lose sodium through sweat and urine 
  1. Magnesium: Important for maintaining the electrical potential of your cells, proper muscle function, and preventing calcium overload 
  1. Phosphorus: Plays essential roles in bone health, but also in transferring energy throughout your body, helping your muscles contract, and regulating nerve function (partners with calcium) 
  1. Calcium: Important for bone health (partners with phosphorous) (Source http://mercola.com) 

Coconut water can be used as an electrolyte on its own or added to homemade electrolyte drinks. 

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Real Salt

Natural Salt from Redmond is a good source of electrolytes. I use it as my own homemade lemon sports drink. Whereas regular table salt has been chemically washed and stripped of all its minerals, Real Salt contains 60 trace minerals, and none have been stripped. These minerals included: 

  • Sodium
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Sulphur
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  • Phosphorus
  • Iodine
  • Manganese
  • Copper
  • Zinc

You can buy their Re-lyte capsules, add a pinch of salt to your water (not my idea of a tasty drink), or use the salt in your homemade electrolyte drinks! 

Earthley Wellness Electrolyte Powder (Insert Link) is a great solution because it provides the important nutrients without the junk that’s in sports drinks. It is made with just three ingredients – organic maple sugar, Himalayan sea salt, and cream of tartar.  

When you use products straight from nature, like Earthley’s Electrolyte Powder, coconut water, or Real Salt products, you are giving your body what it needs without bringing any harm to your body. You won’t experience the same effects from using either of these products; you will experience better effects! Your body doesn’t have to sort through the toxic chemicals to use the minerals as it does with store-bought sports drinks. Instead, your body gets them exactly how God created them. I find it incredible that He makes just what we need without artificial ingredients. 

Are you ready to try making your own sports drinks? Here are some recipes to get you started! 

 

Are you ready to give making your own sports drinks a try? Here are some recipes to get you started!

CreamSoda

Were you aware of the dangers of sports drinks? Have you ever made your own electrolyte drink before?

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13 Comments

  1. […] is what most sports and electrolyte drinks look like, some worse some a little better. Head over Modern Alternative Mama for a breakdown on the ingredient list, why they are used and how they affect your […]

    Reply

  2. If you want to drink a sports drink that’s actually made with natural ingredients we sell pure sports hydration in New Zealand and Australia. It’s made with real fruit, electrolytes and carbs.

    Reply

  3. I didnt know that they were bad for you my gson HAS BEEN DRINKING THEM FOR A LONG TIME HE HAS BEEN PLAYING SPORTS SINCE FIRST GRADE NOW A SOPHMORE AND THATS ALL WE HAVE GAVE HIM GOT NEW COACH LAST YEAR AND STOP DRINKING GAD AND START DRINKING POWER ADE BECAUSE COACH SAID THAT ONE WAS BETTER FOR YOU THAN THE OTHER ALSO PLAYERS NOT ALOUD TO DRINK SODAS PLEASE SEND ME SOME RECIPES TO MAKE FOR PLAYERS THANKS FOR IN FO

    Reply

  4. […] The Dangers Of Sports Energy Drinks (Plus What To Drink Instead) […]

    Reply

  5. For many years the UNICEF and other international aid organizations have promoted re-hydration therapy for people, especially children, suffering from de-hydration due to the flu and diarrhea. Oral Rehydration Solutions can be made at home with 6 level teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 level teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 litre of clean water. This sort of solution may also be helpful in cases of dehydration due to exertion, exercise, etc.

    Reply

  6. I put the ingredients for the electrolyte drink in my vitamix and then served. All the kids rejected it saying it was too spicy. Would it work as well with less or no ginger?

    Reply

  7. […] the bottom of this post from Modern Alternative Mama (and in this post as well), there are numerous links to homemade drinks […]

    Reply

  8. […] Electrolyte drinks such as Ginger Sports Drink, Sparkling Vanilla “Soda”, or plain coconut water keep your body hydrated. If you are not able to make your own please buy coconut water and not the sports drinks from the store. They can cause a world of harm. […]

    Reply

  9. Oh my word, vanillin is NOT sourced from beaver anal glands my word

    Reply

  10. Vanillin isn’t great, but in food products it’s normally the kind derived from wood sources. The whole point is a cheap alternative to real vanilla so the animal source would be too costly for anything but cosmetic uses (i.e. perfumes). Paper by-product versions are inherently more plentiful and less expensive.

    https://explore.globalhealing.com/vanillin/
    https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/castoreum/

    Reply

  11. I noticed this seems more based on the gatorade and Powerade drinks; what about Body Armour? Could you break that down? It says they’re mostly coconut water so I’d be curious if the other stuff in there. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Hi Nicole! Body Armor seems better on the outside, but does have some pitfalls. It lists “natural flavors” which cannot be determined on that name alone, plus it uses a lot of added synthetic and isolated vitamins. These cannot only upset balance in the body, but also sometimes like in the case of Folic Acid, cause harm for some people (those with MTHFR). It also has large amounts of citric acid. Sounds harmless, but most of the time citric acid is not derived from citrus but from Aspergillus niger (aka black mold). It does have a lot less sugar and is better than gatorade for certain! I like to use a powder mix from Earthley made with organic maple sugar, cream of tartar, and Himalayan pink sea salt. https://earthley.com/product/electrolyte-powder/ref/modernamama

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kate.  I love medical freedom, sharing natural remedies, developing real food recipes, and gentle parenting. My goal is to teach you how to live your life free from Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Government by learning about herbs, cooking, and sustainable practices.

I’m the author of Natural Remedies for Kids and the owner and lead herbalist at EarthleyI hope you’ll join me on the journey to a free and healthy life!

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