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The Daily Insight

Is Gatorade or soda worse for you

Author

Jessica Wilkins

Published Apr 20, 2026

A 20-ounce serving of Gatorade’s Thirst Quencher contains 36 grams of sugar. While that’s a bit less sugar per ounce than your average soda, it’s not exactly healthy. In fact, Berkeley researchers say the sugar in sports drinks may be contributing to the child obesity epidemic by increasing caloric intake.

Is Gatorade healthier than Sprite?

Both have high in calories and low in nutrients, however, Sport drinks like Gatorade can have benefits for athletes who need to replenish their body’s supplies of sodium and glycogen. I’d say Gatorade would be better to choose its more beneficial it has Electrolytes and carbohydrates that help refuel and rehydrate.

Do sports drinks have more sugar than soda?

Most sports drinks still have about two-thirds as much sugar as soda.” The same amount of a non-diet soda contains 104 to124 grams of sugar, or 26 to 31 teaspoons.

What's healthier Gatorade or Coke?

So it’s no wonder that pediatricians and nutritionists look skeptically at sports drinks, which typically have about half as much sugar per ounce as a Coke. And servings are big; a 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade has 224 calories, all from sugar, while a 12-ounce can of Coke has 162 calories.

Is Gatorade a good replacement for soda?

water is an easy choice: Go with water. That said, since athletes often need sugar and electrolytes, Gatorade is preferred over soda as its easily digested and replenishes electrolytes while supplying energy. … Water is also a better choice when it comes to calories and sugar content.

Does Gatorade have more sugar than juice?

Apple juice contains 100% more sugar than Gatorade. It doesn’t matter if it’s “natural” – sugar is sugar.

Does Gatorade have sugar?

The brand lost market share, too. Although high on electrolytes that help athletes rehydrate as they sweat, a 20-ounce drink has 34 grams of sugar, 36 grams of carbohydrates, and 140 calories.

What can I replace soda with?

  • Infused sparkling water. Add slices of your favorite fruits into sparkling water for a delicious soda substitute.
  • Sparkling green tea. …
  • Kombucha. …
  • Water with mint and cucumber. …
  • Herbal or fruit teas. …
  • Coconut water.

What is the healthiest soda to drink?

  • Sierra Mist. Sierra Mist tops our list of healthy sodas because it contains slightly fewer calories at 140 calories per cup and just 37 grams of carbohydrates. …
  • Sprite. Sprite is a lime-lemon soda from the Coca-Cola Company, which also produces Coke. …
  • 7 Up. …
  • Seagram’s Ginger Ale. …
  • Coke Classic. …
  • Pepsi.
Is Gatorade zero sugar bad?

These artificial sweeteners cause havoc in your body’s normal response to glucose and insulin, and rather than helping you they harm your body and make you prone to diabetes.

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What has more sugar Powerade or soda?

Though they have considerably less sugar than a soda, sports drinks such as Gatorade, Powerade, and Vitamin Water are still packed with sugar. Gatorade and Powerade both contain 34 grams of sugar in their 20 oz bottles.

Can drinking too much Gatorade be bad?

Drinks like Gatorade contain high levels of sugar and sodium which have proven to be detrimental to children especially when they consume a large amount of these drinks. Gatorade has the potential to lead to diabetes, kidney damage, tooth enamel erosion and can add to the growing number of overweight children.

What has more sugar Gatorade or Powerade?

PoweradeGatoradeFat0 grams0 gramsSugar34 grams34 gramsSodium10% of the Daily Value (DV)11% of the DVPotassium2% of the DV2% of the DV

How much sugar is in a Gatorade zero?

Total Fat 0g0%Sodium 160mg7%Total Sugars 0gAdded Sugars 0g0%Protein 0g

What kind of sugar is in Gatorade zero?

What sweetener is in Gatorade Zero? Sugar free Gatorade Zero is sweetened with sucralose. Although made from sugar, the majority of ingested sucralose remains undigested, and is therefore non-caloric.

Does Gatorade zero make you gain weight?

Diet sodas have zero calories. So it seems logical that replacing one with the other should help you lose weight, or at least stay the same weight. But no–several studies have proved conclusively that drinking diet soda is associated with weight gain.

What drinks are better than soda?

  • Sparkling Water. The closest alternative for sodas is sparkling water. …
  • Flavored Sparkling Water. …
  • Sparkling Water Infusions. …
  • Freshly Squeezed Lemonade. …
  • Kombucha. …
  • Coconut Water.

Is Gatorade good for weight loss?

But Gatorade contains high levels of sugar and food dyes, which may increase people’s risk of certain health conditions, including weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Gatorade and other sports drinks are not inherently healthy or healthier than other beverages.

What percentage of sugar is in Gatorade?

For example, Gatorade contains about 14 grams of sugar in a 240-milliliter serving, which is about 6 grams per 100 milliliters, or 6%.) Gatorade is 6% sugar, whereas Powerade is 8% sugar. Since both fall within the generally recommended 4-8% range, either drink is acceptable according to this criterion.

How much sugar is in a bottle of Gatorade?

Gatorade. The average 20-ounce bottle packs 34 grams of sugar, which is almost a third of a woman’s recommended daily intake.

How much sugar is in small Gatorade?

Total Fat0g0%Sodium160mg7%Total Carbohydrate21g7%Sugars21gProtein0g

Can diabetics drink Gatorade?

Gatorade, for example, has a glycemic index of 89. That’s high. A GI score of 89 means that Gatorade is rapidly digested, absorbed, and metabolized, which results in significant blood sugar fluctuations. Something that can be problematic for people with diabetes who should avoid substantial changes in blood glucose.

What 3 drinks are bad for diabetics?

  • Regular soda. Soda takes the top spot on the list of drinks to avoid. …
  • Energy drinks. Energy drinks can be high in both caffeine and carbohydrates. …
  • Sweetened or unsweetened fruit juices.

What drinks have the most sugar in it?

DrinkServing sizeSugar per serve (tsp)Soft drinksSolo600mL17.3Coca Cola600mL16.0Sprite600mL13.0

What soda has least sugar?

  • Coca-Cola Classic. Coca‑Cola Classic has been enjoyed since 1886 and is the world’s favourite soft drink. …
  • Sprite. …
  • Dr Pepper. …
  • Fanta. …
  • Lilt. …
  • Powerade. …
  • Oasis. …
  • Schweppes.

What is the most unhealthy soda 2021?

  • Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash.
  • Wild Cherry Pepsi.
  • Fanta Orange.
  • Mountain Dew.
  • Mellow Yellow.

What soda has the most sugar?

  • Dr Pepper.
  • Pepsi.
  • Pepsi Vanilla.
  • Dr Pepper Cherry.
  • Wild Cherry Pepsi.
  • Cherry Coca-Cola.
  • RC Cola.
  • Dr. Brown’s Root Beer.

What drinks have no sugar?

  • Iced or hot tea. Tea is an extremely broad category of beverage. …
  • Water with lemon or lime. …
  • Sparkling water: flavored or unflavored. …
  • Coffee. …
  • 5 . …
  • Fresh-squeezed mint lemonade. …
  • Coconut water. …
  • Kombucha.

Is there a healthy soda?

Sierra Mist is the healthiest soda. A single can of Sierra Mist Lemon-lime soda contains 140 calories, 37 g of carbs, and 35 mg of sodium, which allows it to place slightly better than its closest competitor. Of course, you should still take care not to drink too much despite that.

Is one soda a day okay?

But just one soda a day isn’t awful…is it? Now if you’re drinking an entire case in a day, that’s certainly the farthest thing from healthy. But new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association, says that just 12 ounces of a sugary drink each day, is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

What is a healthy alternative to Gatorade?

Coconut water is nature’s Gatorade, as it is rich in electrolytes (especially magnesium and potassium). Coconut may be a good option for general hydration as well as camping trips, fitness events, and dehydration due to diarrhea. Opt for a version without added sugars.