So, you are up in the air and unsure on which sports drink between Powerade and Gatorade is great for you? Well, let’s dive into it and compare the two products.
For starters, both drinks are meant to replenish your energy during and after workouts. They’ve been marketed as beverages containing carbohydrates with the objective of improving your athletic performance.
Although both products are different, they are sort of two peas in a pod, especially when it comes to their effectiveness as sports drinks. Nonetheless, their minor differences are based on aspects such as ingredients and taste.
Powerade vs Gatorade – Differences In Their Ingredients?
Both Gatorade and Powerade contain water, citric acid, salt and sugar. They both have equal components of sugar, which is 21 grams per 12 fluid ounce serving. However, the two brands differ in the types of sugar.
While the Powerade is sweetened with high-fructose from a corn syrup, the Gatorade contains dextrose – which is chemically similar to regular sugar. Although dextrose and fructose are different in their sources, they are nutritionally indistinguishable.
This means that both drinks offer proportionate amounts of carbs.
The best thing about both drinks is the fact that they don’t contain any protein or fat. And so you don’t have to worry about weight gain. Still, the Gatorade is reported to have more calories than Powerade. It also contains more sodium than its competition.
Basically, the Powerade boasts of being a sports drink with lots of micronutrients – magnesium, vitamins B6 & B12, and the niacin – which play major roles in improving your body’s physical health.
What Do They Taste Like?
Right off the cuff, the Powerade tastes way better than the Gatorade – at least for most people. But, is taste the main aspect to look at? Well, some people do prefer the taste of Powerade, coz, after all, someone might argue that both drinks have equal nutritional effects!
On the other hand, some folks aren’t fazed by the taste, but rather, they prefer the contents of the drink. And thus, the Gatorade is perfect for those whose workouts or sports take up lots of their calories.
In essence, the Powerade tastes better because of its high-fructose content, which is tastier than the dextrose sugar. The Gatorade has a “funny” taste due to the potassium component, which, by the way, is great at replenishing energy you’ve lost during a workout.
Effects In Athletic Performance
The benefits are highly reliant on an individual’s body, and on the types of activities/sports you involve yourself in.
For instance, if your sports requires lots of mineral replenishment, then the Powerade is an amazing option. And if you’re always working out and losing lots of calories in the process, then it’s advisable to go with the Gatorade.
Although there’s little evidence proving long-term benefits of sports drinks, both Powerade and Gatorade are very effective at enhancing athletic performance in short, continuous exercises of 1-5 hours, or even longer.
Some of the sports advocating for Powerade and Gatorade include cycling, marathons and triathlons.
Final Thoughts
No study has been done to compare the difference in effectiveness in these two products. However, both Powerade and Gatorade are efficacious in replenishing your energy during a high-demanding physical sport or activity.
The only caution is to never overuse either brand coz the sugar contents may have negative effects.
So, which is better, Powerade or Gatorade? It is all based on your personal preferences, particularly depending on the type of sports or activity you are doing.
Also, remember that studies for both products were meant for sportspeople. Thus, if you are a couch potato and rarely do exercises, you better steer clear from sports drinks. You don’t wanna replenish your body with nutrients that are already existing in your body.