Making sure you are properly hydrated as an athlete is incredibly important for performance and overall health. This is why when it comes to sports drinks, people can have a lot of different opinions. Similar to Gatorade, Powerade is one of the sports drinks dominating the market.
Powerade Zero is Powerade’s zero-calorie and zero-sugar drink, which comes in all the popular flavors like Fruit Punch, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Smash, and more. However, zero calories and sugar do not always mean healthier. So, is Powerade Zero good for you? Read on for our analysis.
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Is Powerade Zero good for you?
Powerade Zero contains artificial colors and sweeteners that are generally not considered good for you. Despite being a source of electrolytes, sodium, and potassium, the additives outweigh the benefits, per an Illuminate Labs article medically reviewed by registered dietitian DJ Mazzoni, RD, MS.
However, when choosing between Gatorade Zero and Powerade Zero, Illuminate Labs recommends Powerade Zero because it contains more electrolytes than Gatorade Zero.
The Fruit Punch flavor of Powerade Zero contains water, citric acid, electrolytes, vitamin B12, vitamin C, natural flavors, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, calcium disodium EDTA, and red 40. The drink contains zero calories and added sugar.
According to Health Reporter, the research on the long-term health effects of artificial sweeteners like acesulfame potassium and sucralose has been mixed. Despite being calorie-free, these artificial sweeteners are also known to be much sweeter than regular sugar, and could potentially increase sugar cravings.
Another ingredient listed in most Powerade Zero bottles is citric acid, a common food additive used to enhance the sour flavor of foods and drinks. Although citric acid is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a toxicology report from 2018 found that the additive caused inflammation in some people after consumption.
Regular Powerade is not good to consume every day because of its high sugar content and artificial ingredients. According to Healthline, the amount of added sugar and sodium in each drink will likely only benefit those who are engaging in high levels of exercise.
Powerade is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, and in a 28-ounce bottle of Fruit Punch Powerade, there are 21 grams of added sugar. High fructose corn syrup has been linked to a higher risk of obesity, a negative effects on insulin levels and appetite, and more, per Healthline.
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The recommended maximum daily intake of sugar for women and children (ages 12-18) is 24 grams and 36 grams for men, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. This means a bottle of Powerade could easily surpass half of your recommended daily sugar intake.
According to Global Sport Matters, for drinks that contain high levels of sodium like Powerade, there is a risk of sodium overconsumption. Too much sodium in your diet can lead to some serious health issues, such as high blood pressure, kidney damage, heart attack, and heart disease. Therefore, unless you know you are losing a lot of sodium in hard workouts throughout the day, you likely do not need to replenish them with drinks like Powerade.
Powerade Zero contains artificial colors and sweeteners that are generally not considered good for you. Despite being a source of electrolytes, sodium, and potassium, the additives outweigh the benefits, per an Illuminate Labs article medically reviewed by registered dietitian DJ Mazzoni, RD, MS.
Instead of dextrose or sucrose, sugar-free (or “zero”) versions of sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade contain sucralose or aspartame to give it a sweet flavor.
Powerade Zero is almost exactly the same as regular Powerade. The only difference is the use of sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener. Although artificial sweeteners may sound like a good thing, they are not.
It is important to note that the amount of sucralose in these drinks varies. For example, Gatorade Zero contains 24 milligrams of sucralose per 8-ounce serving, while Powerade Zero contains 15 milligrams of sucralose per 8-ounce serving.
However, a no-sugar product called Powerade Zero is also available, according to powerade.com. For heavy exercisers, Powerade may offer some benefit, but for the vast majority of people choosing between sports drinks vs water, water is sufficient.
Instead, consider drinking beverages with artificial sugar that won't spike your blood sugar such as Propel, Gatorade Zero, Powerade Zero, diet/no sugar sodas, flavorings such as Mio, Crystal Light, etc., and sparkling waters such as AHA, Perrier, Sparkling ICE, and LaCroix. The healthiest beverage to drink is water!
Powerade Zero contains artificial colors and sweeteners that are generally not considered good for you. Despite being a source of electrolytes, sodium, and potassium, the additives outweigh the benefits, per an Illuminate Labs article medically reviewed by registered dietitian DJ Mazzoni, RD, MS.
As a recovery beverage when you're sweating and working out, Powerade is an excellent option. However, comments from users regarding the high sugar content, added food dye, and overly sugary and salty taste shouldn't be overlooked; this product isn't for everyone.
Drinks like Gatorade and Powerade have about half the sugar of sodas, but popular energy drinks like Monster or Fuel often have the same amount of sugar as soda (or more). In addition, both sports and energy drinks are loaded with acid—enough to do ten times more damage to tooth enamel than soda.
Some studies have shown that sucralose can change your gut microbiome by lowering the number of good bacteria by half. Research done on animals shows that sucralose can also increase inflammation in the body. Over time, inflammation can lead to problems like obesity and diabetes.
Damage to kidney and liver: Studies suggest that if you regularly eat or drink a lot of aspartame over a long period, it could harm your kidneys. Scientists also think aspartame can cause toxic liver disease. Mood swings: Aspartame can cause changes to your mood.
For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.
Drinking too many of these, especially when not performing vigorous exercise, can increase the risk of overweight/obesity and other health problems such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and gout. There is also a risk of dental caries.
co*ke Zero: Uses a combination of aspartame and acesulfame potassium as sweeteners. It also contains natural flavors, carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, and caffeine. Diet co*ke: Primarily uses aspartame, although some versions may contain saccharin.
Yes, Gatorade offers a zero-sugar option called Gatorade Zero. Some varieties of Gatorade Zero are sweetened with sucralose instead of aspartame. However, it's always a good idea to check the specific product label, as formulations can vary.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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