You’ve most likely drank Gatorade, but have you ever pondered how acidic it is? This beverage is high in sugar and has a pH of about 3, making it somewhat acidic.
Gatorade is the official sports drink of all major professional sports leagues, including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and NASCAR. It is a triumph symbol that many prominent sportsmen appreciate.
What started as a drink for a single college football team, The Florida Gators, is now offered globally. But do the health advantages offset the acidity of the drink? Let us investigate this.
Contents
Gatorade Nutritional Value
Gatorade comes in a variety of tastes and colors, but the nutritional profile is mostly the same. According to the brand’s website, a 20-ounce bottle contains:
| Nutrition | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugars | 34 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Potassium | 75 g |
Gatorade Ingredients
Gatorade has a variety of beverage alternatives with variable amounts of sweetness, color, and flavor, but the components are mostly the same.
The following are the key components of a typical bottle:
| Water | For hydration |
| Sugar | For energy |
| Dextrose | Type of sugar used also for energy |
| Citric acid | For flavor |
| Salt | For electrolyte replenishment |
| Sodium citrate | For flavor |
| Monopotassium phosphate | For a boost in potassium levels |
| Modified food starch | Stabilizing agent |
| Natural flavor | For flavor |
| Food dye | For color |
| Glycerol ester of rosin | Stabilizing agent |
| Caramel color | For color |
Gatorade also makes organic drinks that contain:
| Water | For hydration |
| Cane sugar | For energy |
| Citric acid | For flavor |
| Natural flavor | For flavor |
| Sea salt | For electrolyte replenishment |
| Sodium citrate | For flavor |
| Monopotassium phosphate | For a boost in potassium levels |
What Makes Gatorade Acidic?
Gatorade has a pH of roughly 3, indicating that it is almost as acidic as Coca-Cola (pH of 2.37). How so?
For starters, it’s heavy in sugar, which is the major cause of heartburn. Gatorade has 34 grams of sugar every 20 oz bottle. This is more than the recommended daily amount of 32 grams.
Gatorade also includes citric acid, which increases the creation of extra stomach acid. If consumed in large amounts, it may cause stomach issues such as heartburn and acid reflux, not to mention that sports drinks may wear away dental enamel, making teeth delicate and prone to decay.
As a result, Gatorade is acidic to both your stomach and your teeth.
pH Levels of Different Gatorade Sports Drinks
Gatorade drinks are all very acidic; nevertheless, the pH values vary somewhat amongst beverages. Let’s take a look at the most common varieties and their pH levels.
| Type of Gatorade Sports Drink | pH level |
|---|---|
| Frost Riptide Rush | 2.99 |
| Rain Line | 3.19 |
| Rain Strawberry Kiwi | 3.17 |
| Blueberry Pomegranate | 3.21 |
| Fierce Grape | 3.05 |
| Fierce Melon | 3.05 |
| Fruit Punch | 3.01 |
| Lemon Lime | 2.97 |
| Orange | 2.99 |
| Rain Berry | 3.17 |
Can Gatorade Cause Acid Reflux and GERD?
Gatorade includes both sugar and citric acid, which may cause acid reflux.
Acid reflux may cause a sour or bitter taste in your mouth as well as searing pain in your chest. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid and other chemicals traveling up the esophagus and irritating the tissues.
Although not life-threatening, it occurs often. If this occurs often, the condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
According to research, athletes who rehydrate with traditional sports drinks rather than water are more likely to have acid reflux. Why? Because they consume these beverages in big numbers, the quantity of sugar and citric acid in their bodies is quite high.
How to Determine Whether Gatorade Triggers Acid Reflux or GERD?
Gatorade is an acidic sports drink, but that doesn’t always mean it’s to blame for your heartburn. Fortunately, there are many methods for determining if drinking this beverage can create acid reflux in you.
If you have heartburn shortly after drinking Gatorade and this pattern persists, there is a good possibility that this beverage is the cause.
If you have acid reflux symptoms when exercising, Gatorade may not be the cause. Gymnastics, rope jumping, running, and cycling are examples of abdominal-stressing exercises that may increase the incidence of heartburn.
A change in your regular routine might also trigger acid reflux. Overeating, sleeping shortly after eating, consuming alcohol, smoking, eating acidic foods, and taking drugs are all examples of risk factors. Gatorade may be a symptom of heartburn rather than the cause.
How to Reduce Heartburn While Drinking Gatorade
What can you do to alleviate the symptoms of heartburn now that you know the cause?
Begin by consuming less Gatorade. If you have heartburn after drinking it, you probably drank too much. Reduce the amount of bottles you consume each day to alleviate discomfort.
Eat two hours before exercising if you intend to workout. While exercising, you may still drink Gatorade and water, but eating soon before exercising is not a smart idea. A full stomach strains the sphincter, perhaps resulting in heartburn.
After working out, eat a banana. Bananas are neutral antacids that may help prevent heartburn if ingested on a regular basis. They’re also heavy in fiber, so they’ll keep you full while also preventing heartburn by pulling excess fluids into your stomach.
Conclusion
Gatorade is an acidic sports beverage that comes in a variety of flavors. Although there are various variants, they all have a pH of about 3.
The drink has a high concentration of electrolytes, which may be beneficial to athletes. However, if taken in excess, the high sugar and citric acid content may induce acid reflux and GERD.
Do you get heartburn after drinking Gatorade? The booze might be to blame. Reduce your intake while keeping an eye on your body’s response.
If you still have acid reflux, it is probable that other variables such as overeating, eating before exercising, sleeping after a heavy meal, drinking alcohol, and smoking are to blame.