Gatorade Vs. Powerade: Which is REALLY Better for You?

In a world of hundreds of decisions, let me help you pick which beverage will work best for your racer!

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Imagine you're standing in your local grocery store staring at the over 60 flavors of Powerade and Gatorade that are all supposed to make you perform better. Which one do you choose? Is it the kind that has the best "blue flavor"? Or maybe the one with the least amount of calories? What about the NEW flashy packaging stating they have 50 percent more electrolytes?

Lets dive into the sea of performance beverages to see which brand ACTUALLY will help you stay hydrated longer.

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Powerade V. Gatorade

Powerade is one of the many household names that we have come to suggest when it's time for a game or even an illness. But why? Well, their electrolyte filled drinks are found to have more vitamins and minerals in them than Gatorade, which makes consuming them a no brainer. But then why do people still buy Gatorade if Powerade is clearly the superior choice. Gatorade was introduced to athletes in 1965, so it's no wonder why generations have been buying their drinks- when it is something our grandparents and parents do, it only makes sense for us to do that as well, right?

It wasn't until 23 years later that we would get Powerade made available to us for everyday consumption. Thankfully those two decades gave the creators of Powerade the time to perfect the nutrients needed to build a beverage that is worth all of the hype and supersede Gatorade's rank!

In this back and forth competition, Gatorade has introduced two newer products that might just send them to the top.

Let's compare each brand's nutrients levels below:

This table shows: POWERADE (per 12 ounce beverage)

	Daily Amount of Vitamins	Daily Amount of Sugar Intake	Calorie Intake	Amount of Flavors
Powerade Original	20% Vitamin C 35% Vitamin B12 2% Potassium	41%	80 Calories	7 Flavors
Powerade Zero	20 % Vitamin C 35% Vitamin B12 2% Potassium	0%	0 Calories	5 Flavors
Powerade Sour	20 % Vitamin C 35% Vitamin B12 2% Potassium	41%	80 Calories	3 Flavors
BONUS:
Powerade Freezer Bars	45% Vitamin B12	24%	50 Calories	2 Flavors

This table shows: GATORADE (per 12 ounce beverage)

	Daily Amount of Vitamins	Daily Amount of Sugar Intake	Calorie Intake	Amount of Flavors
Gatorade Original	2% Potassium	32%	80 Calories	19 Flavors
G2 Lower Sugar	2% Potassium	32%	30 Calories	5 Flavors
Gatorade Zero	2% Potassium	0%	0 Calories	4 Flavors
Gatorlyte (only comes in 20oz bottles)	10% Calcium 8% Potassium 45% Chloride 25% Magnesium	0%	60 Calories	8 Flavors
Propel Water	35% Vitamin C 20% Vitamin E 80% Niacin 70% Vitamin B6 120% Pantothenic Acid	0%	0 Calories	10 Flavors

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How Will It Affect My Body?

To make the data actually useful, it is important to understand the significance of each component to you! While you may be familiar with most of these vitamins, let's review them together to explore each of their benefits.

B6 and B12: Helps keep your blood and nervous system healthy. Prevents anemia which makes you tired or weak.

Vitamin C: Immune system booster which includes antioxidants that protect the body from deterioration.

Vitamin E: Aids red blood cells in carrying oxygen to the lungs. Improves energy production.

Niacin: Helps keep your nervous and digestive system healthy. Works to turn food in to energy. Can normally be found in food naturally.

Pantothenic Acid: Helps to break down food into energy while promoting bodily functions like making and breaking down fats.

Potassium: Aids in heart and muscle function. Provides fluid balance in the body to prevent cramping, twitching or even paralysis.

My Rank

When it comes to choosing the right drinks for your body, it's essential to consider their effects. Based on the data above, here is my ranking of which essential beverages you should choose that can truly make a difference in how you feel and function when racing:

1. Propel Water:

=Most nutrient rich, Has 10 flavors, and Zero calories or sugar for a guilt free drinking experience.

2. Gatorlyte:

=Second most nutrients, Has 8 flavors-though limited stock in most stores, and great for recovering from a sickness as well.

3. Powerade Original:

=Vitamin C and B12 and Just enough calories that are easy to burn off

4. Powerade Zero

5. Powerade Sour

6. Gatorade Lower Sugar

7. Gatorade Original = Has so little nutrients yet so much sugar

8. Gatorade Zero:

=Might as well drink water as it would be more cost effective and have almost the same benefits

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What Does This All Mean For You?

Given the nutrient levels alone, clearly choosing Powerade's Original, Zero, and Sour flavors will provide your body with substantially more vitamins than Gatorade's counterparts.

Although you can see that Gatorade's Gatorlyte and Propel both set themselves above the rest of the contenders by having nutrients like Chloride, Calcium, Niacin or Pantothenol in their drinks- these are actually the BEST to drink when you are pushing your body to it's limits BUT they aren't always marketed in the same section as the originals or can only be found in limited stores and in even slimmer flavor selections. So next time you are wondering what you should buy for your next track weekend, keep Propel in mind!

-A Fellow Track Wife