The Gatorade Company, Inc. manufactures sports-themed beverage and food products. PepsiCo currently manufactures Gatorade and distributes it in more than 80 countries. A team of researcher at the University of Florida first developed this drink back in 1965 with an aim to create something to replenish the combination of carbs, water, and electrolytes. Many people think Gatorade is not as healthy as they say mainly because it has caffeine. Is it true?

Does Gatorade Have Caffeine?

The simple answer is no. Caffeine is a stimulant found in tea, coffee, and soda, but it is not present in Gatorade. However, you will find electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, in Gatorade, which are essential to keep you hydrated. Electrolytes are important to replace any nutrients you lose during strenuous physical activities.

What Does Gatorade Contain?

Gatorade is a popular sports drink and offers several health benefits mainly due to the ingredients it has. It is worth pointing out that Gatorade reformulates its beverages often, but some ingredients are usually the same. Here is what you will find in Gatorade:

• Filtered water, which is simply water but without any impurities.
• Brominated vegetable oil: Derived from soybean, the oil is added to beverages that may contain citrus oil to prevent it from rising to the surface. It also helps maintain the flavor mixture.
• Sucralose is a calorie-free artificial sweetener usually found in sugar free varieties of Gatorade. It enhances flavor and provides sweetness.
• High fructose corn syrup: It combines 2-3 carbs and adds sucrose, glucose, and fructose to the sports drink. The combination ensures proper fluid absorption, desirable taste, and energy delivery.
• Citric acid enhances taste and also serves as a preservative.
• Natural and artificial flavors to make it taste great.
• Artificial colors: It contains artificial colors as well used mainly to help consumers differentiate the different flavors. The FDA has approved the use of dyes and colors used specifically in Gatorade.
• Glycerol ester of wood rosin is used mainly in products that have citric oils. Just like brominated vegetable oil, it helps prevent the oils from floating to the surface. Harvested from the stumps of pine, it is declared safe for human consumption.

Gatorade also contains salt to help regulate fluid balance and sodium citrate to maintain the stability of active ingredients. Monopotassium phosphate is also present in Gatorade and works as a source of phosphate to improve your heart health. Moreover, a container of Gatorade provides you with 90 calories in total without any saturated fat or cholesterol. Here is more about nutrition facts of Gatorade to help you answer, "Does Gatorade have caffeine?"

Pros and Cons of Gatorade

Although Gatorade is marketed as a sports drink, it is consumed by people of all age and fitness level around the world. Even children drink it at lunch. Many people resort to Gatorade taking it as an effective hangover cure. Here are some pros and cons of drinking Gatorade.

Pros

When you engage in physical activities, it is important to keep your body hydrated. Drinking water is probably the best bet, but sports drinks often help you recover quickly. Gatorade has sugar as well as electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. You lose these electrolytes during strenuous physical activities, and Gatorade serves as one perfect way to replenish those electrolytes.

Gatorade has electrolytes that play a big role in regulating the body's"fluid balance". It also has carbs that provide you with energy. Gatorade claims that their sports drink is capable of hydrating better than water because of its ingredients. While Gatorade may be beneficial, you do not usually need it if you exercise less than 60-90 minutes.

Cons

Does Gatorade have caffeine? No. Does this mean that it is good? Not really.

So many people drink Gatorade even though they are not athletes. One study has found that adolescents who drink sports drinks such as Gatorade are more likely to play video games and smoke.

It may not be as healthy for you as they claim because a 12oz serving of Gatorade's Thirst Quencher provides you with 21g of sugar. You actually get 56g of sugar when you opt for a regular bottle that is of 32oz. Even though the amount of sugar found in Gatorade is less than what you find in sodas, it is still unhealthy. It is especially harmful for people who are less active and do not need extra sodium or sugar.

Gatorade also contains a good amount of calories. It means that if you do not have an active lifestyle, you may end up gaining weight by drinking Gatorade regularly. Similarly, the extra sodium found in this energy drink may contribute to high blood pressure over time. You will be better of drinking water only if you exercise less than one hour, 5 days a week.