Sugar-free Sports Drinks With Electrolytes
In practically every grocery store and gas station, you’ll find drink coolers packed with a colorful array of beverages. Soda, iced coffee, energy drinks, vitamin water, sports drinks with electrolytes — we have more choice than ever before.
Have you ever paused by the wall of coolers, debating which drink to buy? Did you stop to consider the drink’s color, packaging, or nutritional content? These seemingly small details subconsciously influence your decisions.
Many consumers choose a sports drink or vitamin water as an alternative to soda. These beverages in particular are popular for their electrolyte content and so-called health benefits.
But many sports drinks on the market are a lot less healthy than you think. For starters, they’re packed with added sugar and artificial ingredients.
Keep reading to discover why sugar-free sports drinks with electrolytes are better for your body. You’ll also learn why popular synthetic food dyes found in sports drinks are harmful not just for your health, but also the planet.
Why sugar-free sports drinks with electrolytes are better for your body
Your body and brain rely on glucose to function properly. But, as the old saying goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
The amount of sugar in many popular sports drinks contributes to tooth decay, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Sports drinks with electrolytes replenish essential minerals lost during exercise. But their sugar content can actually hinder weight loss efforts.
Additionally, those engaging in light to moderate exercise may not need to replenish their electrolyte intake. That means, if you’re just going for a walk, you probably don’t need a sugary sports drink.
(But you do need to stay hydrated, even when you’re not exercising.)
High-intensity workouts result in significant losses of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes. These levels must be replenished. The same is also true for glucose levels. But there’s a catch.
Added sugars found in sports drinks are effectively empty calories. They provide a quick source of energy and not much else in terms of nutritional value.
Whole, unprocessed sources of fructose and glucose are preferable to sports drinks for replenishing sugar levels. Why? Because they contain other nutrients that contribute to peak athletic performance.
What does that mean for people who still need electrolytes to power up their workout? It’s usually better to replenish glucose levels from whole foods, like fruit.
But staying hydrated while working out is also essential. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, opt for an electrolyte drink without sugar instead.
Did you know? A recent study found that bananas are more effective at reducing inflammation during a workout than sports drinks and plain water.
Harmful, hidden additives in popular sports drinks with electrolytes
Yes, sugar content is a big concern. But it’s not the only thing that detracts from the alleged health “benefits” of popular sports drinks.
Food dyes are everywhere. They’re so common that we hardly give them pause when choosing a drink or snack.
Did you know? Some of the most popular synthetic food dyes are derived from petroleum. (The very same fossil fuel that powers our cars.)
The American Chemical Society states that food dyes are subject to a series of rigorous tests. This ensures no traces of crude oil remain. Additionally, the chemical structure of food dyes varies vastly from the petroleum used to make gasoline and tar.
So, no, you’re not eating gasoline. However, some people have a neurological sensitivity to the compounds in food dyes and other additives. This sensitivity is the root cause of reported behavioral problems linked to the consumption of synthetic food dye in children.
Also, extracting petroleum harms the earth and contributes to climate change. Drilling for petroleum damages crucial wildlife habitats and pollutes the air and water. It’s also a nonrenewable resource.
Here at BrightFox, we’re committed to doing our part to create a #BrighterTomorrow. That’s why we don’t use any food dyes, synthetic or otherwise, in our products. We also use aluminum packaging, the greenest packaging option available, to reduce our carbon footprint.
What makes BrightFox one of the best electrolyte drinks without sugar
Our healthy, eco-friendly hydrator isn’t just sugar-free. It’s also free of sweeteners, stimulants, and artificial colorants.
The main reason why BrightFox stands out among other sports drinks is its vitamin and mineral content. (Not to mention its naturally-derived flavors.)
Every BrightFox flavor is fortified with the nutrients your body needs to achieve peak performance. Whether you’re at the gym, in the office, or on the go.
Our nutrition labels are also straightforward. One bottle is one serving size. Compare that to other options, which contain multiple servings per bottle. This makes it more difficult to calculate the nutritional content.
Take a look at what’s inside each can:
- 240 mg of sodium
- 251 mg of potassium
- 1.5 mg of vitamin E
- 1.3 mg of vitamin B6
- 5 mg of vitamin B5
- 0.6 mg of zinc
- 10 mg of choline
We’ve covered the full range of health benefits of each ingredient in the posts linked above. They all add up to promote muscle and neurological function, as well as optimize protein absorption.
Electrolyte drinks without sugar: wrapping up
As we’ve seen, sugar content isn’t the only cause for concern when it comes to sports drinks with electrolytes. Other hidden ingredients, like food dyes, can also be unhealthy.
While sweeteners are widely considered a better choice, they’re also not the best option for people with diabetes. (Who are advised to limit their intake.) Researchers are still investigating the full effects of popular artificial sweeteners on the body.
Although consumers have more choice, most of those choices contain high levels of sugar, sweeteners, and stimulants. With all the options available, it can be easy to grab a drink without a second thought.
But, thanks to the wealth of information out there, people are re-evaluating their choices. They’re learning about the ingredients in their food to make more informed decisions.
We wanted to create an electrolyte drink without sugar that truly is healthy. And thus, BrightFox was born. Water, nutrients, and natural flavoring are the only ingredients you’ll find in our three delectable flavors.
BrightFox isn’t just for athletes. It’s for everyone. Learn more about why BrightFox is the ultimate hydration companion morning, noon, and night.
