A lot of women experience some uncomfortable side effects during pregnancy such as nausea and body cramps, alongside the demanding physical and hormonal changes.
This means a lot of women turn to isotonic sports drinks containing electrolytes to try to replace key nutrients and keep them hydrated, but can pregnant women drink Gatorade?
In this article
Can I Drink Gatorade During Pregnancy?
Did you know experts recommend pregnant women consume 2.3 liters of fluids a day? This can be especially hard if you can’t stomach anything in those early days.
Gatorade can be a great way to keep hydrated as well as contain important electrolytes your body needs now more than ever, you lose more electrolytes during pregnancy than at any other point in your life.
Gatorade can help beat dehydration as well as many other issues that go hand in hand with pregnancy such as headaches, swelling, muscle cramps, and constipation.
Remember if you are only drinking Gatorade to stay hydrated, it is important to also consume plain water as it won’t have any of the sugars, or flavorings found in Gatorade.
Which Gatorade Is Best?
With several different flavors, recipes, and variations it can be hard to know which one to choose. As a pregnant woman, you will already know how important a healthy and varied diet is for you and your little one’s health and wellbeing.
This means the best type of Gatorade will be whichever has the lowest sugar and calorie content, this is usually found in their Gatorade G2 range which contains half the amount of sugar with the same amount of beneficial electrolytes.
You can also opt for Gatorade Zero which contains no sugar, however, it is sweetened with sucralose which although safe in pregnancy should be consumed in small amounts.
Gatorade and other sport isotonic drinks may not be the best option if you suffer from Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes due to the sugar and sweetener content commonly found in their range.
Another way to get more fluid during pregnancy is to opt for a pregnancy-safe tea blend, these often contain a great blend of herbs and can help you with fatigue, sickness, and other issues.
You should also check with your doctor that Gatorade is safe to consume during your pregnancy if you are also taking any prescription medications that may not react well.
Can I drink Powerade During Pregnancy?
Powerade is very similar to Gatorade in its ingredients and it is commonly used during pregnancy to treat nausea, cramps, and dehydration.
So in short, yes it is safe to consume in pregnancy, Powerade also contains high sugar/ sweetener content so be mindful of that when picking some up and check the labels.
Powerade Zero contains fewer calories and sugar but also has synthetic sweetener sucralose which can make you more prone to becoming diabetic.
Artificial sweeteners make your body respond differently to glucose and insulin which if ingested in large quantities can lead to health issues, so bear this in mind if you choose to pick these electrolyte sports drinks during pregnancy.
Safe Drinks To Consume During Pregnancy
Gatorade is the most common and popular option when it comes to sports drinks, next to Powerade.
These typically tend to be the most widely available and common choices for drinks with high electrolytes and are a great way to keep hydrated, especially if you’re suffering from dreaded morning sickness and can’t keep anything down.
Sports drinks are the most common form of Electrolyte drink to treat dehydration, alongside helping pregnant women suffering from sickness and muscle cramping which is often made worse by dehydration.
An obvious choice, but water should be your go-to choice of drink when pregnant as it has so many amazing health benefits such as helping to absorb vitamins, treat cramps and even prevent UTIs.
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Drinking plenty of water is important at any stage of your life, even more so when you’ve got a baby on board too.
Decaf coffee will soon be your new best friend as a pregnant mom. Although you are allowed up to 200mg of caffeine a day, this, unfortunately, is the equivalent of only one standard strength cup of coffee.
Finding a good decaf coffee is your best option to not feel like you’re missing out too much on your beloved morning coffee.
Fruit and vegetable fruit juices and smoothies are also an amazing way to stay hydrated and keep topped up on electrolytes if you’re struggling to stomach food, or just want some extra nutrition for your growing bump.
Making your own juices and smoothies is often the best way to get a nutrient-rich blend, and you get to control all the content and tailor the ingredients to suit your needs.
A lot of store-bought bottles will contain added sugars, sweeteners, and additives which may not be the best choice if you have a sensitive stomach at this stage of your pregnancy.
What Are Electrolytes?
You may be wondering, what are electrolytes, and why are they so important? They are electrically charged minerals that your organs, cells, and muscles need in order to function alongside regular fluids. Some examples of electrolytes are:
- sodium
- potassium
- calcium
- magnesium
Electrolytes have many functions and are vital in maintaining your health, even more so now you’re pregnant. They are well known for building new tissue, maintaining the pH levels in your blood, and supporting healthy blood clotting.
The best way to prevent an imbalance in your electrolytes is to make sure you are well hydrated, try not to consume too much salt, and maintain an all-around healthy diet with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Foods Containing Electrolytes
You could try to blend up some of these options into a smoothie with coconut water to up your vitamin intake and avoid the high sugar and sweetener content often found in sports drinks.
Coconut water contains five key electrolytes and is referred to as “Nature’s Gatorade”. It has the equivalent amount of potassium as 15 sports drinks as well as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
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If you find Gatorade or other isotonic sports drinks aren’t safe for you to consume whether that’s for health or personal reasons, here are some fruit and veggies that will replenish your electrolytes and also be amazing for you and your growing bump.
- Avocados
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Yogurt
FAQs
What happens if you don’t drink enough water during pregnancy?
Dehydration is dangerous for anyone, especially pregnant women. It can lead to some serious complications such as low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk productions, neural tube defects, and sadly sometimes premature labor.
How much water should a pregnant woman drink per day?
You’ll be happy to know hot drinks such as decaffeinated teas and coffee also count towards your daily fluid intake which obviously increases during pregnancy as your body has greater nutritional needs.
It is advised that pregnant women consume 1.6 liters of water a day, this is the equivalent of 6-8 medium glasses of water a day.
Are sports drinks good for pregnancy?
The commonly used term for Gatorade/ Powerade is a “sports drink” which can be concerning to hear as a pregnant mother wanting to drink one. But rest assured that they are a great way to increase your daily fluid intake and replace electrolytes lost during morning sickness.
Make sure to get low sugar options, these still contain the same high levels of electrolytes without as much of the bad stuff!
The Final Thought
In summary, yes, you can drink Gatorade when pregnant and it is a great easy option to avoid dehydration caused by the common side effects that come with being pregnant.
This also goes for other similar brands of sports drinks such as Powerade. Where possible, choose the low/no sugar options and try to keep a healthy balanced diet in-between those bouts of sickness to ensure the best start for your little one. Good luck mom!
