What are the best-selling sports drinks?

The 4 most popular sports drinks on the market

#1.    Gatorade

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Gatorade，the first commercially available sports drink in the United States, is currently manufactured by PepsiCo and is distributed in over 80 countries. 

The beverage was first developed in 1965 by a team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Cade. It was originally made for the Gators at the University of Florida to replenish the carbohydrates that the school's student-athletes burned and the combination of water and electrolytes that they lost in sweat during vigorous sports activities.

#2.   Powerade

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Powerade is a sports drink created and sold by the Coca-Cola Company. Its primary competitor is Gatorade, owned by PepsiCo.

Powerade was first released in 1987. The company developed the soft drink as an alternative to sports drinks, which were becoming more and more popular. Powerade was originally marketed to athletes, who needed a drink that would keep them hydrated during strenuous workouts.

#3.   BODYARMOR

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BODYARMOR is an American sports drink brand owned by The Coca-Cola Company. Products launched under the brand include: Sports, "Lyte" Sports, "Edge Sports" and "SportWater".

Mike Repole invented the drink in 2011. In 2021, Coca-Cola bought it and positioned BODYARMOR as a premium sports drink above its own Powerade brand.

#4.   Prime

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Prime is a range of sports drinks, drink mixes, and energy drinks created and marketed by Prime Hydration, LLC. 

The range is promoted by YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI. The announcement and the release of the product in 2022 was followed by a social media hype associated with these social media personalities, who have tens of millions of followers combined. 

The sports drinks, described by the manufacturer as "hydration drinks", are made up of 10 percent coconut water and contain electrolytes, B vitamins and BCAAs.

The manufacturers state that this version of the product has zero added sugar or caffeine and has around 20 calories per bottle.

Powerade vs Gatorade – Which Sports Drink is Best?

Gatorade and Powerade are the two leading sports drinks. Since they see each other as competitors, let's first understand how they are different.

Powerade and Gatorade are designed to help keep people hydrated during physical activity, such as working out or playing a sport. They supply the body with sugar and electrolytes.

You can find them in every grocery market, gas station, and convenience store. They are used by athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and people that just want to stay hydrated.

Which one should you choose? Get the answer with this direct comparison of Powerade vs Gatorade.

Powerade tastes sweeter than Gatorade

Gatorade and Powerade have the same core ingredients: water, citric acid, salt, and some kind of sugar.

Gatorade is sweetened with dextrose, which is basically the same as table sugar. 

Powerade uses high fructose corn syrup as their sweetener, which is a lot more powerful than basic sugar. So Powerade is usually sweeter than Gatorade.

Tip: 

While the main product line of Gatorade and Powerade drinks contain quite a bit of sugar and salt, Gatorade offers a few low-sugar options. The Gatorade low-sugar option is called G2. It is not a zero sugar sports drink, but it does contain less sugar compared to the main line of Gatorade drinks. It also contains more sodium and potassium, giving you an extra boost of electrolytes.

Powerade also provides a couple of healthier alternatives. The Powerade Zero line of products contains no sugar or calories. You just get flavored water with electrolytes from salt.

Powerade has more vitamins than Gatorade

One 20-ounce (590-ml) lemon-lime Powerade and Gatorade contain:

Powerade contains higher amounts of vitamins B3 which is niacin, B6, and B12. In comparison, Gatorade doesn't contain any vitamins, including niacin, B6, and B12.

Powerade packs more micronutrients, including magnesium.

Gatorade contains more calories and sodium

Gatorade may have beat Powerade in the carbohydrate and electrolyte categories.

Gatorade has 160 mg of sodium and 45 mg of potassium, compared to Powerade’s 150 mg sodium and 35 mg potassium. Based on these numbers alone, Gatorade is slightly better at replenishing your electrolytes.

Similar effects on athletic performance

You may think these two products impact performance in different ways, but that is not the case. 

According to Healthline, there is no conclusive evidence supporting the idea that one drink is better than the other at strengthening performance. 

Powerade and Gatorade help improve performance in prolonged exercises like running, cycling, and triathlons. Most of these studies were performed in athletes, so the results may not apply to those who engage in low or moderate levels of exercise.

Conclusion – What Sports Drink Should You Choose?

There is not much difference between drinking Powerade or Gatorade. 

While you may get a few extra milligrams of electrolytes from Gatorade, Powerade includes extra B vitamins.

Potassium and sodium are the primary electrolytes that you get with either sports drink. With Gatorade, you get 45 mg of potassium and 160 mg of sodium per serving. Powerade offers 35 mg of potassium and 150 mg of sodium, which gives Gatorade a slight edge in this comparison.

While Gatorade provides few extra milligrams of potassium and sodium, Powerade includes added vitamins. You get healthy doses of several B vitamins to aid water and energy distribution. Each serving includes vitamins B-3, B-6, and B-12.

Powerade and Gatorade are evenly matched when examining the sugar content of their main products.

Both options also provide about the same number of calories. With Gatorade, you receive 95 calories per 12-ounce serving. Powerade includes about 115 calories per serving.

Both brands provide about 21 grams of carbohydrates per 12 ounces. These carbs come in different forms, depending on the beverage that you choose. Powerade contains high fructose corn syrup and Gatorade uses sucrose and dextrose. The high sugar content of both drinks can be unhealthy.

So, really, the difference between Gatorade and Powerade is so slight, it really comes down to preference in the end. Although, Gatorade definitely has an edge over Powerade when it comes to sheer number of flavors. 

Powerade vs. Body Armor – Which Sports Drink is Best?

It can be seen from the above that Coca-Cola, which already owns Powerade, acquired BodyArmor. Why?

Well, because BodyArmor is targeted differently than Powerade and is an overall better and more premium product!

Unlike other sports drinks, BodyArmor is targeted towards not just athletes but anyone who is looking for healthy and natural hydration. 

BodyArmor drinks come in a number of varieties, including a version without added sugar, one with 100 milligrams of caffeine and a zero-calorie sport water. The brand also has some celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Underwood, in its roster of partners. 

BodyArmor’s “natural” advantange

The healthier-positioned sports drink caught on with consumers through its use of coconut water, low sodium and high potassium levels, the absence of artificial colors and including sugar in place of high fructose corn syrup. 

Absence of artificial colors

The basic selling point of BodyArmor is that this brand does not use artificial dyes or other harmful chemicals to add or improve the appearance of its beverages.

Every BodyArmor product is made from 100% natural ingredients — even the food colors.  

Although BodyArmor drinks have a lighter shade compared to Gatorade and Powerade, the bottles feature colorful wrapping that makes up for their lighter colors.  

Use of coconut water

This sports drink provides a delicious and complete flavor thanks to its clever use of natural ingredients (like coconut water) and cane sugar to add a rich and refreshing taste. 

Powerade has a very sweet flavor, while Body Armor has a more natural, fruity taste. It comes in a range of refreshing flavors, so you can find one to suit your taste.

less sugar

The sugar content and calorie content of these sports drinks are different as well. The sugar content and calorie content of Body Armor are less than Gatorade. So if you’re health-conscious and want to consume less sugar and calories, then you should go for Body Armor. Body Armor contains 18g of sugar per 8oz serving while Gatorade has 36.

Slightly higher price

When it comes to price, Powerade and Body Armor are quite competitive. Powerade typically costs less than Body Armor, so if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Powerade might be the way to go.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Body Armor might be a better choice since it offers more health benefits. Body Armor is often available in larger packs, allowing you to stock up and save a bit of money in the long run. It’s up to you to decide which one is the best option for you based on your budget.

Nutrition 

This is where BodyArmor seems to take more of an advantage when compared to other sports drinks in the market.

An average 12 fl. oz. serving of BodyArmor will provide you with 90 calories, 21 g of carbs (of which 21 g is sugar), 30 mg of sodium, and 530 mg of potassium. 

Moreover, Gatorade has 250mg sodium and 65mg potassium as opposed to 15mg sugar and 300mg potassium in Bodyarmor. Also, Body Armor contains fewer calories than Gatorade and has a higher amount of electrolytes which is a plus since it can give you better hydration.

Taste and Texture Comparison

In terms of texture, Body Armor has a thicker texture compared to Gatorade. This means you will need smaller servings than Gatorade to get your desired result.

However, when it comes to flavor and taste then Gatorade offers more flavors compared to Body Armor. You have more flavor options in Gatorade and can get a flavor according to your taste and liking.

Gatorade comes in 28 different flavors and the brand is constantly adding new and exciting flavors. It comes in both single fruit and mixed fruit flavors.

However, even though sports drinks have electrolytes and can keep you hydrated, water will always be the most necessary and healthy choice when it comes to drinks because your body relies on it as its natural fluid to function. 

Plus, we can’t deny the fact that while both drinks rehydrate and replenish electrolytes, they contain copious amounts of sugar. The only difference is that Body Armor contains pure cane sugar and has fewer calories when compared to Gatorade.

But if you compare Body Armor and Gatorade, Body Armor is in fact healthier for you than Gatorade because it has natural flavors and natural sweeteners. But Gatorade is also not a bad choice, it depends on your personal choice that which one you like better and suits you the most.

Sports drinks are great for hydration your body during intense workouts or physical activity. Sports drinks contain electrolytes that help you in staying hydrated and fresh. Moreover, they can also improve your performance as well by providing your important nutrients.

BODYARMOR vs. Prime Hydration – Which Sports Drink is Best?

BODYARMOR and Prime Hydration Use Filtered Water and Coconut Water

Both companies’ formulas include filtered water and coconut water concentrate. Coconut water is a vital ingredient in these sports drinks due to its hydrating characteristics. In fact, coconut water is often used as a natural substitute for electrolyte-infused sports drinks.

Coconut water has natural sugars and is one of the best sources of potassium. 240 ml or 8 oz of coconut water has 13% of the daily value for potassium, amounting to around 611 mg of the total 4,700 mg required per day. Coconut water also has 2 more electrolytes: sodium and magnesium.

Prime Hydration and BODYARMOR sports drinks have multiple vitamins, including these 4:Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E.

Both BODYARMOR and Prime Hydration use natural flavors and colors; use natural fruit extracts to create a variety of flavors; use natural colors such as beta-carotene.

Neither Brand’s Drinks Contain Gluten, Soy, or Non-Vegan Ingredients.

Which One Should You Get?

There are several ways to look at this problem — recommending just one brand for everyone will prove to be a difficult task since everyone has different needs.

However, you can narrow down the benefits of each sports drink and apply them in specific scenarios to see which product offers the most value to you

For people who want a sports drink that can deliver quick energy, flavor, and electrolytes without breaking the bank, we suggest going for either Powerade or Gatorade.

Powerade is specifically suggested for athletes since it has a range of B vitamins, and Gatorade can be used by virtually anyone. 

If you are particularly careful about your nutrition and are a regular fitness enthusiast, then we highly recommend that you go with BodyArmor.

This sports drink has all the healthy hydration you need without the use of unnecessary dyes and chemicals. 

It is important to note that both Gatorade and Powerade also offer healthier sports drink variants without dyes and chemicals.

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