Just like air, water is essential for our existence. We might be able to go without food for a day or two, but surviving without water for a couple of days is nearly impossible.
And not just for survival, we need water for optimum body function as well. That’s the reason nutritionists place so much importance on adequate water consumption every day.
Now while the average individual has a set need of daily water intake, some people naturally need more of it to stay fit, for instance, athletes who sweat more or people who’re in the habit of working out regularly. Such people can benefit from rehydration drinks like Pedialyte and Gatorade, ensuring that their bodies always have adequate liquids.
In this post, let’s talk about these two drinks in particular and try to see how different they are from each other.
Read – How to maintain body electrolyte balance?
Role of Pedialyte and Gatorade in hydration
The sole purpose of Pedialyte and Gatorade is to prevent dehydration. Both drinks contain water, sugar, and electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which work better than water in refilling the nutrients that the body has lost due to sweat.
But even though they have similar ingredients and purposes, their uses in the market differ. Pedialyte is an oral rehydration solution that fights dehydration (it’s ideally suited to very active children or people who are sick), while Gatorade is a sports drink.
Differences between Pedialyte and Gatorade
- Nutritional Value
Researchers compared Pedialyte products against Gatorade products and found that Pedialyte had fewer calories and sugar content than Gatorade. Also, Pedialyte products provided two to three times more sodium and potassium as compared to Gatorade products.
- Potential Customers
Used by people of all ages, Pedialyte helps in healing infections like stomach flu and certain viruses. On the other hand, Gatorade is the opposite since only adults with specific athletic needs can use it.
Uses of Pedialyte and Gatorade
- Stomach Flu and other viruses
When a person gets infected with stomach flu or other viruses, he loses lots of fluid through vomiting, sweat, and diarrhea. In such cases, oral solutions are more effective, and Pedialyte is the doctor’s first choice. Gatorade has also shown effective treatment for digestive infections, so one can also use it in the absence of Pedialyte.
- Sports training and curing hangovers
With higher carb content, Gatorade is the perfect rehydration drink for athletes. It gives them the required energy and minerals. As for hangovers, none of the drinks claim to cure aftereffects of consuming alcohol by 100%, so you’re free to use any of them to boost your electrolyte levels.
Read – Tips on how to consume more water
Bottom Line
Both the drinks prove to be effective in curing dehydration, but the two vary in the carb, calorie, and electrolyte content. Since Pedialyte has higher age group coverage, it’s better to use it while fighting dehydration. However, in its absence, Gatorade also works fine in hydrating the body.