Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

David VanOsdol — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:53:06 GMT

Yes, sports drinks and soda pop are probably one of the worst things that you can put in your body. The sugar and sweeteners is what everyone talks about but it is just a small part of the story. Here is the ugly truth that no one seems to pay any attention to.

The PH of all of these drinks is about 2.5PH and what that means is these drinks are 50,000 times more Acidic than neutral which is 7.0 PH.

I drink 9.5PH Restructured Alkaline Water there is information at WholeLifeWater on the internet. This is the strongest Alkaline water that any one should consume and I would have to drink, Get this, 3.5 Gallons of this wonderful strong alkaline water just to neutralize one 12 oz container of pop or sports drinks!

You can do the math on this, there is a factor of 10 for each point on the PH scale. ie. 5.0 is 100 times more acidic than 6.0 and 1000 times more than 7.0PH.

This not only stresses the Pancreas as far as balancing the blood sugar, it makes the pancreas produce large amounts of bicarb to try and alkalize the intestines with this influx of acid. There is no wonder that there is such an epidemic of diabetes.

We should all be trying to alkalize the body for good health but we are being set up for disease by all the corporations selling food products that are killing us. I wonder if there is a connection between these companies and the pharmaceutical companies that want to sell us medications to treat the symptoms of all the diseases created by the unhealthy food we are consuming.

Now they have 64 OZ soft drinks...Let’s do the math, you would only need to drink 18.66 gallons of 9.5PH alkaline water to neutralize that Super Big Gulp.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

K.T. — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:26:04 GMT

Since people keep talking about vending machines and schools...Anyone ever read the book "Fast Food Nation"? Anyone ever seen big Dr. Pepper adds on top of school buildings? Ever seen any profits the schools may be getting from the companies to have sports drinks and other junk food in vending machines? There is more than harm being done from HFCS and other junk . It also comes down to PROFIT. As one of my favorite guys say "It is all about the money".

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

BCT — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:45:46 GMT

We have to stop the junk drinks and foods not just in the schools but in retail also, at least there should be health warnings on the labels. How much chemicals can a body consume every day in foods and drinks. Think about it what you eat every day and read and list wht you are eating with the ingredients, you will freak!!! ...We have got to stop the BIG companies making us sick and demand better for our country and people

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

DivineHealth1 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:35:00 GMT

Dr. Merocla,

What about Vitamin Water. I notice the ingredients, is distilled reverse osmosis water and yes next is crsytalline fructose, and cane sugar. No sodium and a bunch of vitamins. We switched from all other sports drink to this believing that they would restore some vitamins in their system after/during sports game. The boys are young, and we are very health conscious, and prefer water only, But thought Vitamin water was going to helpful due to the vitamins it listed. I look forward to any advice on Vitamin Water. Thanks!

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

KaizenMom — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:12:07 GMT

Another avenue to get kids drinking water .... my son's school requires every child to purchase a reusable water bottle as part of their school supplies. When they go to PE class, their teacher checks to see whether they have brought their water bottle. This affects their participation grade. Of course, it also helps that there are no vending machines at their school.

Here's a question though ... I am trying to figure out whether stainless steel or the SIGG bottles are better. Or is there a better product that you could recommend?

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

DJones3423 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:51:16 GMT

HFCS is an unnatural substance, and like pretty much all other unnatural substances, it isn't good for you. I was going to say that it doesn't take a genius to figure this out, but maybe it does. Maybe that's why average folk don't seem to have a clue and continue to eat and drink this and all sorts of other processed junk.

What happened to the old saying, "You are what you eat"? People used to use that saying to argue against eating fats, claiming that you would become fat from eating them. Why don't these same people say that if you eat empty-calorie, genetically modified junk that you're going to create an empty, genetically modified mess out of your body?

As others have said, the answer is $$$$. There's all this equipment in place now to create "food" out of the cheapest possible ingredients. Companies had to invest millions in the equipment, and they're not going to quit using it just because what they produce isn't healthy. They're going to do everything they can to get you to put their unhealthy products down your gullet so that they can get more of your money. The big pharmaceuticals sure aren't going to say anything to stop them because, the more you eat and drink the junk, the more likely you are to wind up on prescription drugs. It's a win-win situation for the big companies and a lose-lose situation for the average consumer.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

TWS500 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:41:23 GMT

After years of searching, I have found a good "sports drink"... It's in powdered form that is added to water. The brand name is Ultima Replenisher... It is billed as a "sports drink" but, to me, has much broader application... It has a broad range of vitamins and related healthy additives. It's very tasty and comes in a variety of flavors with no sugar and is sweetened by the safe sweetner stevia, an herb in use for 1,500 years... I highly recommend it.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

renetl — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:20:09 GMT

If you haven't seen the movie Idiocracy, it's a must see! The reviews were marginal, but my husband and I found it hilarious. I think this group would appreciate the message.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

JRomano — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:06:18 GMT

Great topic...I made a youtube video about gatorade recently in an effort to expose it for the junk it really is. Check it out @ www.youtube.com/watch. I plan on making similar videos in the future exposing fraudulent "health" foods. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

curious7 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:55:40 GMT

I have read research results that state Gatorade rots one's teeth. Further I also read that as far as so called sports drinks are concerned Lemonade sweetened with raw honey is a better means of restoring an athlete's vitality.

I just happen to believe that we as humans have no need for all these chemical compounds big business wants to shove down our throats. "So what if there is no immediate health disfunction following ingeation, we have to make money somehow." You think?

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

DiamondJim — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:12:03 GMT

There is a real big communication problem with the classification of HFCS which is probably due to the fact that the FDA labels it under the classification of "sugars". The fact is: HFCS is a processed sweetener used as a subsiitute for either cane or beet refined sugar. HFCS is not a sugar. It is a sweetener. What I can't comprehend is why is the word "sugar" used to classify this product by educated people. For example, on TV nutritionist often compares HFCS with sugar (uses a bag of sugar usually containing refined cane sugar as a comparison). Remember the movie "Supersize" when at the end there was an illustration of the amount of sugar the guy consumed in the soft driinks by showing a large stack of packaged refined sugar WHEN IN FACT THERE WAS NOT A GRAIN OF SUGAR IN ANY OF THE SOFT DRINKS THAT THE GUY CONSUMED AT MCDONALDS.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

david — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:57:54 GMT

I have tried to get all the sweet, fizzy drink,crisps,etc. vending machins junk removed from our local......"health and leisure centre"

BUT....as ever, it is total hypocracy and 'all about money'.

I have come to the conclusion that it will be better for the human race if all the junk consuming, obese, 'dont want to take care of my self' do become infertile and remove themselves from the planet early.This concept fits in with the basic principle of 'survival of the fittest'....:)

After all, we are destroying the planet and not exactly an endangered species!

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

Mr.AK — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:14:29 GMT

My recommendation for rehydration: young coconut water, which is so similar in consistency to human blood that it can be used as plasma in an emergency (it actually was used this way in WW II combat in the Pacific). Fortunately for me, I can get fresh young coconuts and get the water in a raw state. Packaged coconut water is pastuerized, but still makes a great sports drink.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

Clementine — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:35:33 GMT

I think this is a big issue. Certain drinks such as sports drinks and Vitamin Waters are considered "healthy" when they are really anything but. If you just glance at the serving size and label on a Vitamin Water for example, you'll see it has even more sugar and calories than some sodas- what's healthy about that? Definitely an issue that needs to be addressed.

re: Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

Russ Bianchi — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 15:33:44 GMT

Vicki Marie:

I'm sorry but your thinking is exactly playing into Big Soda's playbook.

They NEVER where on these campuses and only bought their way in by bribing school officials for a cut of the action at the health detriment of children on captive/closed campuses!

You do not need to replace bad for you products, that are not necessary!

However, if you want alternatives, how about REAL freshly squeezed orange juice, whole raw fresh milk, spring water in glass, not plastic.

Uncle Russ