ADE Drinks

As we know now and not when we were kids with big sports dreams from the numerous amounts of marketing commercials for GATOR-ADE, is that the University of Florida created a drink to help their athletes recover quicker which led them to win numerous championships.  As most people know the legacy now we tend to ask the question, is this real or just hype?
First, most ADE drinks do what they advertise, no not increase performance, but will help reestablish your electrolyte balance for the liver, protect the body from a catabolic effect and increase water retention to prevent dehydration and cramping.  Those sound like all good things, so what are the negatives about the drinks.  One of the major misconceptions of the ADE drinks is that you need to guzzle a 32oz (times by 4 down below for those stats) spilling all over face after every workout; this is where I disagree.  The ADE drinks should only be used after a high anaerobic workout where you have done a considerable amount of sweating.  When you sweat you not only lose water but also sodium and these two need to be replenished.  The problem I see is where people will be drinking an ADE drink just for the taste thinking it is healthy for them but not realize the amount of calories, sodium or sugar contained.  If the workout does not involve a lot of sweating stick to water or another drink that has low calories but actually contains water.  Our bodies are almost 70% water, so we need lots of water, but not the sodium, sugar or carbonation.  If your workout wasn’t hard enough then you just drank more calories than you probably burned. 

Nutrition Facts (8oz.)

Gatorade (609g)
(Pepsi)

Powerade (609g)
(Coke)

Rehydrate (1 packet)
(Advocare)

Calories

158

234

40

Fat

0g

0g

0g

Sodium

238mg

162mg

100mg

Carbs

39g

60g

9g

Sugar

32g

45g

6g

Potassium

30mg

30mg

100mg

Protein

0g

0g

0g

Vitamin C

0%

0%

200%

Other Ingredients

 

B6/B12-10%

L-Glutamine

Another point I like to make is that with the exception of Rehydrate, the ADE drinks have little or no daily essential vitamins, but the biggest difference in my opinion is the amino acid L-Glutamine.  I found out about this during my first few years of bodybuilding, and noticed my recovery rates increased.  I have read many studies now that are suggesting L-Glutamine to become part of a persons everyday diet due to its benefits. 

Here's a list of Glutamine Benefits: