How many calories in a sports drink
A 500 ml bottle of sports drink has about 130 kcal, all from sugar.
Portion
To burn it off
A sports drink is water, sugar, salts and flavouring. It's made for long, sweaty sessions where you need quick fuel and to replace what you sweat out.
A bottle is about 130 kcal and 32 g of carbs, with no protein and no fat. It's sugar in a handy form, which is the whole point.
For a half marathon or a long ride it makes sense. For 30 minutes on the cross trainer or sitting at your desk, water does the same job.
Tips
- 1Drink water for workouts under an hour and save the sports drink for the long ones.
- 2Try the zero sugar versions if you just like the taste.
- 3Pour half into a bottle and top it up with water.
Where it comes from
The modern sports drink started at the University of Florida in 1965, after players on the Gators football team kept wilting in the heat. Kidney doctor Robert Cade and his colleagues mixed water, sugar and salts to replace what the players sweated out, and named it Gatorade after the team. It was first used in a game against LSU on 2 October 1965, and Florida won.
Where does our food come from? · Source: HISTORY, Gatorade is tested by University of Florida football team (This Day in History, October 2, 1965)
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500ml lucozade sport
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Questions
Do I need a sports drink for the gym?
For most sessions under an hour, no. Water is fine, and you keep the 130 kcal.
How many calories in two bottles?
Two 500 ml bottles come to about 260 kcal.
Is a sports drink lower than cola?
Per bottle it's usually a bit lower, but it's still sugar water. Treat it like a soft drink unless you're properly training.
Can I make my own sports drink at home?
Yes. Mix 250 ml of orange juice with 250 ml of water and a small pinch of salt. That's about 110 kcal for half a litre, close to a bottle from the shop.
Do the calories count if I drink it during a workout?
Yes, a bottle is about 130 kcal whether you drink it on the sofa or at mile 10. During a long session your body just uses that sugar straight away.
Did you know?
Gatorade was invented in 1965 at the University of Florida for its football team, the Gators. That's the whole story behind the name.
Drink facts · Source: University of Florida Research
