Alternative to Gatorade for active teenager? - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

Eliz60 · 09-23-2008, 06:22 AM

My 16 yro daughter is prone to migranes and has been advised to stay hydrated. She is very active and during warm weather she will go through at least 2 quarts of gatorade a day. I recently looked at the label and saw that the 3rd ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. I'm looking for suggestions for an alternative that will pass the teen taste and healthy nutrition test?

leea1206 · 09-23-2008, 10:48 AM

Plain old water is absolutely the best thing to keep her hydrated. - In fact drinks with high levels of sugar and corn syrup are actually dehydrating, as are diet sodas, coffee and tea.

If she likes a sweet taste she could do 3 parts water and one part her favorite fruit juice (no fruit drinks ) to give her a little sweetness and alot less calories.

"Fizzy water" like a perrier is also refreshing with a little fruit juice and ice. If she wants more sweetness she can add Stevia ( a natural no calorie sweetner found in most health food stores such as "Trader Joes" or whole Foods."

lucylucy · 10-12-2008, 02:23 AM

I've had migraines for years, and I don't think anyone has ever mentioned hydration to me. Magnesium and other vitamins were mentioned though as helpful. Orange juice is one of my worst triggers.

Water is really the best thing to stay hydrated. Bottled water is just as convenient as gatorade, and it's a lot cheaper. Most brands taste great, especially when they're cold. Let her try a few and pick her favorites. (My favorite is Poland Spring, and there is only one store brand I really dislike.)

If she likes the taste of your water at home, buy her some of those cool new water bottles.

There are also some new vitamin waters out there, with faint flavoring. I'm not sure how much sugar they have. My son likes them, but I think they're too expensive and gimicky. Still, they might be a better option if your daughter really doesn't like water.

AuntieLeela · 10-12-2008, 02:51 AM

"Crayons", it's an all natural sport drink for kids and teens. The bottles sorta look like crayons. No HFCS. You can find it in health food stores or natural grocery stores like Whole Foods.

tUrRrRa · 10-12-2008, 11:38 PM

I actually CAN'T drink Gatorade because it gives me migraines! So does chocolate! I found several different things that trigger my migraines, including the fact that I wasn't drinking enough water. I work out 5 times a week and do a lot of walking, as I walk in a city downtown. I agree that regular water is a good choice! I also like sparkling water (the sugar free, calorie free kind), although there isn't really anything good for you in it. I use it more as an alternative to soda since it's fizzy and fruit flavored. I also like crystal light when I want a little bit of flavor. You can always add less than the usual amount to make it taste more like a Gatorade drink. Some waters, like Aquafina, come in calorie and sugar free flavors as well!