Water is good for rehydration. Water with electrolytes is better. Water with electrolytes and some carbohydrates is good for energy, but what else are they putting in those drinks?  You have to be a dedicated label reader to know which ingredients in a food or drink product are beneficial to your body and which are harmful. Many ingredients in sports drinks come with a warning of health hazards if taken in quantity. Although one dose of a suspected carcinogen (such as an artificial dye) may not harm you, repeated use through ingestion of gallons of a sports drink may eventually cause symptoms.

            As described in the book Anaylzing Sports Drinks, additives are designed to improve nutritional value, help with absorption, prevent spoilage, maintain freshness, act as a preservative, retard bacterial growth, provide cohesiveness, extend shelf life, enhance visual appearance, or act as a sweetener. Additives are not necessarily approved by the FDA. But, if they only affect a small percentage of the population they can appear on the GRAS list (Generally Regarded As Safe) and allowed as an ingredient. Hopefully, you are not one of those statistical percentages that got sick.

Used as a deicing fluid for airplanes, propylene glycol is added to food and skin products to maintain texture and moisture as well as inhibit bacteria growth in the product. Propylene glycol has shown measurable toxicity to human cells in culture.[1] It has been reported to induce seizures in epileptics and cardio-respiratory arrest.[2]  Reports also claim it inhibits the growth of the friendly bacteria in your intestines and decreases the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. Another chemical additive quite often found in sports drinks is PEG (polyethylene glycol). Warnings from the MSDS labeling indicate that “if swallowed, give water and get medical assistance immediately. Avoid all unnecessary exposure and insure prompt removal from skin and clothing.” Side effects are listed as nausea, bloating, cramps, vomiting, chills, and anal irritation. It also may interfere with drug effectiveness such as blood thinners, birth control pills, and anti-inflammatories.[3]">http://www.authorsden.com/members/popEditSPAN.asp?editaction=add&typ=Article#_ftn1" name=_ftnref1>[1] It has been reported to induce seizures in epileptics and cardio-respiratory arrest.[2]  Reports also claim it inhibits the growth of the friendly bacteria in your intestines and decreases the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. Another chemical additive quite often found in sports drinks is PEG (polyethylene glycol). Warnings from the MSDS labeling indicate that “if swallowed, give water and get medical assistance immediately. Avoid all unnecessary exposure and insure prompt removal from skin and clothing.” Side effects are listed as nausea, bloating, cramps, vomiting, chills, and anal irritation. It also may interfere with drug effectiveness such as blood thinners, birth control pills, and anti-inflammatories.[3]

Most people are aware of the toxic side effects of artificial colors and flavors from coal tar derivatives such as Red #40, a possible carcinogen, and Yellow #6, which causes sensitivity to viruses and has caused death to animals, yet these are commonly used in sports drinks. Cochineal extract or Carmine Dye is a color additive used in food, drinks such as cola, cosmetics, and to dye fibers red. It is made of the ground up female cochineal bugs from Central and South America. University of Michigan allergist, James Baldwin, M.D., confirmed cochineal extract triggered life-threatening anaphylactic shock in some people.

Aspartame is a very popular sugar substitute, having very adverse effects on the human body. Aspartame comes with a list of potential side effects with the most profound being the possible detrimental effect on the neurotransmitters in the brain.[4] Headaches are a common side effect of aspartame (sometimes camouflaged as phenylalanine on the label). Other symptoms may be joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, cramps, vertigo and dizziness. Scientific studies performed on aspartame to establish its safety prior to FDA approval, revealed brain tumors and grand mal seizures in rats during the studies. When exposed to heat, aspartame breaks down into toxic methyl alcohol.[5] This can occur during hot summer temperatures inside uncooled warehouses where diet drinks are stored and drinking them may cause recurrent headaches, mental aberrations, seizures, and suicidal tendencies.  ">http://www.authorsden.com/members/popEditSPAN.asp?editaction=add&typ=Article#_ftn4" name=_ftnref4>[4] Headaches are a common side effect of aspartame (sometimes camouflaged as phenylalanine on the label). Other symptoms may be joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, cramps, vertigo and dizziness. Scientific studies performed on aspartame to establish its safety prior to FDA approval, revealed brain tumors and grand mal seizures in rats during the studies. When exposed to heat, aspartame breaks down into toxic methyl alcohol.[5] This can occur during hot summer temperatures inside uncooled warehouses where diet drinks are stored and drinking them may cause recurrent headaches, mental aberrations, seizures, and suicidal tendencies. 

Another new sweetener is Acesulfame K. This is becoming more prevalent in some sports drinks. Tests show that the additive causes cancer in animals, which means it may increase cancer in humans.[6] Sucralose is a newer artificial sweetener produced by chlorinating sugar. Few human studies have been conducted as to the safety of this product but results in animals show a negative effect on the thymus gland, enlarged liver and kidneys, decreased red blood cell count, aborted pregnancy, and diarrhea. Although the manufacturer claims that sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed, tests reported from the Japanese Food Sanitation Council show that 40 percent of ingested sucralose is absorbed. Many sports drinks include favorable ingredients such as vitamins (C, B, D), herbs (stevia, rhodiola) and other beneficial ingredients such as antioxidants (grape seed extract, pycnogenol, rhododendron caucasicum, Co-enzyme Q₁₀). Safer sweeteners may be added as carbohydrates and include glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, maltodextrin, and dextrose.">http://www.authorsden.com/members/popEditSPAN.asp?editaction=add&typ=Article#_ftn6" name=_ftnref6>[6] Sucralose is a newer artificial sweetener produced by chlorinating sugar. Few human studies have been conducted as to the safety of this product but results in animals show a negative effect on the thymus gland, enlarged liver and kidneys, decreased red blood cell count, aborted pregnancy, and diarrhea. Although the manufacturer claims that sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed, tests reported from the Japanese Food Sanitation Council show that 40 percent of ingested sucralose is absorbed. Many sports drinks include favorable ingredients such as vitamins (C, B, D), herbs (stevia, rhodiola) and other beneficial ingredients such as antioxidants (grape seed extract, pycnogenol, rhododendron caucasicum, Co-enzyme Q₁₀). Safer sweeteners may be added as carbohydrates and include glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, maltodextrin, and dextrose.

We recommend not using sports drinks (or any drinks) containing these substitutes. It is not easy to find substitutes except plain water and most of us can only tolerate so many glasses before we crave something with flavor. There is an effervescent tablet on the market that you can put in your water than not only makes it taste great but also gives you lots of electrolytes. It does not have any of the ingredients in it that compromise health, using stevia and natural lemon lime flavors. If you contact the company they can send samples. (888) 217-7233 www.electroblast.com.

-Excerpted from Analyzing Sports Drinks, What’s Right for You, Carbohydrate or Electrolyte Replacement? Safe Goods $4.95 + s/h (888) 628-8731.