G2 (Gatorade) Health WARNING!
G2 (Gatorade) Health WARNING!
I honestly do not understand the need for “drinks” such as G2 (Gatorade).
The ingredients in these “performance” drinks accomplish the exact opposite of the reason you are exercising in the first place – For better health!
Let’s just take a look at some of these ingredients!
**Acesulfame potassium –
“Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is derived from acetoacetic acid and fluorosulfonyl isocyanate. Acesulfame potassium works in the body by stimulating the secretion of insulin in a way that may lead to reactive hypoglycemia. While the FDA approved of its use and consumption by American citizens, the Center for Science in the Public Interest believes further research should be conducted to ensure that it is safe to eat. The CSPI thinks that acesulfame potassium may be carcinogenic due to experimentation of the substance on lab rats.
Additionally, in lab rodents, acesulfame potassium has produced lung, breast and rare organ tumors, various forms of leukemia, and chronic respiratory diseases. Due to the fact that the substance acesulfame potassium contains methylene chloride, long-term exposure may lead to a number of issues for people consuming it, including headaches, visual disturbances, mental confusion, nausea, depression, effects on the liver and kidneys…”
Read More: Artificial Sweeteners: Why You Should Completely Avoid Them to Stay Healthy
**Monopotassium Phosphate
“used for a source of potassium (which is an electrolyte), and as a preservative. The problem with phosphates is that they cause an imbalance of phosphorus to calcium in the body. Too much phosphorus causes calcium to be drawn out of the blood, and in most cases our bones. Over long-term this can weaken our bones and increase the susceptibility of fractures.”
Read More: The Optimal Sports Drink – ditch that other stuff!
**Splenda (sucralose-based artificial sweetener)
“…Splenda is a synthetic chemical created in a laboratory. In the five-step patented process of making it, three chlorine molecules are added to one sucrose (sugar) molecule. Some will argue that natural foods also contain chloride, which is true. However, in natural foods, the chloride is connected with ionic bonds that easily dissociate. In Splenda, they’re in a covalent bond that does not dissociate. In fact, there are NO covalent chloride bonds to organic compounds in nature, only ionic. Covalent chloride bonds only exist in synthetic, man-made molecules.
Aside from Splenda, other examples of synthetic covalently bound chloride compounds include:
- DDT
- PCBs
- Agent Orange
Your body has no enzymes to break down this covalently bound chloride. Why would it? It never existed in nature, so the human body never had a reason to address it…”
Read More: CSPI Downgrades Splenda From “Safe” to “Caution”
And…
**FD&C Blue No. 1 – Brilliant Blue FCF, E133 (blue shade).
“Can be found in soft drinks, gelatin desserts, ice cream, drink powders, candy, bakery products, cereals, feta cheese, dairy products and pudding. Also used in toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorants, cosmetics and pet foods. Known health effects: causes low blood pressure, asthma, hives, and may bring on allergic reactions.
**Caution: Do not consume if sensitive to aspirin**
In 2003 the FDA sent out a safety warning concerning the use of Blue no. 1 in a medical procedure: “There were several reports of toxicity, including death, temporally associated with the use of FD & C Blue No. 1 (Blue 1) in enteral feeding solutions. The dye was used to help detection and/or monitoring of pulmonary aspiration in patients being fed by an enteral feeding tube. Reported episodes were manifested by blue discolouration of the skin, urine, faeces or serum and were associated with serious complications such as refractory hypotension, metabolic acidosis and death. Seriously ill patients, particularly those with a likely increase in gut permeability, may be at greater risk.””
This is an example of Blue #1. Other G2 drinks have different unnecessary added food dyes depending on the color of the drink; each with their own health concerns.
Read More: ADHD & Cancer Linked to Food Dyes
So, is G2 really the best choice to “Quench your thirst”?
I think the obvious answer is NO!
Instead, to replace lost electrolytes, why not use filtered water with a few drops of trace minerals or simply squeeze a lemon with a pinch of sea salt!
Remember, there are ALWAYS healthy options!
is a board-certified Chiropractic Physician and Life Coach who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology, and a minor in Medical Research. She is a life-long athlete who after curing herself 100% naturally from MS and anxiety, became an avid nutrition health researcher/promoter.
She has been featured in many Health magazines and has been a guest on radio talk shows in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. She is the author of Health Freedom Revolution: Exposing the Lies, Deceit and Greed of the Medical Profession, Founder of Online Holistic Health, and a contributing writer for other popular informative health website/blogs.
She is the host of Holistic Health Radio – where she discusses how she recovered her health as well as other hot health topics, and she is also co-founder of Crazy Meets Common Sense! – The Podcast that Makes Sense Out of the Crazy, to Help You Live a More Healthy, Fulfilling and Empowering Life!
October 14, 2014 @ 3:31 pm
Gatorade has been around since 1965 … how many people have brittle bones and health issues related to drinking Gatorade?
October 14, 2014 @ 5:00 pm
Great point Jeremy! However, although this product has been around for decades, the new chemicals they have added have not; much like many other food and drinks. It’s very sad they didn’t keep the original ingredients.
February 4, 2015 @ 5:18 pm
The main reason I drink g2 is because unlike normal Gatorade, it doesn’t leave that mucisy flem in the back of my thought, and because it does not have aspertane in it. So which sweetener do you think is more dangerous? Aspertane or Acesulfame potassium
November 14, 2015 @ 3:32 am
Thanks for posting this information. My otherwise very healthy, active 61 year old husband was recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), with no precursors for this very rare cancer. As I have been trying to determine what may have been the cause, I am focused now on G2 Lemon Lime. He was playing tennis 5 days a week for the last 4 years and regularly hydrating himself with 20 -40 oz. Of G2 during the games. He easily could have been consuming up to 200 ounces of G2 weekly. After finding this great information on the ingredients in G2, it is easy to see why this drink and its lethal ingredients may have lead to this extremely rare and mostly fatal cancer. Particularly relevant is the duration and quantity he consumed just this one drink for hydration. In addition, this rare cancer is on the rise in the U.S. and we are being lead to believe these kinds of drinks (and chemicals in our foid and beverages) are safe and healthy. NOT! I wonder how many other folks with this same diagnosis might be able to trace it back to high consumption rates of any or all of the ingredients in G2. New research from NC State Univ., May 2015, shows more negative health impacts of just sucralose. It’s time to get serious about getting more research on these ingredients to push for and gain a ban of them in the U.S.
Aspertane Cancer | New Mesotheliom Lawyer
March 26, 2016 @ 5:08 pm
[…] G2 (Gatorade) Health WARNING! – Natural Health Blog … – G2 (Gatorade) Health WARNING! I honestly do not understand the need for “drinks” such as G2 (Gatorade) The ingredients in these “performance” drinks … […]
April 15, 2016 @ 10:07 am
Dear Dr. Kmiec, I am pleased to see articles like this ‘ the dangers of G2 ‘ health warning. I am concerned that my mother who is 81 and suffering from many ailments has been advised by a P.A. to drink this regularly IF she thinks she is dehydrated. Maybe I’m brutal with this observation but the P.A. is at least 100 pounds overweight and has diabetes and is in her mid 40’s ! She has also been advised by this P.A. to eat MORE MEAT for protein. I am dumbfounded by the advice given by health professionals.
June 29, 2016 @ 6:17 am
I have chronic daily headaches with allot of pain. I have tried getting potassium from foods and other sports drinks and fruit none of them help my pain like Gatorade. I read that Gatorade is bad for you but what can I do if nothing else helps my pain. I have tried coconut water, potatoes, mango powder to many to name. If I try one with magnesium it puts me to sleep instantly hard to work when your sleeping Gatorade also lowers my blood pressure and I am too sensitive with medications to take the meds my doctor prescribed for high blood pressure what am I to do without Gatorade it doesn’t take away the pain but it improves it by at least 50%
June 29, 2016 @ 1:32 pm
Hello Kim,
Here are two articles that you may find of interest. Chronic Headache Syndrome? and Migraine Solution That Really Works!
Hope they offer you some help!
July 11, 2016 @ 11:01 pm
Curious as to the sucralose statements regarding g2 as it doesn’t contain sucralose, aka splenda, but does have sucrose. The difference between sucralose and sucrose is what? How are they different? What’s sucrose? Is it as harmful as sucrose?
July 12, 2016 @ 1:52 pm
Hello Dana! Look at the image again. Sucrose is the second ingredient, and then sucralose is the 3rd to last ingredient. So yes it does contain sucralose. 🙂
August 6, 2016 @ 5:29 pm
I have just gone through 3 weeks of Kidney Stone hell, besides the incredible pain, it has cost me over $3000 and 2 weeks loss of work, is there any evidence that G2 can promote Kidney Stones?
September 14, 2016 @ 1:59 pm
I have such bad cramps in my kwgs and nothing helps. My cramps are different they twist my lower legs and it feels like it is in the bone -i was tild by a dictir tgese cramos are dead leg cramos and usually happen to older people, way older then me. They are so bad i cry and cant walk on the leg and it just keeps feelibg like the bone is being choked and feels numb wxcept feeling the pain, i know it doesn’t sound right but thats how it feels. I have had them fir the last 5 years and have been in si many pills and natural things- nithing works until i drank 2 G2 in one day and nothing happened no pain that night. I didnt drink G2 for 2 days and each night i git the cramps- tried G2 again and no cramps. Did this a couple times and every time no G2 cramps came. I even have a Kagan water machine whuch has heloed other health issues but not the cramps…G2 is giving me peaceful nights
September 27, 2016 @ 3:57 pm
Sandy it seems you are very deficient in Magnesium and Potassium. Magnesium regulates potassium. Regular blood work won’t be a true test as to the deficiency. You need to get a red blood cell test for each. RBC Magnesium and RBC Potassium test. You will find your answer. I had the same problem and this corrected the issue.
December 21, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
I drank a grape flavoured G2 AND GOT EXCRUCIATING testicle pain, I don’t get this unless I drink G2. Only reason I can think of to drink G2 is if you get norovirus or something. I found it was the only thing I could drink when I had norovirus.
December 22, 2016 @ 2:18 pm
Hello! I haven’t heard of this symptom caused by G2. If it continue I certainly would recommend that you have it checked out. That said, I totally agree that any gastrointestinal issues including norovirus, food [poisoning, etc would be helped by electrolyte drinks. Though due to all the sugars and chemicals found in G2 makes it a poor choice. Thanks for your comment!
April 9, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
I’ve been drinking G2 red fruit punch for about 10 years. I notice now that if I have some I’m getting upper abdominal pain. Could this drink give me gallbladder stones?
June 15, 2017 @ 5:53 pm
Enough of the “nanny state of mine”. How about this
If don’t like Gatorade, don’t buy it. If someone offers it to you don’t drink.
Don’t impose your paranoia on me.
June 15, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
Hello, Glen Baker! If you prefer to not know what is in your food or drinks, then the great news is…you don’t have to be informed and just enjoy! That is your choice. However, since this is a Holistic Health Blog then I would assume that you’d have an understanding of what type of information you would find here. Nobody forced you to read this article thus, nobody imposed anything on you. FYI, finding actual ingredients that are known to cause ill health effects would not be defined as “paranoia”.
All said, thank you for your comment and I sincerely wish you the best of health and peace 🙂
June 22, 2017 @ 7:41 am
Due to a Pineal Germinoma, a pediatric brain tumor at 29 years old, I have Central Diabetes Insipidus. I am constantly thirsty. My brain doesn’t know how to regulate my thirst or urination. I take Desmopression acetate 3x a day to stop my thirst.
I am 50 years old this year and find that Gatorade is more quenching in the morning that just water. I also need it to be iced cold. I am also on hormone and thyroid medication. Of course like everybody I am trying to limit my sugar intake. Any suggestions?
July 12, 2017 @ 12:05 pm
Yea, even though dozens of researchers have conducted numerous studies on the chemicals that you have spoken about, they have found no evidence of potential harm to humans in the doses the FDA allows. So, should I believe dozens of people with Ph.D.’s and several years of background in the subject or person that has a bachelor’s degree in and believes that “curing herself 100% naturally from MS and anxiety”? hmmmm…..let me think about that one for all of a half second…..maybe you should go back to school, broaden your perspective, and take a more scientific approach when studying the effects of substances on the body, both acutely and chronically. I suppose my GRADUATE level classes have instilled this thought process in me. Shame you didn’t make it that far.
July 12, 2017 @ 3:28 pm
Hello “Evan Case (Bachelors in Astrophysics)”, Thank you so much for your passionate, yet full of anger, response. Wow, what happened to you in your life that would allow you to be so hateful instead of maturely engaging in a debate so as both sides can learn from each other?
Perhaps you didn’t notice that this is a holistic blog and not WebMD. Here is their link and I noticed they have drugs on their home page now to help not cure any health condition!
The cool thing “Evan Case (Bachelors in Astrophysics)” is that you have the right to eat whatever chemical foods you desire! And if you want to believe the conventional medicine propaganda, well guess what? You can do that too and with my blessings. Why? Because I firmly believe that we all, individually, have the freedom to be on whatever path in life we choose. So I would appreciate the same respect in return…fair? 🙂
As for me, here is my truth: I know my health story very well and the suffering I went through – and thus began my quest of a broadened perspective along with an open mind to all things that heal the body and soul. I also know that for optimal health, we need real food and not food that was made in some laboratory (isn’t that just common sense?). There are no studies that would convince me otherwise because, well just look at the overall health of the U.S.A.! All health conditions are on the rise, obesity is epidemic…my goodness! I guess thank goodness we got drugs courtesy of medical science – side effects included with no extra charge!
But for me, I say no thank you to non-foods and the pharmaceuticals to attempt to counteract all the ill health effects that the chemicals in food bring on and instead I will continue to experience the best health I have ever had in my life (and it keeps getting better)!
That said, I wish you the very best in your quest for optimal health and whatever path you choose to achieve it!
August 26, 2017 @ 1:33 pm
I’ve been trying to do some research and I’m trying to see if G2 is the cause of me getting chronic migraines since I’ve noticed in the last week while drinking them the next day I wake up with a headache
Has anybody ever have this effect
October 3, 2017 @ 11:56 am
I am hypoglycemic and have noticed that after drinking G2, I usually feel awful. It never made sense to me until I read this article, which points out that acesulfame potassium may cause reactive hypoglycemia. I am impressed with Dr. Kmiec’s succinct and thoughtful article. I am equally impressed with the tactful responses given to certain previous commenters 🙂 A little dose of truth can do all of us a world of good, if only we will listen. Thanks and God bless!
November 6, 2017 @ 2:56 pm
no. sucrose isnt in g2. i have a yellow g2 right now. it doesnt say it has sucrose
November 6, 2017 @ 2:57 pm
pleas reply.
November 6, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
but thanks for the article cuz i dont know if they removed that part on the bottle.
November 6, 2017 @ 3:09 pm
Hello Zaire!
True, different “flavors” do have slightly different ingredients. However, there is sucrose in the one you are talking about (and other unhealthy ingredients as well)…let’s take a look at the ingredients in G2 “yellow” which I am assuming the Lemon/Lime version.
Water, Sucrose Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup (Glucose-Fructose Syrup), Citric Acid, Natural Lemon And Lime Flavors With Other Natural Flavors, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Glycerol Ester Of Wood Rosin, Yellow 5.
If you look at the 2nd ingredient, you will see sucrose syrup. Followed by HFCS and of course, Yellow 5.
Thanks for your comment and wishing you the best!
November 6, 2017 @ 3:10 pm
I did 😉
November 6, 2017 @ 3:11 pm
Your welcome!
November 7, 2017 @ 12:12 am
thank you
April 21, 2018 @ 10:58 am
Thank you, your Kindness, towards those, that Argue. For Believing in Choice.
I choose Health, Home Grown, (my graden gr house) foods, our Hm grown Proteins.
We live in the Country, We are Blessed.
Keep up the Wonderful Wk
April 22, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
Thank you Cindilou for your kind words! Wishing you all the best…always!
June 9, 2018 @ 1:31 pm
I normally don’t drink G2 but I had to do with out caffeine for 24 hours and drank 2 of the bottles left after taste and film in my mouth now it has turned into sores all in side my mouth it is very uncomfortable
If it keeps up I will have to go to ER
So if u dont drink this becareful
August 7, 2018 @ 3:18 am
I drink 3-4 592ML bottles of G2 fruit punch everyday. I’m diabetic.
My question is could it cause me to have little control over my bowels. I used to have one real good bowel movement a day. Now it virtually little liquid squirts and I have no control over it. I feel like an 90 yr. old lady that has lost control over my bowels. Because I have continual dry mouth I drink a lot. I don’t want to drink aspartame and I don’t like water.
Any suggestions for drinks and could G2 be causing my uncontrolled extremely liquid bowel accidents??
I need help.
Sincerely Karen
January 8, 2019 @ 8:19 am
If in doubt stop drinking G2. I drank it too and it’s just not worth it. Water or orange juice will be my go to from now on.
June 17, 2019 @ 8:49 am
My G2 only says “sugar” on the label. Did they go away from the fake sugars, or has something changed regarding labeling?
June 17, 2019 @ 8:57 am
I should be more specific:
RE: site editor comment, “Sucrose is the second ingredient, and then sucralose is the 3rd to last ingredient. So yes it does contain sucralose”
*my G2 ingredient label: Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Monopotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Red 40, Acesulfame Potassium.
So, on your label they’re calling sugar “sucrose”, which is common sugar; yet, “table sugar” is said to be refined form the plant . . . whereas sucrose . . .is “produced naturally” from the plant. What is the difference?
June 17, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
Hello Angela, If you look at the article, the following is mentioned: Acesulfame potassium, Monopotassium Phosphate, FD&C Blue No. 1 – Brilliant Blue FCF, E133 (blue shade) and Splenda (sucralose-based artificial sweetener). These ingredients are far from healthy.
Sucrose was not mentioned. Though you are correct it is listed as an ingredient.
Thanks for your comment
June 29, 2019 @ 7:37 pm
I tried Gzero today and for all the taste it had, I might as well drink water. It was supposed to be berry flavoured but they must have found a tasteless berry.