Gatorade Vs Vitamin Water

Because Gatorade and Vitamin Water look and taste the same, you may be wondering which one is better for you -- or if it really makes a difference which you choose. Both of these drinks can be beneficial in certain situations but knowing more about Gatorade and Vitamin Water helps you pick the best option to meet your individualized needs.

Similarities

Gatorade and Vitamin Water are both energy drinks that provide original and lower-calorie alternatives. Each drink's main ingredients are water and sugar, which can help boost your energy before or after workouts, when you're feeling sluggish, or if your blood sugar suddenly drops. Both drinks are found at major retail chains like Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com, and provide about the same number of calories, total carbohydrates, and sugar in each serving. The costs of Gatorade and Vitamin Water are about the same, but Vitamin Water is slightly more expensive -- priced at just over 4 cents per fluid ounce for a six pack

Differences

The main difference between Gatorade and Vitamin Water is the micronutrient content of these drinks. Gatorade is an electrolyte drink, providing sodium and potassium, but not significant amounts of other essential minerals and vitamins. While some flavors of Vitamin Water provide potassium, most do not. However, Vitamin Water is fortified with other electrolytes and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals -- especially B vitamins. So in a sense, Gatorade is more geared toward athletes, hydration, and sports nutrition, while Vitamin Water is more of an energy booster (one flavor even provides caffeine) and vitamin supplement. Both drinks offer lower-calorie options, but only Vitamin Water has a calorie-free drink.

Pros and Cons

Because Gatorade and Vitamin Water are so similar, these two drinks share many of the same pros and cons. Pros are these two drinks help boost energy and provide you with essential nutrients. Gatorade is a source of electrolytes, sodium and potassium, and Vitamin Water provides a more extensive list of vitamins and minerals. Both drinks are a good source of carbohydrates. Cons include that Gatorade and Vitamin Water (with the exception of Vitamin Water Zero) contain added sugar, which can contribute to unwanted weight gain when consumed in excess.

Original vs. Low-Calorie

Both Gatorade and Vitamin Water offer lower-calorie (or calorie-free) alternatives for times you want to cut calories and reduce added sugar intake. Gatorade offers a product called G2, which contains just 35 calories per serving. Vitamin Water Zero is calorie-free, but provides the same amount of essential micronutrients as the original Vitamin Water version.

Comparison Chart

The chart below compares four types of energy drinks: Gatorade Original, Gatorade G2, Vitamin Water, and Vitamin Water Zero.

*DV = Daily Value

Flavor Variety

When it comes to flavor variety, Gatorade has quite a few more options than Vitamin Water. Gatorade Original offers 17 flavors, Gatorade Frost has five flavor varieties, and Gatorade Fierce provides six flavor options. Gatorade G2 offers eight flavor varieties to choose from. Vitamin Water has just nine flavors, and Vitamin Water Zero provides eight flavors.

Which to Choose?

It might be difficult to determine whether to choose Gatorade or Vitamin Water, as these two drinks are very similar. The bottom line is to select something that fits your individualized needs, taste preference, and weight management goals.