Sports drinks are a contentious issue for me.  Despite their assumed athletic relevance, they generally remind me more of consumerism and excess than they do of actual athletics.  I think of a specific Gatorade ad starring Kevin Garnett where he appears to sweat the color of his Gatorade.  I think about sports drinks’ bright colors and completely radical names that I always deliver in a certain way when I read them aloud.  Finally I think about sugar.  A 32-ounce bottle (pay attention to serving size when you read the label; the 32-ounce bottle in your hand is likely broken down into four servings) of a typical sports drink contains over 50 grams (13 teaspoons) of sugar and 200 calories.  Is this something I really need after a four-mile run on the trail by my house, even if it is a grueling uphill climb, switchback after switchback?

My contention with sports drinks isn’t that they don’t have a purpose, it’s that they’re generally overconsumed and overhyped.  I can’t help but think that sales figures are sports drink manufacturers’ biggest concern, but Kevin Garnett’s bellow seems to scream otherwise.  What’s the reasoning behind the typical sugar, water, and electrolyte composition of these drinks?  When, if at all, does it become important to rehydrate with something other than water?  What, beyond the commercial viability of selling sugar water, are the real benefits to professional athletes and amateurs alike?
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Origin Nutrition was recently interviewed by backcountry.com for an article on backpacker meals. After the writers and staff at backcountry tasted the dehydrated delectables, they came to us for a stance on the meals, nutrition-wise. Check out the article for their opinions on what tastes good, and ours on whether it’s worth carrying on your back.