It’s crucial to stay hydrated during pregnancy. A woman’s fluid requirements increase during pregnancy. Being properly hydrated supports getting nutrients to your growing baby aids in digestion, regulates amniotic fluid levels, blood pressure, helps regulate body temperature, and more. Consuming enough electrolytes goes hand-in-hand with the increased fluid requirement.
Many pregnant people trying to increase their fluid intake struggle to drink enough glasses of water per day while minimizing sugar and caffeine intake. Good news! Other fluids and high-water foods can help you meet your fluid needs during pregnancy. Adding other drinks can make it easier to stay hydrated.
Beverages like coconut water and herbal tea are great options, but what about the electrolyte drink Gatorade? Is Gatorade safe to drink during pregnancy? Let’s find out!
Can You Drink Gatorade While Pregnant?
Gatorade is a source of both fluids and electrolytes. But there are some things to consider when drinking Gatorade during pregnancy.
Sports drinks, like Gatorade, are safe for pregnant women to drink. One important note: the term sports drinks should not be confused with highly caffeinated energy drinks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other governing bodies recommend limiting caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Learn more about drinking energy drinks during pregnancy in my post “Can You Drink Energy Drinks While Pregnant?”
Back to sports drinks! Gatorade can be helpful for expectant mothers who are struggling with nausea and upset stomach. Electrolyte drinks, like Gatorade, can help replenish electrolytes and supply calories during morning sickness. This helps make it easier to stay hydrated when you’re having difficulty keeping food down.
It’s important to note that drinking an electrolyte or a sports drink like Gatorade isn’t necessary. I’d recommend options like coconut water or a no or lower-sugar third-party tested electrolyte powder supplement mixed into water. These options will be excellent hydration without the food dyes, added sugar, or artificial sweeteners in many Gatorade products.
However, if you’re struggling to drink enough water and the occasional Gatorade is helping, rest assured that it can safely fit into your pregnancy diet in moderation and will not cause birth defects!
Tips for Drinking Gatorade While Pregnant
Continue drinking plenty of water.
Water will always be a priority beverage you need to drink during pregnancy.
Incorporating other fluids is excellent, but it’s still essential to ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. As mentioned above, it’s crucial to remember beverages like Gatorade and fruit juice like orange juice contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners. This is why it’s best as a “here and there” choice!
Consuming high amounts of sugar during pregnancy may contribute to complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Now, this doesn’t mean options like Gatorade need to be eliminated. It’s just important to be aware of your overall added sugar intake. There’s no “official” added sugar limit for pregnancy, but outside of pregnancy, the consensus is to keep added sugar to less than 25 grams per day.
Consider an alternative if you have gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes makes it even more essential for pregnant women to manage their blood sugar levels. It can be diagnosed earlier in pregnancy, but most women are tested for it around 28 weeks.
It’s important for all pregnant people, including those with gestational diabetes, to implement practices that support balanced blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can contribute to serious complications that could impact you and your unborn baby.
If you have gestational diabetes, join our new program: The Feel Good Gestational Diabetes Program. We’ll teach you how to enjoy your favorite foods while supporting balanced blood sugar levels. Learn more here!
Drink Gatorade in moderation.
Consuming small amounts of Gatorade can also be a great way to replenish fluids and electrolytes lost due to vomiting or sweating, especially if it is one of the few fluids or foods sitting well with you right now due to an upset stomach. However, moderation and not consuming large amounts is important to keep added sugar intake in check.
You can find many great smoothie recipes and other healthy drinks to help you stay hydrated in my cookbook, too!
Consider alternatives.
Low or no added sugar electrolyte drinks are among the best drinks for pregnancy. When choosing an electrolyte powder supplement for pregnancy, choose one without artificial sweeteners. Also, look for one that is third-party tested. Third-party testing is important to ensure the purity and quality of ingredients.
We review alternative options inside The Prenatal Nutrition Library! An app and searchable database for food during pregnancy so you have clear answers within seconds!
Types of Gatorade choices available.
You’ll see many options when you check out the Gatorade website or aisles at the grocery store. Gatorade Fit is one of the “better-for-you” Gatorade options available.
Gatorade Fit is a sports drink marketed toward people engaging in any type of physical activity. But it can also be an excellent electrolyte drink for pregnant women. It contains zero added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, zero artificial flavors, and no added colors. It is sweetened with stevia instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Gatorade Fit is significantly lower in sugar than the original Gatorade. Gatorade Fit has only 1 gram of sugar, while the original Gatorade has 32 grams. There are also many flavors available to suit your taste preferences.
Gatorade Fit has several flavors, including Blackberry Raspberry, Cherry Lime, Citrus Berry, Tropical Mango, and Watermelon Strawberry.
Gatorade can be a safe option for pregnant people who need to replenish their electrolytes and stay hydrated.
Gatorade is a safe beverage choice for many pregnant women, especially those who are struggling with morning sickness and who are having a hard time drinking water. Both fluids and electrolytes are essential during pregnancy. Gatorade is one way to replenish electrolytes and stay hydrated. However, some types of Gatorade have more quality ingredients than others and can have high sugar.
For more valuable nutrition information for every stage of your pregnancy journey, head over to the blog.
Also, be sure to sign up for The Prenatal Nutrition Library. For a quick, evidence-based answer, members can access our easily searchable app with thousands of foods, nutrients, conditions, and pregnancy symptoms. We have meal plans for every trimester, too! Want to try a sample first? Grab your FREE 1-week meal plan here!
