Drinking Gatorade While Pregnant: Is it Safe?

There seems to be no limit to pregnancy cravings. Everyone has their own cravings and preferences, and one of the more common cravings that we hear about is the sugary, electrolyte-filled flavors of Gatorade. But is it safe to drink Gatorade while pregnant? Let’s jump into it and find out.

Is it safe to drink Gatorade while pregnant?
Why do I crave Gatorade while pregnant?
Can Gatorade help with morning sickness?
The risks of drinking Gatorade while pregnant
Drinking Gatorade instead of eating while pregnant
The best Gatorade options to drink while pregnant
The bottom line

Is it safe to drink Gatorade while pregnant?

Yes, drinking Gatorade while pregnant is safe.

Although it was first invented to hydrate athletes during the heat of a game, it’s a great drink to quench your thirst in many situations, including while pregnant.

Drinking Gatorade while pregnant can help replenish electrolytes, fluids, and carbohydrates lost during morning sickness. It can also help to ease pregnancy-related fatigue and headaches. In addition, Gatorade can help to prevent dehydration, which is a common concern during pregnancy.

There are, however, some concerns to keep in mind chugging your favorite flavor or Gatorade while pregnant, which we’ll get into later.

Why do I crave Gatorade while pregnant?

There are several reasons why you may be craving Gatorade while pregnant.

The first reason that you may get pregnancy cravings is because of fluctuating hormone levels and an increased sense of smell and taste. These changes can lead to an increased desire to consume foods that you find pleasurable and satisfying.

Another reason for specific cravings during pregnancy could be your body trying to send you a message. For example, your metabolic rate can increase while pregnant, which can raise your body temperature and make you feel dehydrated. If you’re feeling dehydrated, you may get cravings that will help satisfy your physical needs. In other words, it’s not just your taste buds and mind craving Gatorade — it may, in fact, be your body as well.

Can Gatorade help with morning sickness?

Morning sickness is a common issue that many women experience while pregnant, especially in the first trimester. The unpleasant feeling of morning sickness can include nausea, headaches, and vomiting.

If you’re experiencing morning sickness, especially vomiting, Gatorade may help you feel better. This is because vomiting leads to dehydration and a loss of electrolytes — two issues that Gatorade can solve.

Drinking Gatorade before or after experiencing morning sickness symptoms may be able to help reduce the severity by keeping your body hydrated.

The risks of drinking Gatorade while pregnant

Although Gatorade is mostly safe to consume while pregnant, there are certain risks to keep in mind.

First and foremost, Gatorade contains a high amount of sugar. A standard 20-ounce bottle of Gatorade contains 34 grams of sugar.

While sugar is not necessarily harmful in moderation, consuming too much sugar can lead to gestational diabetes, a condition that can be dangerous for both mother and child. For pregnant women who are trying to limit their sugar intake, Gatorade is probably not the best choice.

Secondly, Gatorade contains sodium. While sodium is useful to help replenish lost electrolytes, too much sodium can lead to complications such as hypertension.

Thirdly, although Gatorade can be a good choice to hydrate you and your baby in a pinch, if you’re suffering from diarrhea (a common symptom of morning sickness), the sugar in Gatorade may actually make your diarrhea worse according to pediatrician Jo Ann Ryhans.

As with all foods and beverages, if you’re going to consume Gatorade while pregnant, make sure to do it in moderation.

Drinking Gatorade instead of eating while pregnant

Even though morning sickness and other pregnancy complications can cause you to lose your appetite, it’s not a good idea to drink Gatorade as a replacement for a nutritious meal. Gatorade contains very few nutrients that your body (and baby) need to stay healthy.

If you’re unable to hold down or eat solid food, a better alternative while pregnant could be a nutritious meal-replacement shake like Ensure.

The best Gatorade options to drink while pregnant

If you must fulfill your Gatorade cravings while pregnant, your safest bet is to go for the low-calorie, low-sugar options such as Gatorade G2. Gatorade G2 contains significantly fewer calories and sugar. It can help quench your thirst and alleviate some dehydration-related morning sickness symptoms, while still giving you the fulfillment of the classic Gatorade taste.

The bottom line

Gatorade is safe to drink while pregnant. It can even be helpful to alleviate some of your morning sickness conditions. If you’re experiencing cravings for Gatorade, feel free to satisfy your cravings — just make sure to do it in moderation and/or with the low-sugar options in order to minimize the risk of complications.