Training & Nutrition - Why doesn't Gatorade have magnesium?

and why does it make a point of it, by putting on their label: "mangnesium.....0.0mg"?

other products have mag, but Gatorade are like: "look, we don't have ANY magnesium."


???

because as usual they sell hype over health.

Hmm....I have 2 bottles right here and neither of them mention magnesium. I see calories, fat, sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, and protein. The protein and fat are there at zero, but I'm guessing those are required categories.

The endurance formula has magnesium in it.

Standard Gatorade is also short on sodium (IMO), and potassium. It's called a "thirst quencher", not an "endurance exercise energy and electrolytes performance drink".

It's better than nothing, but if you're going long, I recommend adding (per bottle) 1/4 tsp or so of salt, 1/8 tsp of "No Salt" (potassium chloride), and a dash of magnesium citrate powder (available through vitamin outlets). I also like to add some calcium citrate, and some ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

Hmm....I have 2 bottles right here and neither of them mention magnesium. I see calories, fat, sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, and protein. The protein and fat are there at zero, but I'm guessing those are required categories.

The endurance formula has magnesium in it.

might be a South Pacific thing

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/gatorola_two.jpg


I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with having magnesium?

I can't imagine why

Some athletes think potassium or magnesium help combat cramping due to excessive sweat loss, however fluid and sodium depletion is more likely the cause. The amount of magnesium lost through sweat is negligible, making magnesium supplementation unnecessary. Magnesium and potassium are stored in the body, so deficits are rare. Potassium supplements can be dangerous - abnormal heart rhythms have occurred. Sports drinks like Gatorade contain sodium and potassium in amounts sufficient to replace what is lost through sweat.

-- Ellen Coleman, MPH, MA, RD, Sports Nutritionist, marathoner, cyclist and two-time Ironman finisher

Source: http://www.gssiweb.com/reflib/refs/467/200108_q5.cfm?pid=38

I also like to add some calcium citrate, and some ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

this one has calcium silicate

Quik-Eze. One tablet and you're fixed. It's the magnesium AND calcium that counts. But only in my experience, of course.

If some folks had their way, fluids would be so saturated with everything they're "missing," they'd be solids. Hey, there's an idea: food.

Some athletes think potassium or magnesium help combat cramping due to excessive sweat loss, however fluid and sodium depletion is more likely the cause. The amount of magnesium lost through sweat is negligible, making magnesium supplementation unnecessary. Magnesium and potassium are stored in the body, so deficits are rare. Potassium supplements can be dangerous - abnormal heart rhythms have occurred. Sports drinks like Gatorade contain sodium and potassium in amounts sufficient to replace what is lost through sweat.

-- Ellen Coleman, MPH, MA, RD, Sports Nutritionist, marathoner, cyclist and two-time Ironman finisher

Source: http://www.gssiweb.com/reflib/refs/467/200108_q5.cfm?pid=38

A lot of potassium is lost through sweat(not as much as sodium) but the others are only minor losses lik you say. However americans are generally mag deficiant anyway and without enough mag, calcium is not utilized and just flushes on out.

The risk of overly high K levels and their effect is quite real and should be kept in mind.
However it takes a moderately heavy hand to cause problems when using K suppliments, you won't ever get enough from fresh food alone to cause problems, and a 1/6teaspoon(1g) of nusalt is about like a bannana at 530mg and a medium potato has 750mg, heck the minimum RDA is 2,000mg (DON'T TAKE 2,000mg AT ONCE!! It could kill you.)

The risk of overly high K levels and their effect is quite real and should be kept in mind.
However it takes a moderately heavy hand to cause problems when using K suppliments, you won't ever get enough from fresh food alone to cause problems, and a 1/6teaspoon(1g) of nusalt is about like a bannana at 530mg and a medium potato has 750mg, heck the minimum RDA is 2,000mg (DON'T TAKE 2,000mg AT ONCE!! It could kill you.)

that's what I was thinkin'. As far as I know, loss of potassium on long, hot rides can also be dangerous as it is essential for (among other things) normal cardiac muscle function. And who's gunna be poppin GRAMS of the stuff???!!!


http://home.caregroup.org/clinical/altmed/interactions/Nutrients/Potassium.htm

A lot of potassium is lost through sweat(not as much as sodium) but the others are only minor losses lik you say. However americans are generally mag deficiant anyway and without enough mag, calcium is not utilized and just flushes on out.

The risk of overly high K levels and their effect is quite real and should be kept in mind.
However it takes a moderately heavy hand to cause problems when using K suppliments, you won't ever get enough from fresh food alone to cause problems, and a 1/6teaspoon(1g) of nusalt is about like a bannana at 530mg and a medium potato has 750mg, heck the minimum RDA is 2,000mg (DON'T TAKE 2,000mg AT ONCE!! It could kill you.)

That's an important safety tip.

FYI - the RDA for potassium was raised last fall to 4,700 mg/day, for adults and adolescents. I think this was based on how higher levels of potassium help reduce blood pressure.

Ironically, you can buy straight potassium chloride (No Salt, or salt substitute) in the grocery store, but potassium supplements in pill form are limited to 99 mg per pill.

Standard Gatorade is also short on sodium (IMO), and potassium. It's called a "thirst quencher", not an "endurance exercise energy and electrolytes performance drink".

It's better than nothing, but if you're going long, I recommend adding (per bottle) 1/4 tsp or so of salt, 1/8 tsp of "No Salt" (potassium chloride), and a dash of magnesium citrate powder (available through vitamin outlets). I also like to add some calcium citrate, and some ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

The Endurance Forumla has more of both sodium and potassium.

might be a South Pacific thing

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/gatorola_two.jpg


I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with having magnesium?

I can't imagine why

Yeah....that's completely different, even with the spelling of "flavour" (Lemon-Lime is the best, BTW). Check out gatorade.com for an American label. Maybe they have to report magnesium as part of the standard nutrition fact guide.

mmol on a Gatorade label? The USA is too afraid of science for that.

could be

the Aus/New Zealand food assoc. are apparently quite powerful