3 Natural Gatorade Alternatives You Need to Try

It’s no secret that Gatorade is awful for you. It’s a bottle of questionable ingredients like synthetic additives, sugar, sodium, artificial coloring, chemical flavors that represents the power of pseudoscience and Pepsi’s marketing dollars.

A drink that looks like a glow stick shouldn’t be thought of as fuel for athletes. But that’s exactly how people have been marketed to believe. Crazy, isn’t it?

The good news is that we’re entering a decade of conscious consumerism – where questioning ingredients has become the status quo, and people are actively seeking ways to improve their health. 

Think of the La Croix craze of the past 3 years. People are less interested in sugary drinks and are instead focusing on natural, healthier alternatives. People are ditching the cola, and instead, picking up Pamplemousse La Croix. 

So, when it comes to finding alternatives, my mantra is, the simpler & better, the better. That applies to ingredient lists and alternatives. If it isn’t simple AND better than what’s mainstream, it won’t catch on. And my goal is for everyone to adopt healthier habits. So…

Here are my super simple Gatorade alternatives that are ACTUALLY good & better for you. 

1. Coconut water

I know what some of you are thinking, “but Alyssa, I hate the taste of coconut water!!”. I don’t blame you. Most of the coconut waters out there taste absolutely pitiful.

But… have you ever tried Harmless Harvest coconut water?

Harmless Harvest is the nectar of the Gods (& that pink color is natural too).

What makes HH different is that they don’t pasteurize with high heat. Instead, they use high pressure, which leaves the nutrients intact.

Plus unlike most bottled coconut water, it’s 100% pure with no added preservatives, carrageenan, or sugar.

It also contains natural minerals and electrolytes that will help keep you hydrated and energized.

Why drink Gatorade, when you can drink Harmless Harvest? I’m telling you, it’s absolutely heavenly.

2. Tea

Tea is my go-to drink for workouts. I often work out in a fasted state which means that while coconut water may break my fast, tea will not – so I’m almost always drinking tea.

It’s also super affordable and convenient. I just pop a teabag into my water bottle, and it brews on its own at room temperature. No hot water needed.

Here are my two favorite teas you need to try:

Rooibos tea

Rooibos (meaning “red bush”) is an amazing tea from South Africa, but it’s so popular you’ll be able to find it anywhere.

It contains minerals and antioxidants that fight inflammation and boosts circulation – which increases testosterone and helps with muscle recovery.

It also helps to absorb iron, which is fantastic for muscle relaxation and oxygen delivery.

Green Tea

I love matcha so matcha.

In case you didn’t already know, matcha is an absolute powerhouse.

According to this study, it’s rich in catechins which increase endurance capacity. Swimming times to exhaustion for mice fed with green tea extract in this study were prolonged by 8-24% by enhanced metabolization of stored fat.

What makes matcha powder better than drinking steeped green tea leaves is that you’re getting the full benefits of the leaf. And, in addition to vitamins like A, B, and C, matcha has electrolytes like sodium and potassium which also aid in hydration.

With alternatives like these, there is no reason for you to continue drinking Gatorade. So if you haven’t already – ditch it for good. Your body will thank you.

Let us know your favorite alternatives to Gatorade below. We’d love to give them a try.