“Antioxidant” is a term that comes up a lot when describing health and wellness products, but what exactly does it mean and what does it do for our minds and bodies?
Simply put, antioxidants are molecules that combat free radicals in the body. Knowing that, your next question might be, “What are free radicals?” They are unstable atoms that can be harmful to the body’s cells if they reach overly high levels and can trigger a process called “oxidative stress,” which can lead to symptoms of aging and illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
While the human body has the ability to control free radicals by generating its own antioxidants, antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods can also give the human body an extra boost. Here are some sources of antioxidant-rich foods: Broccoli, spinach, carrots, berries, coffee, chocolate, and green tea. Vitamins C and E are also excellent sources of antioxidants.
Today’s athletes are highly aware of how the food and drinks they ingest impact their health and energy. To boost performance, promote recovery, and minimize the chances for oxidative stress, don’t forget to focus on food and beverages rich in antioxidants!
Top 10 Antioxidant Drinks for Sport
Here are the top adaptogen drinks you should try today!
1. Adapt Brand’s Coconut-Based Antioxidant SuperWater
Adapt SuperWater is a better-for-you beverage compared to traditional synthetic sports drinks. SuperWater offers numerous benefits to the athletic, health conscious consumer.
Product Description
- Helps athletes recover from exercise by reducing inflammation and muscle tension
- Contains electrolytes and hemp for superior hydration
- Infused with 25mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract per bottle
- Contains natural ingredients
- Antioxidants
- Electrolytes
- 100% pure coconut water
- Pomegranate juice
- Mango juice
- Hibiscus
- Hemp extract
- Chamomile
- L-theanine
- Vitamins C, B3, B5, B6, and B12
- Sweetened with monk fruit; no added sugar or artificial sweeteners
- Low-calorie, low carbohydrate
- Low in caffeine
- NSF Certified for Sport
Full Ingredient Deck
Store Locator
Buy Online
2. Klean Athletic Hydration Drink Powder
Klean Athletic Hydration Drink Powder is an orange-flavored electrolyte-based powder for staying hydrated during physical activity.
Product Description
- 6% carbohydrates for uptake of fluid and energy
- Sodium and Potassium for fluid balance
- Magnesium and Calcium for muscle function and hydration absorption
- Contains 12g of sugar carbohydrates per scoop or sachet – Sucrose, Dextrin, Dextrose and Fructose
- GMO-Free and also formulated without wheat, gluten, artificial coloring, flavoring, or sweeteners
- NSF Certified for Sport
Full Ingredient Deck
Overall, this is a pretty solid product overall, but consumers need to be aware of claims about the product not having sweeteners. When you look at the sugar content on the label, it contains 12g per 1 scoop or sachet as well as Sucrose (from cane/beet), Dextrose, and Fructose, which are not beneficial to your health with long term consumption per scientific research.
Buy Online
3. NUUN Hydration Tablets
Nuun Hydration are electrolyte drink tablets that you can drop into your water bottle to keep you hydrated while you're working out or on the go. They transform plain water into a functional beverage. Nuun comes in a number of different formulas, like Sport, Vitamins, Immunity, Endurance, and Recovery.
Product Description
- Five essential electrolytes
- Natural flavors and colors
- Calories vary depending on grams of carbohydrates and sugars
Ingredients: Active Hydration Drink Tablets
Nuun is one of the most well-known brands in the sports beverage space. It is sweetened with stevia leaf, monk fruit which are ok. However, it also has Dextrose, a simple sugar made from corn or wheat, which is not beneficial for the body with long term use.
Buy Online
4. Propel Electrolyte Water
Propel Electrolyte Water replaces nutrients and electrolytes lost in sweat during vigorous activity and is safe for everyday hydration. Propel comes in two flavors: Berry and Orange Raspberry.
Product Description
- B Vitamins (B3, B5, and B6), antioxidants Vitamin C and E, and other essential nutrients
- Gatorade electrolytes
- Zero calories
Full Ingredient Deck
The product label claims that there is zero sugar or artificial flavors, yet the product does include Sucralose, a no-calorie artificial sweetener that is derived from sugar.
Buy Online
5. Flow Flavored Alkaline Spring Water
Flow Flavored Alkaline Spring Water pairs organic flavors with their spring water that helps maintain hydration. Flow comes in a variety of flavors, including Peach + Blueberry, Strawberry + Rose, and Cucumber + Mint.
Product Description
- Naturally alkaline water with a pH of 8.1
- Electrolytes and essential minerals including Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Bicarbonate
- No sugar, no juice, no calories
- No preservatives and no GMOs
- Eco-friendly packaging
Full Ingredient Deck
Overall this is a pretty solid product. That said, we couldn’t find an ingredient deck on the website, which makes it difficult to know if the product matches what is listed on the label. More transparency about the ingredients would be good for health-conscious consumers, particularly athletes who want to verify what is for sure in the product.
Buy Online
6. Evamor Natural Artesian Water
Evamor Natural Artesian Water is a bottled alkaline water that comes from an underground aquifer; the waters are untouched by air until after you open it to drink. Alkaline water helps your body fight acid and restore balance.
Product Description
- Alkaline water with a high pH of 8.8 to 9.1
This is a solid artesian alkaline water. Alkaline waters are becoming more prevalent on store shelves; what makes it different from tap water is that it has a higher pH level because it contains alkaline minerals. Some think that alkaline water can neutralize acid in the bloodstream, but the research is limited. It would be great for consumers for the full ingredient deck to be listed on the website, but we did find that they list a lab report on the product which is great to see. However, the testing was done two years ago in 2021, so it would be nice to see some updated testing given that product formulas can change over time.
Buy Online
7. Sqwincher Activity Drink
Sqwincher is a brand created for strenuous work environments and offers a variety of products for the consumer, including 2 bottled beverages, single-serve stick packs, and squeeze pops.
Bottled Beverage Product Description
- Low sodium, gluten-free, non-carbonated, no caffeine
- Formulated to replace mineral salts, electrolytes, and fluids lost during physical activity
- Original is 170 calories with 42 grams of sugar and comes in 7 flavors
- Zero is 5 calories with zero sugar and comes in 5 flavors
Full Ingredient Deck
These drinks seem similar to Gatorade and have some well-known ingredients. That said, while they have zero sugar, they do have sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohol is generally not considered harmful, but if a consumer drinks many beverages containing this ingredient throughout the day, it can cause issues with the digestive system.
Buy Online
8. CORE Hydration
Core Hydration offers two different beverages – Hydration and Hydration Plus.
Product Descriptions
- Hydration Purified Water
- 7 stage purification process
- 7.4 pH
- Added electrolytes and minerals
- 5 sizes available
- Bottles are 100% recycled plastic
- Hydration Plus Nutrient Enhanced Water
- 3 options: Immunity, Vibrance, Calm
- Enhanced with functional ingredients like L-Theanine and Vitamin C
- Infused with fruit extracts like grapefruit, lemon and cucumber
- No added sweeteners or sugars
- Zero calories
Ingredient
This product tastes good, and the ingredients are good as well. If you are going for an unflavored water or water with some slight flavoring, it’s still important to check for safe ingredients.
Buy Online
9. Bai Antioxidant Infusion
Bai offers a variety of beverages including Antioxidant Infusion which comes in 11 flavors and provides antioxidants in its formulas.
Product Description
- Flavors include Brasilia Blueberry, Costa Rica Clementine, and Kula Watermelon
- Sweetened with stevia leaf and erythritol; no added artificial sweeteners
- 1 gram of sugar and 10 calories per bottle
Full Ingredient Deck
As far as taste goes, Bai has some delicious flavors. Unlike other drinks on this list, Bai contains caffeine, which can be good or bad depending on the person drinking the beverage. Bai also contains some sugar, as well as sugar alcohol in the form of erythritol, so as mentioned, it just depends on your sugar tolerance if you are open to trying these or not. Depending on the flavor you choose, the amount of sugar alcohol can be a little high, so as long as you are not consuming many other products containing sugar alcohols in a day, these should be fine. The article we shared earlier from Cleveland Clinic mentions we should only have about 10-15 grams per day, and the ingredient deck below lists 10 grams, so it’s important to be mindful of your intake of this ingredient.
Buy Online
10. V8+ Energy Drinks
V8, the brand best known for its vegetable juice, now offers a carbonated energy drink made with fruit, vegetables and tea. It comes in 4 flavors: Orange Pineapple, Strawberry Kiwi, Black Cherry, and Lemon Lime.
Product Description
- Drinks contain 80mg of caffeine
- Plant-based ingredients with no GMOs
- Rich in B vitamins
- Contains Sucralose, an artificial sweetener
- 10 calories per can
Ingredient Deck
These V8 drinks are tasty – they offer good ingredients and some caffeine which can be good for a pick-me-up. The amount of sugar in each can is a little high (10g), and they also contain Sucrose, the artificial sugar, as well, which as mentioned earlier isn’t necessarily the best ingredient to consume regularly. These beverages are also carbonated, which some consumers like and others don’t.
Buy Online
Conclusion: The Best Antioxidant Drink for Sport: Adapt Brands’ SuperWater
From alkaline waters to fruit-infused drinks to dissolvable tablets, there are a lot of drinks geared towards athletes on the market today, but very few deliver the benefits of antioxidants, adaptogens AND hemp like Adapt Brands does. Adapt’s two all-natural, no added sugar SuperWaters, Mango and Pomegranate Hibiscus, provide the antioxidants, superfoods, electrolytes and hydration needed for a strong performance, recovery and overall well being. For the best antioxidant sports beverage on the market, beverages backed by professional baseball, football, soccer, and volleyball players, purchase your SuperWaters in store or online today!
Comments (0)
Back to Adaptations