Gatorade

Gatorade Lime Cucumber earns a green leaf rating of 1/5 on our scale, marking it as a product our users are advised to avoid. This beverage is not organic and utilizes GMO ingredients, two factors that significantly diminish its standing on our cleaner food scale. The inclusion of added sugars, in the form of both sugar and citric acid, further detracts from its score. More concerning is the presence of dextrose, a form of added sugar that is considered more harmful, resulting in a greater reduction of its overall rating.

In addition to sugars, the Gatorade Lime Cucumber contains a range of additives. The label lists both natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, and a gum arabic – ingredients that may pose potential health risks. More alarmingly, it includes artificial colors, namely Yellow 5 and Blue 1, which are known for their negative health implications and contribute to the product’s low score.

One point of particular concern is the labeling of an ingredient as ‘artificial flavor,’ which can often be a catch-all term for various chemical compounds used to mimic natural flavors. This product also erroneously lists artificial flavor as a source of high fructose corn syrup, which is incorrect. However, the presence of artificial flavor alone is enough to warrant caution.

The assessment of Gatorade Lime Cucumber’s suitability for those seeking cleaner food options is clear. With its non-organic status, GMO usage, added sugars, and array of potentially and known harmful additives, the product does not align with the health-conscious criteria set forth by our website. The 1/5 green leaf rating reflects the product’s position at the bottom of our recommendation list, and we stand by the advice to opt for healthier alternatives that are more in line with clean eating values.