Are you a fitness enthusiast, athlete, or just someone who loves staying hydrated and healthy? If so, you’ve probably heard of BODYARMOR, the popular sports drink among the health and fitness community.
But you’re probably wondering: is Body Armor good for you? I get it! As a dietitian, I’m always looking for healthy hydration solutions both for myself and to recommend to others.
In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about BODYARMOR. We’ll explore its ingredients, nutritional facts, flavors, and more to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your hydration needs.
This post may contain affiliate links.
What are BODYARMOR sports drinks?
Body Armor is a sports drink designed to keep you hydrated and energized during physical activity.
Unlike traditional sports drinks, it has higher levels of potassium and lower levels of sodium. It also avoids artificial sweeteners and dyes, making it a go-to choice for health-conscious individuals.
Why It Stands Out: One of the unique selling points of Body Armor is its focus on a short and sweet ingredient list. They don’t use any artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors or artificial colors.
Many traditional sports drinks have artificial additives that might not match your priorities around what you choose to eat and drink.
Body Armor aims to provide a healthier alternative without compromising on taste or effectiveness.
BODYARMOR drink ingredients
One of the unique features of Body Armor is its use of coconut water concentrate as a primary ingredient. Coconut water is known for its natural electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals, making it a solid hydration option.
Coconut Water Benefits: Coconut water is rich in potassium and magnesium—electrolytes that are essential for maintaining fluid balance in the body. It’s also low in calories and carbohydrates, making it an excellent choice for those watching their weight.
Natural Sweeteners: Body Armor uses natural sweeteners like pure cane sugar and fruit concentrates, steering clear of artificial ingredients and sweeteners if that’s a priority for you. This makes it a better option for anyone who wants to avoid chemicals and additives in their diet. Their lower sugar and sugar-free varieties are also free or artificial sweeteners.
Vitamins and Antioxidants: Each bottle has added nutrients, including vitamin B 3, B5, B6, B9, and B12, as well as antioxidants like vitamins A, C (ascorbic acid), and E. These nutrients help combat oxidative stress and support overall health, which makes Body Armor more than just a hydration solution. You’ll also find zinc oxide and magnesium oxide on the list.
You’ll also find some other ingredients like filtered water, citric acid, and gum arabic.
Body Armor Nutrition Facts
Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect in a serving of the original BODYARMOR sports drink:
- Calories: Approximately 120 calories per 16 oz bottle of Body Armor, depending on the flavor.
- Electrolytes: High in potassium (680 mg) and low in sodium (30 mg).
- Sugar Content: Contains around 29 grams of sugar sourced from natural ingredients, which is lower than many traditional sports drinks.
- Vitamins: contains vitamins A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, along with B vitamins that aid in energy production and overall well-being.
Balanced Hydration: The high potassium content helps to regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals, making it particularly beneficial for athletes and active individuals.
Lower Sodium: BODYARMOR is much lower in sodium compared to other sports drinks. Sodium is actually an important part of sports drinks, especially if you’re engaging in prolonged, intense exercise. If you’re exercising intensely you may be better off with their Flash IV variety, which has more sodium.
Natural Sweetness: Unlike some sports drinks that use high-fructose corn syrup, Body Armor uses cane sugar and natural flavors.
Other BODYARMOR Varieties
BODYARMOR Lyte
If you’re looking for something lower sugar, Body Armor Lyte is sweetened with a combination of sugar alcohol (erythritol) and stevia.
While high sugar content might not be a good choice for everyone, sugar is an essential piece of some sports drinks depending on what kind of athlete you are. Sugar provides a quick carb source for energy during exercise. So, this lower sugar version may not be as suitable for longer activities and exercise.
It also may not be suitable for anyone who is sensitive to sugar alcohols, because they can cause some GI upset.
The rest of the nutrition information is about the same. It has 15 calories per 16 oz. vs. 120 calories per 16 oz. in the regular version.
BODYARMOR Zero sugar
There are four flavor options of BODYARMOR Zero Sugar that are sweetened with stevia instead of cane sugar. The added vitamins and electrolytes are similar to the original line.
This may be more suitable for someone looking for a no added sugar option, but similarly may not be appropriate for someone engaging in longer activities as it’s not going to provide anything in terms of energy.
Flash IV
This Flash IV version of Body Armor has a more appropriate level of sodium for folks using this drink for hydration with intense physical activity.
It’s in the middle ground in terms of sweetness; it is sweetened with a combination of sugar and stevia, and a 20-ounce bottle contains 15 grams of sugar in total.
Flash IV Powder Sticks
These powder stick mix-ins are a nice option to have on hand in your gym bag, purse, or glove box. The electrolytes and stevia content match what the bottled Flash IV contains, with the exception of sugar: these packets do not contain any sugar.
Pros of BODYARMOR drinks
Body Armor comes with several advantages that make it stand out in the crowded sports drink market:
No Artificial Dyes: Unlike many sports drinks that use synthetic dyes, Body Armor uses natural colors derived from fruits and vegetables.
Lower Sugar Content: With natural sweeteners and a lower sugar content compared to many traditional sports drinks, Body Armor is a healthier choice for those being mindful of their sugar intake.
Higher Potassium: The high potassium content helps in maintaining electrolyte balance, muscle function, and overall hydration, making it particularly beneficial for athletes and active individuals.
The low sodium content of BODYARMOR drinks could also potentially be a pro for someone who specifically needs a low sodium drink, or someone who is just drinking them because they enjoy the taste.
Cons of BODYARMOR drinks
While Body Armor has many benefits, there are some drawbacks too:
Lower Sodium Content: For those engaging in prolonged, intense physical activities, the low sodium content may not actually be enough for you to replace the sodium lost through sweat. Additional supplementation might be needed.
Sugar Content: If you’re being particularly mindful of sugar, the regular version of BODYARMOR does have a good amount of added sugar, so you’d want to choose one of the lower sugar varieties.
Body Armor flavors
There are lots of Body Armor drink flavors to choose from. Some of the popular ones include fruit punch, orange mango, strawberry banana, lemon lime and watermelon strawberry.
For those who can’t decide on just one flavor, Body Armor offers variety packs that include multiple flavors in one package. This is a great way to discover your favorites without committing to a single flavor.
Is BODYARMOR good for you?
Whether this is a healthier option for you depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish with your sports drink.
For serious athletes, this product is low in sodium (unless you choose the flash IV variety), so it might not actually provide the hydration support that you’re looking for. Potassium is one of the important electrolytes that help your body absorb water more quickly, and sodium is, too.
Their original BODYARMOR drink contains carbs and sugar, which is also important for athletes. Not only are they fuel for your hard-working muscle cells, but the sugars actually help your body absorb water.
This means that the various “sports drinks” that don’t have much sodium and don’t have any sugar aren’t doing much of anything beyond the value of water for athletes.
Speaking of water, even if you’re not someone who is working our super intensely, BODYARMOR can just be a nice alternative to water occasionally to stay hydrated. Just keep in mind that it does have a fair amount of potassium.
Some breastfeeding mothers have enjoyed using Body Armor to support their hydration and, by proxy, their milk supply. This is a season where a lot of water is needed, so having options to keep things interesting can be particularly helpful.
Cost
When it comes to cost, Body Armor is competitively priced, considering the quality of ingredients used. A single bottle typically costs around $1.99-$2.49, with discounts available for bulk purchases. You can grab some to try here on Amazon.
That’s a Wrap
Body Armor stands out as a solid sports drink choice for hydrating and replenishing electrolytes. They use simple ingredients and no artificial dyes and sweeteners, which is a positive! Many active folks appreciate the diverse flavors and find them both refreshing and satisfying.
However, it’s important to note that Body Armor has a relatively low sodium content, which may not fully meet the needs of those engaging in prolonged, intense activities.
If you happen to be using this drink just for fun water swap, just keep an eye on which one you’re choosing because of the amount of sugar and sodium. And of course always chat with your healthcare provider, especially if you have health conditions, to make sure the added sodium and extra electrolytes are okay for you.
Eating a balanced diet can feel confusing; that’s why I made an in-depth, easy-to-understand guide so that you can fuel yourself (and your family) without falling prey to fad diets and false promises. Dive deeper and equip yourself with essential knowledge by snagging your own copy of The Balanced Basics Handbook.
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