Over 34 million people are living with diabetes in the United States, while over 88 million are in the prediabetic stages, according to the National Institutes of Health. A common diabetic symptom is feeling lethargic, which is caused by the inability of the body to process carbs as it should.
This leaves diabetics in need of a spike in energy, leading many to wonder if they could turn to energy drinks or sports drinks, but most of these drinks are not good for diabetics, despite posting sugar-free labels. However, we are going to explore body armor deeply, providing every piece of information you need on body armor for diabetics.
The Brand
BodyArmor is a line of sports drinks marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional sports beverages like Gatorade or Powerade. It was founded by Lance Collins, the creator of Fuze Beverage and NOS Energy Drink, and Mike Repole, a co-founder of Vitamin Water.
These sports drinks are formulated with a combination of coconut water, vitamins, and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These electrolytes can be helpful to diabetics who lose strength. According to the company, the drinks are made free from artificial flavors and colors, while they also offer low-sugar varieties.
Body armor is available in varieties of flavors such as roange mango, fruit punch, strawberry banana, and mixed berry. They are rich in various vitamins like vitamin A, C, and E, which are important in supporting your overall well-being, which encompasses your immune function and antioxidant protection.
Is Body Armor good for diabetics?
The regular body armor energy drink is not suitable for diabetics. A 16-ounce bottle contains 180 calories and 36 grams of sugar, which is equal to consuming nine teaspoons of sugar. This would be an ideal drink for an athlete, but it is a terrible way to stay hydrated or regain energy as a diabetic.
When a diabetic consumes too much sugar, you put many parts of your body at risk, including the insulin producing cells. Continually having so much sugar from drinks like body armor will cause these cells to completely wear out, and your body won’t be able to make a drop of insulin any more. This will eventually lead to inflammation, which can damage your eyes, heart nerves, kidneys, and blood vessels.
There is no exact amount of sugar recommended for diabetics, as consuming sugar in this state depends on the individual’s extent of the disease. The American Heart Association advises that diabetics should limit their sugar intake to 7.5 teaspoons per day, or 6% of the calories consumed per day (on a 2000-calorie diet).
Is Body Armor Lyte good for diabetics?
Body Armor Lyte is an ideal sports drink for diabetics as it contains 2g of sugar and 20 calories. While it may not supply you with enough energy since it is low in calories, it could replenish your lost electrolytes after a long, tiring day. Ensure that you consult with your doctor if you have any worries.
Unlike most energy drinks that use cane sugar, Body Armor Lytes makes use of stevia and erythritol. Neither stevia nor erythritol are regarded as artificial sweeteners as they are derived naturally.
Stevia, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is beneficial to diabetics when used appropriately. Research conducted in 2018, by giving coconut jelly to participants revealed that stevia reduced blood glucose levels between an hour and two hours after consumption of the jelly, even before the secretion of insulin.
According to Body Armor Lyte’s company, the sports drink contains potassium-loaded electrolytes (530 mg of potassium), meaning it contains a high amount of electrolyte potassium. While this may not be effective in relieving the lethargy you experience as a diabetic from sodium-packed electrolyte drinks, it could still be helpful.
Other ingredients used, such as vegetable juice concentrate, coconut water concentrate, magnesium oxide, rebaudiana leaf extract niacinamide (vitamin B3), and calcium pantothenate( vitamin B5), all have little to no effect on diabetes in moderate amounts, especially the coconut water, which could help control blood sugar levels. The key to drinking body armor lyte as a diabetic is moderation.
Other sports drinks diabetics can have
While regular body armor for diabetics is the wrong option, body armor lyte and a few other sports drinks with zero or reduced sugar can be ideal to supplement lost electrolytes and abolish lethargy. Here are some diabetic safe sports drinks:
Redbull sugar-free
The traditional red bull energy drinks actually give you wings to heaven as a diabetic, making them not the best option as heaven can wait. However, their sugar-free option is a safer way to replenish lost energy. Instead of sugar, it makes use of sucralose, an artificial sweetener that has a relatively low calorie content and is safe for diabetics in moderation, according to MedicalNewsToday.
Monster Ultra Zero Sugar
Monster Ultra Zero Sugar is another energy drink diabetics can have. While it is low in sugar, it is also low in calories, which means you won’t be getting all that 100% boost like you would with an energy drink loaded with sugar and calories, but it will still go a long way in replenishing your lost strength. Just like Red Bull Sugar Free, Monster Ultra Zero Sugar makes use of sucralose and acesulfame-K as sweeteners, and they are both safe for diabetics in moderation.
Can diabetics have Body Armor? Final Thoughts
Diabetics should stay away from regular body armor drinks as they are loaded with sugar, which could negatively impact blood sugar levels. If at all possible, the better option is body armor lyte, which contains very little sugar and sweeteners, which can help reduce blood sugar levels when taken in moderation.
Coconut water would have been an ideal natural way to replenish lost electrolytes and regain energy, but it contains lots of natural sugar, which means you can only have it in moderation .
