A Complete Guide to Quick Kick Sports Drink

What is Quick Kick Sports Drink?

Quick Kick is a sports drink marketed by the brand BodyArmor. It is designed to help athletes hydrate, replenish electrolytes, and obtain energy.

The key features of Quick Kick sports drink include:

• Contains carbohydrates from juices and added sugars
• Has electrolytes including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium
• Vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12 for energy metabolism
• Antioxidants from teas, berries, and vegetables
• Available in 9 flavors like fruit punch, blue raspberry, and orange mango
• Sweetened with sucrose and stevia

This lightly flavored sports drink aims to strike a balance between hydration, nutrition, and drinkability for athletes and active people.

Benefits of Quick Kick

Here are some of the advertised benefits of drinking Quick Kick sports beverage during and after exercise:

• Hydration - Fluid and electrolytes to replace sweat losses
• Energy - Carbs provide fuel for working muscles
• Muscle recovery - Electrolytes help reduce cramping and fatigue
• Vitamins - B vitamins aid energy production and synthesis
• Antioxidants - May reduce exercise-induced oxidative damage
• Taste - Lightly sweetened flavors for palatability

Nutrition Facts of Quick Kick

Here are some key nutrition facts per 8 fluid ounces serving of Quick Kick sports drink:

• 45 calories
• 11 grams carbohydrates (10 grams sugars)
• 35 mg sodium
• 90 mg potassium
• 10% DV vitamin C
• 100% DV vitamins B3, B5, B6
• 50% DV vitamin B12

It contains no protein or fat. The main sources of carbs are cane sugar and fruit juices. The calorie and carb content is lower compared to traditional sports drinks like Gatorade.

When to Drink Quick Kick

Sports drinks like Quick Kick can provide benefits during and after endurance exercise:

• During exercise - Sip every 15-20 minutes to maintain hydration and energy.
• Pre-exercise - Can drink 60-90 minutes before to top up fluids and carbs.
• Post-exercise - Help replenish fluids, electrolytes and energy after hard training.

For lower intensity or shorter duration activity under 60-90 minutes, water is generally fine for most people. The extra carbs and nutrients may be more beneficial for endurance sports over 1-2 hours.

Hydration Tips

Some tips for using Quick Kick to optimize hydration:

• Drink to thirst when exercising
• Weigh yourself before/after exercise to gauge fluid losses
• Drink 16-24 oz. per pound lost through sweating
• Sip small amounts frequently instead of guzzling
• Continue hydrating after finishing exercise

Comparison to Other Sports Drinks

Quick Kick has a different nutritional profile than traditional sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade. Here is how they generally compare:

• Calories - Quick Kick has 45 calories per 8 oz versus 50-80 for others
• Carbs - Quick Kick has 11g carbs per 8 oz versus 14-21g
• Sugars - Quick Kick has 10g sugars versus 14-18g
• Sodium - Quick Kick has 35mg versus 110-270mg
• Potassium - Quick Kick has 90mg versus 30-90mg
• Other Electrolytes - Quick Kick also contains calcium and magnesium

Quick Kick tends to be lower in sugars and higher in vitamins and electrolytes like potassium and magnesium compared to traditional sports drinks.

Low Calorie Alternatives

If you are looking for lower calorie sports drink options, consider:

• Diluting Quick Kick 50/50 with water
• Gatorade Zero - low calorie version with artificial sweeteners
• Nuun Sport - tablets add flavor and electrolytes to water
• Coconut water - naturally occurring electrolytes

Benefits of Quick Kick Ingredients

Some key ingredients in Quick Kick sports drink and their benefits include:

Water

Water comprises the bulk of any sports drink. It provides hydration and replaces fluids lost through sweat.

Sucrose and Fruit Sugars

The carbohydrates from added sucrose and fruit juices provide energy for working muscles. They help maintain blood glucose during endurance exercise.

Sodium

Sodium is a key electrolyte lost in sweat. It helps retain fluids, transmit nerve signals, and prevent muscle cramping.

Potassium

Potassium supports fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle contractions. Low levels can lead to cramping.

Calcium and Magnesium

These electrolytes support bone, muscle, nerve and enzyme function. Magnesium also aids energy production.

Vitamin B

B vitamins help convert nutrients to energy. Vitamin B12 is important for red blood cell formation and preventing anemia.

Quick Kick Use for Various Sports

Drinks like Quick Kick can benefit endurance athletes in sports including:

• Running - Marathon, cross country, track
• Cycling - Road cycling, mountain biking, BMX
• Triathlons - Ironman, Olympic distance
• Field sports - Soccer, lacrosse, rugby
• Racquet sports - Tennis, squash, racquetball
• Adventure racing - Kayaking, rock climbing, hiking

For stop-and-go sports like football, basketball, volleyball, or baseball, water is generally sufficient since play is intermittent.

Hydration Guidelines for Endurance Athletes

Endurance athletes should aim to:

• Drink about 7-10 oz. every 10-20 minutes during exercise
• Drink 16-24 oz. for every pound lost during activity
• Weigh before and after prolonged exercise to gauge fluid losses
• Continue hydrating with drinks containing carbs and electrolytes after finishing

Potential Concerns and Side Effects

While sports drinks like Quick Kick can benefit serious athletes, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:

• High sugar intake - The added sugars add up quickly, especially in larger sizes.
• Dental health - Sugar and acidity can erode tooth enamel over time.
• GI distress - Some ingredients may cause bloating, nausea or diarrhea in sensitive people.
• Artificial dyes - Coloring agents like Red 40 have been linked to allergic reactions in some.
• Unnecessary calories - Most people don't exercise long or hard enough to need the extra carbs.

Moderating intake, brushing after drinking, and proper hydration practices can help minimize risks.

Safety Tips for Children

When giving sports drinks to children, keep these safety precautions in mind:

• Dilute with 50% water to reduce sweetness and calories
• Limit to 1-2 servings daily at most
• Ensure proper dental hygiene to prevent cavities
• Monitor behavior and discontinue if signs of hyperactivity develop
• Have them drink plain water after activity to rehydrate

Alternatives to Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are not essential for light or moderate exercise under 60-90 minutes. Some alternatives to consider include:

Coconut Water

Coconut water provides fluids, electrolytes like potassium, and natural carbs. Look for unsweetened varieties with minimal ingredients.

Fruit Infused Water

Combine water with sliced fruit like citrus, berries, pineapple, or mango for light flavor and antioxidants.

Milk

Milk provides hydration along with protein, carbs, and electrolytes like calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Maple Water

Maple water from maple sap contains half the calories of coconut water. It provides manganese and zinc.

Water

Plain water is sugar-free, calorie-free, and affordable. It's the best hydration choice for most people exercising under 60 minutes.

Preparing Your Own Sports Drink

It's easy to make your own homemade sports drink using common ingredients:

Ingredients:

• Water
• Fruit juice like orange juice or berry juice
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: Honey, maple syrup or dash of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Combine 4 cups cold water with 1/4 cup fruit juice in a pitcher
2. Add a pinch of salt and stir to dissolve
3. Flavor with a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or squeeze of lemon
4. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to take on your activity
5. Sip 4-6 oz. every 15-20 minutes when active

Adjust the ingredients based on your taste preferences. Adding a bit of salt helps replace sodium lost through sweat.

Is Quick Kick Good for Runners?

Quick Kick can provide benefits for runners doing endurance training like marathons, but is not essential for casual jogging:

• Carbs - The sugars supply energy for long distance runs when glycogen gets depleted
• Sodium - Helps replace salt lost in sweat and prevent muscle cramping
• Potassium - Important for muscle function and preventing cramping
• Fluid - Improves hydration which is critical for running performance

For runs under 60-90 minutes, water is generally fine. The extra carbs and electrolytes in Quick Kick provide more advantages for marathon training runs.

Tips for Runners

Some tips for runners using Quick Kick or other sports drinks include:

• Test during training runs to see if beneficial
• Carry while running with a hydration belt or vest
• Drink every 20-30 minutes if running over 60 minutes
• Have it at water stations if racing a marathon or half marathon
• Continue drinking after finishing runs to rehydrate

Does Quick Kick Hydrate Better Than Water?

For serious athletes doing prolonged, intense training, Quick Kick can hydrate better than plain water.

Reasons sports drinks like Quick Kick can optimize hydration include:

• Carbs and electrolytes enhance fluid absorption
• The flavors encourage drinking more
• Electrolytes enhance hydration at the cellular level
• Carbs help retain fluids

However, for casual exercisers or activities under an hour, plain water is fine for hydration. The extra ingredients don't provide major advantages.

Hydration Tips

To optimize hydration:

• Drink when thirsty during exercise
• Sip small amounts frequently instead of guzzling
• Drink 16-24 oz of fluid for every 1 lb lost through sweating
• Weigh before and after workouts to gauge fluid losses

Does Quick Kick Have Creatine?

No, Quick Kick does not contain creatine. Creatine is sometimes added to sports supplements and protein powders to help boost strength and muscle mass by providing energy to muscles.

However, creatine is not found in mainstream sports drinks like Quick Kick, Gatorade, or Powerade.

The ingredients in Quick Kick are:

• Water
• Sucrose
• Dextrose
• Fruit juice concentrates
• Natural flavors
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Antioxidants from teas, berries, and vegetables

While Quick Kick can help provide energy from its natural sugars, it does not contain creatine or other muscle-building supplements.

The Bottom Line on Quick Kick

Quick Kick is a sports drink that provides fluids, electrolytes, B vitamins, and antioxidant support. It aims to hydrate and deliver energy during intense training.

While it can benefit serious endurance athletes who train for prolonged periods, plain water is fine for most casual exercisers. Quick Kick is not essential but can optimize hydration and energy if used properly.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.