If you’re feeling fatigued, the problem might be hiding in your drinking cup

If you’re feeling fatigued, the problem might be hiding in your drinking cup.

An HSI member named Betty writes…

“Gatorade is thought to interfere with thyroid function. Is it true and could that be why I am so tired, even though I take my prescription faithfully?”

The answer is…maybe.

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) can impair thyroid function. And until recently, Gatorade contained BVO. Earlier this year, Pepsico (the maker of Gatorade) execs said they would stop using BVO in Gatorade.

Of course, major product changes don’t happen overnight. So there’s a good chance that Gatorade with BVO is still on store shelves. Meanwhile, many other soft drinks contain BVO. These include Powerade, Fresca, and others.

That could spell big problems for millions. Brominated sedatives (no longer in use) were once linked with depression, memory loss, irritability, and confusion. And animal studies have associated BVO with fatigue, as well as heart and kidney damage.

Sources:
“Pepsico Ditches BVO in Gatorade; Are You Still Drinking It?” Yahoo News, 1/25/13, news.yahoo.com