Sports Recovery Drinks
The value of protein in recovery drinks is doubtful. For more
information about the role of protein and fat in recovery, see page 66
.
The only electrolyte that has consistently been shown to be
important for athletes is sodium, and only when more than several quarts (liters) of fluids have been
lost. For more information about
sweat mineral losses, see page
21
.
These are marketed as a source of fluids, calories, electrolytes,
protein, and occasionally fat for use after exercise.
Table 23
, below, lists selected sports recovery drinks. These
typify manufacturer offerings. The inclusion of products and the omission of others is not an endorse
ment of the products listed or a
criticism of those omitted.
Nutritional contents are based on information provided on the
manufacturers’ websites, accessed October, 2004.
Label conflicts are relatively common and are noted. Small
differences may be explained by rounding.
Providing fluids and calories is the primary athletic need.
Providing protein is the marketing hook. If it was not for the protein, recovery drinks might be indistinguishable from traditional sports drinks.
Image
Manufacturer
Total Calories(16 oz)
Carb Cal (% sol’n, total grams, complex grams)
Protein Cal(grams)
Fat Cal (total grams, saturated grams)
Sodium, mg
Potassium (mg)
Other
Recovery Drink Product
smartFUEL smartfuel.com
290
236 (12% 59, ?)
44 (11)
18 (2)
340
Multivitamins/minerals, L-carnitine, L-ketoglutaric acid, N-acetylcysteine, betaine HCl, inositol
BioFIX Peach mango
CytoSport cytosport.com
696
144 (7%, 36, 20)
208 (52)
324 (36, 16)
200
480
Multivitamins/minerals Dose is 2-4 scoops per 12 ounces. Content is given for 4 scoops in 16 ounces.
Cytomax Recovery Endurox R4 Lemon lime
PacificHealth Laboratories pacifichealthlabs.com
360
280 (15%, 70, 16)
70 (17)
10 (1)
280
160
L-arginine, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium
Nutrition for Sports, Essentials of 101
