Sweating makes us feel good... of course, we're talking about sweating when we exercise (under other conditions, sweating may not be pleasant!). The physical exertion of exercise or sports increases our internal body temperature, and sweating is the main way we release that "excess" heat. While sweating is natural and necessary, it causes loss of water and electrolytes.
Maintaining adequate electrolyte levels, especially sodium, is crucial for stable body function. Rapid loss of these minerals through excessive sweating reduces blood volume, making it less fluid and more difficult for the heart to pump. In addition to regulating body temperature, nutrient absorption and muscle contraction are affected when we become dehydrated; some of the most common symptoms are nausea, cramps, weakness, and headache.
La bebida para deportistas más famosa (Gatorade) was developed in the mid-1960s. A team of scientists led by Dr. Robert Cade had been commissioned to treat the extreme dehydration observed among the University of Florida football team after playing games in high temperatures. The winning formula consisted of potassium salts, sodium salts, sugar, and lemon juice. The undeniable improvements in the athletes' performance catapulted this drink to fame, which by 2018 had reached more than $5.5 billion in sales (in the United States alone).
The sports drink market is highly segmented. The specific needs of athletes vary depending on factors other than exercise intensity, such as age, gender, and the climatic conditions under which they practice.
Despite segmentation, every sports drink is designed with a common purpose: to optimize the body's hydration rate. Many formulations contain additional ingredients to address specific needs, but the core objectives remain:
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Promote rapid fluid absorption
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Supply energy to improve performance
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Increase physiological response
Worldwide, the market share of sugar-free sports drinks is growing. At the same time, leading brands are positioning themselves with formulations containing sugar blends. Carbohydrate intake during high-intensity sports has a performance-enhancing effect thanks to the rapid recovery of lost energy reserves when adequate amounts of sugar are ingested.
The isotonic nature of a sports drink is essential to ensure its functionality. The exact term is iso-osmotic, since the drink must have the same amount of particles or solutes (osmolality) as blood plasma. However, sports drinks are also known as isotonic or sports drinks.
Although, as mentioned above, the sugar-free isotonic drink segment is gaining ground, it has been proven that water absorption is more efficient when, at an appropriate dose, combinations of sugars, for example, glucose and sucrose, are used. When properly balanced, these can maximize solute absorption without adding excessive sweetness and calories.
Cosco Flavors of Central America offers applications to prepare hydrating drinks according to the particular concept you wish to promote in the market:
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Formulations with sugar mixtures, reduced sugar or sugar-free.
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Concentrated or powdered applications that allow athletes to add electrolytes to their water, in addition to flavor notes.
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Designs without color or with natural colorings for a growing audience looking for beverages without artificial colorings.
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Formulations with additional nutritional ingredients, such as vitamins, to address the needs of consumers seeking multifunctional solutions.
Our offerings are highly flexible, for example, with innovative or non-traditional flavors such as tea extract and fancy flavors. We also offer developments with the addition of natural energy-boosting ingredients, fruit juices, and naturally derived sweeteners.
About us…
Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica offers innovative alternatives in flavors and ingredients. Our portfolio of beverage and food applications is continuously growing to provide timely responses to market demands. We have the technical tools to address the particular needs of beverage and food flavor system applications, designing tailor-made proposals. Our technical advisory team provides support throughout the development process. We are sure that in Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica you will find an integral solution partner for your products.
1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1048937/sports-drink-brands-in-us-dollar-sales/
2. Functional Foods: Principles and Technology. Sports Drinks. Mingro Guo. 2009
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