What's Inside

Sports Drinks

Sports drink beverages provide a variety of ingredients that are useful to those who are working out, training or competing in athletics. Some ingredients you may find in sports drinks include:

• Colors:  Many people don't realize how important color is to taste perception. Color affects our psychological impression of food. If you don't believe it, try eating a familiar food in the dark. The colors used in foods and beverages come from both natural and synthetic sources.
  
• Electrolytes:  Electrolytes are salts that conduct electricity and are found in the body fluid, tissue and blood. Examples are chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.
  
• Carbohydrates:  Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in the human body. Chemically, carbohydrates are organic molecules in which carbon, hydrogen and oxygen bond together. Our bodies break down carbohydrates during the process of metabolism to release energy.
  
• Vitamins:  Vitamins are nutrients required for essential metabolic reactions in the body. Vitamins can act both as catalysts and participants in the chemical reaction. Our bodies are only able to obtain vitamins they need from the foods and beverages we consume.