When developing a functional drink, beverage-makers have to choose ingredients that will offer desired benefits to the consumer. For Washington, D.C.-based Advanced Nutrient Science International’s Xtreme Shock ready-to-drink (RTD) performance beverages, the brand used the carbohydrate glycerol as a “hyper-hydration” ingredient to replenish lost fluids and hydrate muscle tissues in order to reduce fatigue and boost performance, says Joe Sammarco, vice president of sales. It also used Octopalean, a natural thermogenic ingredient that increases metabolism, stimulate lipolysis and promote insulin sensitivity, he adds.
When creating its N.O-Xplode powder for sports nutrition, Bio-engineered Supplements and Nutrition Inc. (BSN)chose to include citrulline and beta-alanine, says Jeff Brucker, brand manager for new product innovation at the Boca Raton, Fla.-based company. Beta-alanine supports the buffering of lactic acid, which is associated with fatigue, muscle soreness and cramps, and citrulline promotes nitric oxide synthesis, he says. Nitric oxide causes increased blood flow to skeletal muscles to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen and metabolic fuel, according to the New York Academy of Sciences.