As sports professionals or enthusiasts increase, so does the demand for sports nutrition products, be it hydration drinks, energy bars and gummies, supplements, etc. In fact, projections from the global firm Euromonitor estimate that, in Mexico, this industry will grow at an annual rate of 7%, reaching, in 2027, 15.3 billion pesos…and that is just in retail sales.
However, it is a highly fragmented market, with options and ingredients so diverse that they can confuse the consumer. There are important areas of opportunity to enrich this sector and pedagogical work is needed, because choosing the most convenient option is not an easy task, especially if you are an amateur athlete. So, leading by example, if that were your case, here is an idea that will serve as a guide to understand what type of food or drink you require.
You must familiarize yourself with the physiological needs required by the discipline you practice to look for the food that offers you the correct combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates that are quickly or slowly absorbed, depending on sweating and energy needs. Generally speaking, to put it simply, we can group sports into four categories.
1. Endurance (cycling, athletics, skating, climbing): you require ‘stamina’, so you look for products with both slow and fast absorption carbohydrates; and drink moisturizers constantly, but not intensely.
2. Aquatic activities (swimming, water polo, surfing): you sweat less from being in contact with water, therefore, you need less electrolytes, but more slowly absorbed carbohydrates.
3. Power/indoor (crossfit, gym, kick-boxing, TRX): they involve the greatest sweating, so optimized hydration drinks are ideal under constant consumption; and due to its high intensity, you must also combine slow and fast absorption carbohydrates.
4. Equipment (football, tennis, rugby, squash, basketball): they are high pressure, requiring ‘sprints’ energy and high sweating rates, therefore, you use formulas rich in electrolytes and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates.
Having said the above, we can see the relevance of there being a differentiated offer to really provide what each type of athlete occupies. In this sense, my vision for the future of the growing sports nutrition industry is that, to prosper, it will have to focus on one fundamental aspect: nutritional efficiency.