Omega 3 sports drink to fight muscle damage

05 Feb 2020 --- Omega 3-rich sports drink Enhanced Recovery has officially launched on the market following a collaboration of two beverage industry veterans – Phil Marineau and Harry Drnec – former CEO of Pepsi-Cola North America and former CEO of Red Bull UK respectively. The “groundbreaking” beverage is designed to aid athletes in complete muscle recovery after rapid and intense workouts using omega 3 fatty acids, in addition to proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and antioxidants. The launch marks the latest in the growing and diversifying market for sports nutrition.

“This entry into the sports recovery market represents an entirely new category in the sports nutrition industry,” says Marineau, Chairman of Enhanced Recovery.

Intense training or competition naturally causes micro-tears and other damage to muscle cells. Enhanced Recovery is formulated with whey, collagen and sunflower proteins to supply the nine essential amino acids that activate and maintain muscle protein synthesis, the physical process responsible for repairing and building new muscle.

“Today’s elite athletes are keenly aware of the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids,” says Drnec. Widely recognized for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce muscle damage, soreness, stiffness and augment strength gains from resistance training.

Innova Market Insights data notes a 17 percent average annual growth of beverages tracked with “Added Protein” and “High/Source of Protein” claims (Global, 2015-2019). While protein enrichment in sports nutrition has been on the rise, the combination of ingredients in Enhanced Recovery takes a new approach to recovery, focusing on omega 3s. Additionally, the beverage is designed to support the critical final step in the muscle recovery process – muscle repair and remodeling.”

The sports nutrition category is diversifying to meet personalized needs.The beverage was researched and invented by Janne Sande Mathisen, a food and nutrition scientist from Oslo, Norway. Enhanced Recovery features a combination of stabilized omega 3s (820 mg DHA, 550 mg EPA, 230 mg ALA), a matrix of 20 g of proteins (16 g whey and 4 g collagen with 2 g leucine and 0.5 g carnitine). It also contains nutrient-absorption-stimulating carbohydrates, vitamins D and E and natural antioxidants in a fruit juice beverage.

Sports nutrition in the spotlight
NPD in the sports category is thriving as niche markets emerge. In the plant-based space, ioPea Protein has come up with a pea protein that it says is the first to compare with whey protein in terms of bioavailability. The pea protein can easily be added to beverages, making it an option for vegan sports nutrition.

Protein water has also seen some interesting growth expansion. Last year at FiE, Arla Foods Ingredients launched a next-generation protein water that is free from taste and off-flavors. With an easy-to-formulate beverage option, the company anticipates that protein water could become a mainstream option to anyone living an active lifestyle.

Meanwhile, FrieslandCampina launched a full recovery protein water, which targets consumers with an active lifestyle. The beverage contains minerals and carbohydrates that it says are essential for the full recovery after a workout.

As the category for functional food and beverages proliferates, personalization is expected to be increasingly important. By appealing to certain demographics and lifestyles, the active nutrition sector has large growth potential.

By Missy Green