ULTIMA: With all of the advances in science and particularly in the area of sports nutrition, I am amazed by the absence of appropriate recommendations available to competitive and recreational athletes regarding hydration. Too much attention is focused on the latest ergogenic sports nutrition products such as Creatine, Testosterone, Hgh and Erythropoietin to improve performance. Very little attention is paid to proper hydration, and the critical influences that minor changes in our diet can have on the absorption of fluids.

Our society has accepted the consumption of sugar in copious amounts and has ignored the dangers of long term consumption of artificial sweeteners. Constant consumption of large sugar loads (30-70 grams per 20-ounce serving) places an inordinate load on the pancreas and on insulin production. Studies have confirmed that the resulting physiological response to huge swings in blood sugar levels leads the consumer back to the same beverage to repeatedly lift energy levels; hence, the "yo-yo" effect. Even the current new age botanical beverages from SoBe, Snapple, and others contain comparable large sugar loads.

The extensive use of artificial sweeteners over long periods to reduce calories but maintain the sweet taste has been proven dangerous. There are many examples of food and beverages that have been withdrawn from the market place after science had proved that these substances were dangerous to the population. Today, there is considerable concern over the current crop of artificial sweeteners. Including phosphoric acid in all cola beverages (regular or diet) contributes to the leaching of calcium and other minerals from the body. The heavy dependence on caffeine and/or the moderate use of alcohol can cause a further diuretic effect on the kidneys. The significant loss of many minerals and vitamins from our food supply attributed to the exhaustion of the soil diminishes the probability or replacement once achieved from a good diet.

The body requires eight glasses of clear fluids every day, preferably water, to maintain proper hydration and normal body function. Using this standard would classify almost all Americans and most athletes as chronically dehydrated. When physical activity is added to the picture, 4-6 ounces of additional fluid are required for every 15 minutes of activity. The American College of Sports Medicine promotes this gold standard. During physical activity, the body utilizes fluids and every nutrient available to it to produce performance. The same demands are made for recovery. Yet, the rehydration products produced by some companies only address one nutrient element, or at most a few elements ignoring the rest that have been expended in activity.

Well know body cycles utilize nutrients. ATP and Krebs are just two examples. These cycles include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other co-factors. Without any of them, the cycle cannot be completed. Another example of a required group of nutrients is the B vitamin group. All of the Bs are required in order to maximize their potential. In a healthy diet, these nutrient elements will be found in food in groups in their natural ratio. You will not find a food with a single amino acid, or only one or two B vitamins, or calcium without magnesium. The RDA for sodium is 500 mg per day yet the RDA for potassium is 2,000 mg per day. Nevertheless, most food companies add more sodium to their products for taste and have ignored the need to balance sodium with magnesium. Only a few companies have realized this and have made the effort to keep their sodium/potassium ratio at 1:2. This has been important to my company in the formulation of Ultima Repelenisher.

Remember hydration and replacement of essential nutrients is paramount to performance. Every muscle cell in the body is depending on what is replaced to keep you going as well as to control body temperature and other functions. Most people do not realize that the synovial fluid in our joints and in particular in our knees is dependent on adequate hydration to maintain the levels at "normal." If this critical level drops it can change the biomechanics of the joint, which can lead to injury. Typically this happens in the late stages of an event as one becomes fatigued and the level of hydration drops.

It is very important to consider when athletes hydrate. Many think of this only during or after a hard workout or long run, or on race day. Hydration is an every day process. We eat every day without thinking about it, but we do not experience thirst in the same manner as we experience hunger. You would not think of driving your car without knowing that you had the proper fluid levels, but many athletes over look this basic need when using their bodies. If an athlete were working out for thirty minutes to an hour daily, I would recommend consuming 20 ounces of Ultima Replenisher each day. If these workouts last longer than an hour or if the conditions are extremely hot & humid, I recommend replenishing with proportionately more. Hydration is something healthy athletes do seven days a week!

Ultima Replenisher was designed and has been field proven with world class athletes and hundreds of thousands of competitive athletes. Today, there is no better product available to help your readers experience the advantages possible from proper hydration and nutrient replacement. It works.

GATORADE: Over the last several years, a new category of beverages, called "energy drinks" has emerged. Energy drinks are often confused for sports drinks. It is important to distinguish the difference. First and foremost, the carbohydrate content of most energy drinks is at least 50% greater than what is in Gatorade. The high carbohydrate content of an energy drink slows the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal fluid absorption increasing the risk for stomach upset during exercise. The high carbohydrate content also diminishes the characteristics needed to enhance drinking for adequate hydration. Often, energy drinks contain central nervous system stimulants such as caffeine and guarana that can increase urine production and further contribute to poor hydration. Other common ingredients in energy drinks such as selected herbs and specific amino acids have little scientific backing for inclusion and some even appear on banned substance lists of sport governing organizations. The best approach is to consider products that are safe and based on sound sport nutrition practices. Preventing dehydration during exercise is just as important as maintaining energy delivery. Gatorade is one of the few products that has achieved the delicate balance of both and truly is the leader of the sports drink category.

GPUSH: (EDITOR'S NOTE: We asked these people for a more complete explanation of their unique carbohydrate choices, and their tiered approach to matching fluid replacement drink to duration of exercise. Here is that they wrote).

Rationale for the Carbohydrate Type and Quantity in G-Push Formulations

Introduction

Our diet consists of various types of carbohydrate found in unitary or polymeric form either exclusively or in combination (McCance & Widdowson). We are presented with a diverse spectrum ranging from glucose as monomer, through disaccharides such as sucrose consisting of glucose and fructose, lactose consisting of glucose and galactose to complex polysaccharides consisting typically of repeat units of glucose such as found in starch.

The enzymes necessary for digestion of these carbohydrates and mechanisms for their absorption exist in the GI tract for all the common forms found (Marieb). There are significant differences in the way in which carbohydrates from more than one source are digested and absorbed in terms of both the mechanisms of uptake and the final monomeric sugar units formed. These features determine the selection of specific carbohydrates as to type and quantity within each of the G-Push formulations.

The over-riding influence for formulation of a sports drink would be to incorporate into its design features which permit the desired metabolic objectives when that drink is consumed (Lamb 1994, Gisolfi 1994, Maughan & Leiper 1995). Such is the nature of individual sports and susceptibility of the athlete to different physiological constraints at different times during exercise, that a single sports drink would be a compromise. For these reasons the specific design of G-Push formulations use carbohydrate types and quantity appropriate to recognised phases of activity and demand (Coombes & Hamilton 2000).

Exercise depletes the body of energy reserves, especially glycogen; it also produces heat, which is dissipated by the evaporation of sweat. Thus the two key features which limit performance are hydration and energy. The extent and duration of any bout of exercise determine the balance and rates of loss of these components and is influenced dramatically by the type of exercise, the status of the athlete and pertaining environmental conditions (Alonso 1998, Hargreaves 1991).

A typical athlete will progressively dehydrate during exercise and during the initial phase the primary requirement is replacement of lost fluid. G1 (Hydration) is suitable both before and during exercise to limit this problem. Most athletes will enter exercise with full energy reserves so during this initial phase hydration is much more of an issue than energy. G1 (Hydration) is a rehydration/energy drink. As exercise continues a phase is entered where energy reserves become more of an issue and the additional requirement changes and becomes biased towards energy replacement. G2 (Momentum) is suitable during longer lasting exercise because it is an energy/rehydration drink. However, continuing progressive serious exercise results in a phase that necessitates a mandatory requirement for both more energy and fluid, if performance is to be maintained. G3 (Endurance) is a higher energy density rehydration drink. Finally a recovery phase is necessary to restore the body to its optimum state. During this phase both fluid and energy deficits should be addressed and corrected. G4 (Recovery) is a drink of high energy density designed to replete fuel stores and aid rehydration after exercise in as short a time as possible.

The types and quantities of carbohydrate within a sports drink have important implications for its ultimate digestion, absorption and assimilation. These range from osmotic constraints determined by actual osmolality (Hunt & Pathak 1960), which effects both gastric emptying and initial fluid exchange within the gut (Elias et al 1968); carbohydrate content (% carbohydrate) which affects gastric emptying (Foster 1994, McHugh &Moran 1979, Murray 1987); digestive constraints determined by the nature of the bonds needed to be broken by gut enzymes, absorption constraints determined by the nature of the transporter needed to move carbohydrates from gut to bloodstream (Wright et al 1997, Solberg & Diamond 1987; to metabolic constraints which facilitate opportune involvement of the carbohydrate into metabolism (McDonald 1990).

The design of each G-Push formulation is based on the best use of specific carbohydrate(s) for the provision of the most appropriate balance between fluid and energy during the different phases of exercise.

In detail these formulations are:

G-Push 1 Hydration

The carbohydrate in this formulation is D (+) galactose. Galactose at 2.5% w/v does not produce a hyperosmolar solution. Together with NaCl at 35mM, the conditions exist for sodium co-transport of this sugar from the lumen of the gut into the bloodstream. Movement of galactose and sodium ions is the primary stimulus for the uptake of water. Carbohydrate, in this case in the form of galactose, is essential for this process. This facilitates fast fluid absorption. Thus this formulation will be suitable for rapid rehydration. Further galactose does not induce a primary insulin response so eliminating the danger of a reactive hypoglycaemia (McDonald 1990, Ganda et al 1979). G1 is a rehydration/energy drink; though primarily supplying rapid fluid uptake it does provide some energy.

Features

1. Enjoy rapid gastric emptying (its hypotonic)
2. Not pull fluid into the gut (its not hypertonic)
3. Will be absorbed rapidly (sodium co-transportable sugar)
4. Very fast fluid absorption (galactose & sodium co-transporter)
5. Does not induce a primary insulin response (no danger of unstable blood glucose level i.e. highs & lows)
6. Galactose can be used to make liver glycogen or produce glucose in the liver as conditions demand.
7. Promotes fluid retention (inclusion of sodium)

G-Push 2 Momentum

The carbohydrates in the formulation include galactose, maltodextrin and fructose. At 7.5% w/v these constituents permit the drink to be marginally hypotonic (almost isotonic) and thus do not cause hypersmotic problems. The galactose content 2.5% w/v provides the same benefits as G-1.

The maltodextrin content contributes to the sustained production of glucose, which does, after absorption, introduce an insulin response, but since both galactose & fructose do not have primary insulin responses the overall insulin produced by intake of the drink is reduced. Further glucose will also use the sodium co transport system to facilitate rapid fluid absorption. Both galactose and fructose do not need enzymic hydrolysis and are more immediate sources of carbohydrate than maltodextrin. It is likely that combination of glucose, fructose and galactose is a very effective source of energy for athletic performance (Jeugendrup & Jentjens 2000). In addition it is known that combinations of these substrates can enhance overall water absorption (Shi et al 1995, Shi & Gisolfi 1998). Therefore the higher and combined carbohydrates content of this formulation is suited ideally to optimise delivery of energy with effective rehydration. Thus the carbohydrate content of this drink provides both energy and rehydration over a period but balances more on energy than rehydration.

Features

1. Enjoy rapid gastric empting. (its hypotonic and carbohydrate is not greater than 8%)
2. Not pull fluid into the gut (its not hypertonic)

Phased energy delivery

1. Rapid absorption of galactose part (sodium co-transportable sugar)
2. Sustained absorption of glucose from digestion of maltodextrim (sodium co-transportable sugar)
3. Slower absorption of fructose (does not use sodium co-transporter)
4. Facilitate fluid absorption (linked to galactose and glucose sodium co-transporter)
5. Galactose & fructose can be used to make liver glycogen or liver glucose.
6. Glucose can be used to make liver glycogen or be used in working muscle
7. Reduced insulin response (includes galactose and fructose)

G-Push 3 Endurance

The carbohydrates in this formulation include Galactose, Maltodextrin & Fructose. At 10% w/v this is a hypertonic solution designed to provide energy in situations when energy is the prime consideration. Although this solution will provide rehydration this is not as rapid as in either G1 or G2 because the drink is hyperosmotic and energy dense. Nethertheless the design is one to provide energy before rehydration and it does this in much the same way as G2 in terms of phased energy delivery. Due to the inclusion of galactose there will be reduced insulin release (as in G2, since both galactose & fructose do not have primary insulin responses the overall insulin produced by intake of the drink is reduced.).

Although it is known the solutions greater than 8% w/v carbohydrate delay gastric emptying the higher concentration of carbohydrate means that a sustained energy delivery to the gut is possible from the stomach. In situations where energy is the crucial key factor G3 not only provides more energy, and supplies it in an efficient combination of carbohydrate types, but also will supply it in an easily assimilated form together with essential fluid for rehydration.

Features

Phased high-energy delivery

1. Absorption of galactose part (sodium co-transportable sugar)
2. Sustained absorption of glucose from digestion of maltodextrin (sodium co-transportable sugar)
3. Slower absorption of fructose (does not use sodium co-transporter)
4. Facilitate fluid absorption (linked to galactose and glucose sodium co-transporter)
5. Galactose & fructose can be used to make liver glycogen or liver glucose.
6. Glucose from maltodextrin can be used to make liver glycogen or be used in working muscle

G-Push 4 Recovery

It is known that the best time to replace lost reserves of glycogen in muscle and liver after an event is immediately and no later than the 1.5 hours following, by ingestion of carbohydrate-rich sources (Hargreaves 1991, Ivy et al 1988). The carbohydrates in this formulation at 12 % w/v are designed to provide rapid and efficient repletion of these reserves. The fact that the drink is hypertonic is of minor importance since gastric emptying, though delayed, is not halted and intestinal aborption is slightly prolonged ensuing that a high concentration of sugar is absorbed over the required period to sustain full repletion of glycogen reserves in liver and muscles. It is very important for an athlete to replete energy reserves and restore euhydration efficiently and quickly when major events and heats are spaced closely in time.

Features:

1. High density of carbohydrate energy.
2. Combination of carbohydrates promotes rapid restoration of energy reserves.
3. Specific carbohydrates restore both liver and muscle glycogen.
4. Sustained energy release in the critical period after exercise.
5. Galactose and fructose restore liver glycogen
6. Glucose from maltodextrin restores both liver and muscle glycogen