DrinkFacts
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  • Hydration + electrolytes

Sports drinks

Sports (electrolyte) drinks are designed to help rehydrate, refuel and support performance. They typically contain water, carbohydrates and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium — built for sustained, strenuous physical activity.
What's inside

Key ingredients

Tap any ingredient to learn what it does in the bottle.
Water
the base
learn more
Sugars
fuel and flavour
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Flavours
distinctive taste
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Sodium
key electrolyte
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Potassium
muscle and nerve support
learn more
Colours
consistent look
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The science of sweat

How much sodium
does a run cost you?

The average recreational runner loses roughly 120 mL of sweat per kilometre, and a litre of sweat carries about 600 mg of sodium. Slide it to see roughly how much you'd lose on your next run.
DISTANCE 1 km
1 KM 5 KM 10 KM HALF MARATHON
SWEAT LOST

0.12 L

SODIUM LOST

72 mg

Estimates only. Real losses vary with body size, heat, humidity and effort.

Built for endurance

When water isn't
quite enough

For most everyday activity, water does the job. But once intense exercise stretches past about an hour, the fluid, carbohydrate and electrolytes that sports drinks deliver can help maintain performance and recovery.
  • Designed for 60+ minutes of sustained, strenuous activity
  • Replaces sodium and potassium lost through sweat
  • Available in sugar, low-sugar and no-sugar varieties

Regulation

How are sports drinks regulated?

In Australia, sports (electrolyte) drinks are regulated as conventional foods under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), to ensure they're safe and properly labelled.

Health and nutrition claims made on these products are strictly regulated, including the composition rules that define an electrolyte drink — formulated for the rapid replacement of fluid, carbohydrate and electrolytes during or after 60+ minutes of sustained strenuous physical activity.

Learn how to read drink labels
Visit FSANZ
Did you know

The facts

Sports drinks were originally developed for athletes to replace fluids and electrolytes during prolonged exercise.
Most Australians get enough hydration from water, but sports drinks can help endurance athletes, competitive players or anyone exercising intensely for more than an hour.
The Food Standards Code defines an electrolyte drink as one formulated for the rapid replacement of fluid, carbohydrate and electrolytes during or after 60+ minutes of sustained strenuous activity.

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