Sports and energy beverages often are lumped into the same product category. Such products are fundamentally similar: They each typically contain energy-rich carbohydrates and other performance-enhancing ingredients wrapped in an attractive flavor system. Despite these similarities, however, the two product types serve very different purposes.
How much is enough? A sports drink with less than 5% of carbohydrates is not optimal in providing performance-enhancing energy to the drinker's muscles and may shorten exercise duration. Levels above 10% overload the body's active transport mechanism, which, in turn, impedes fluid absorption. The optimum carbohydrate content for a sports drink is roughly in the range of 6% to 8% (14 to 19g) per 8-oz. serving.