Sports drinks are designed to deliver a balanced amount of carbohydrate and fluid to allow an athlete to simultaneously rehydrate and refuel during and after exercise.

Sports gels are a highly concentrated source of carbohydrate (65–70% or 65–75 g/100 ml) in a form (“honey consistency”) that is easily consumed and quickly digested.

Sports confectionery, often called “sports chews” provide a highly concentrated source of carbohydrate in a chewy jelly bean/jube form that is easily consumed and quickly digested.

Sports or energy bars provide a compact and portable source of carbohydrate that can be easily consumed before or during exercise to contribute to carbohydrate intake targets.

Electrolyte replacement supplements are powders, tablets or ready to drink products designed for replacement of fluid and electrolytes (in particular, sodium and potassium) lost through sweat or other body fluids.

Protein occurs in all living cells and has both functional and structural properties, accounting for ~15-20% of total body mass.

(Bar, Powder, Liquid Meal)

Mixed macronutrient supplements provide a compact and practical source of variable amounts of protein and carbohydrate, plus micronutrients, for use in situations where it may be impractical to eat, or access, whole foods or when appetite is suppressed.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our diets. About 1% of the calcium in our bodies is used to support metabolic functions, including muscle contraction. The other 99% is found in bones and teeth where it provides both a structural and functional role. Bone is a dynamic tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. The balance between bone resorption and rebuilding determines whether there is an increase in bone mass (childhood and adolescence), a relative balance of the peak bone mass achieved in adulthood or bone loss (ageing, especially in post-menopausal women).In addition to maintaining both short- and long-term bone health, calcium plays an integral role in nerve impulse conduction and muscle contraction, regulation of blood pressure and maintaining a regular heartbeat, blood clotting, maintain water balance, secretion of hormones and normal brain function. Consideration of the need for calcium supplementation should only come after review of current dietary intake. Where dietary calcium intake is considered inadequate, incorporating more calcium rich foods in the meal plan is generally advocated, unless otherwise medically informed.medically informed.

Folate is the commonly used group name for folic acid and its derivatives with similar activity. Folate is also known as vitamin B9 and folacin.

Iron is a fundamental mineral involved in energy metabolism, oxygen transport, cognitive function and immunity. Iron is a fundamental mineral involved in energy metabolism, oxygen transport, cognitive function and immunity.

Vitamin D is classified as a fat soluble vitamin which acts functionally as a hormone and has a structure that is similar to steroid hormone.

Zinc is a trace element, widely distributed in the human body that plays a critical role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, as well as immune function and expression of genetic information.

Following ingestion, caffeine is rapidly absorbed and transported to all body tissues and organs where it exerts a large variety of effects.

The current interest in ß-alanine was initiated by research from Professor Roger Harris (who also lead the original studies into creatine supplementation) and colleagues who found that chronic supplementation with ß-alanine leads to an increase in muscle carnosine content and subsequently improves high-intensity cycling capacity.

Dietary nitrate may be used to enhance the availability in the body of a molecule called nitric oxide (NO).

Bicarbonate is an endogenously produced extracellular anion, and an integral component of the body’s primary pH buffering system.

Creatine is a non-essential nutrient that is endogenously synthesized (about 1 g/d) and also ingested through the diet (about 1 g/d).

The oral ingestion of glycerol can be used to facilitate better retention of ingested fluids, which may be of benefit to athletes in sports where hydration status may be compromised due to prolonged and/ or intense exercise in thermally challenging environments and/ or when fluid access may be restricted.