User:Jabaker75/CeraSport

Manufactured by Cera Products Inc. of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (formally of Columbia, Maryland) USA, CeraSport is a rice-based oral rehydration and performance drink, which restores essential salts and fluids, to prevent and correct dehydration and enhance athletic performance. Developed along with physicians at Johns Hopkins University, the manufacturer claims that this rice based drink is easier for the body to absorb than any sugar-based sports drink, although these claims are based on unrelated medical research and do not necessarily correlate with athletic hydration.

Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Drink vs. Water Only
The objective of hydration during physical activity is to “prevent excessive dehydration and excessive changes in electrolyte balance to avert compromised performance.” Maintaining proper hydration requires more than water given that water lacks essential electrolytes used to maintain a positive fluid balance.

Research shows that dehydration, decreased plasma sodium concentration and an increased risk of hyponatremia can occur during prolonged exertion when only sodium-free fluids are consumed to replace sweat losses. Sweat contains sodium, chloride, and potassium which CeraSport is designed to replace. CeraSport also contains citrate which is also helpful with acidosis. The replacement of water with an electrolyte solution, such as CeraSport, guarantees the absence of hyperhydration or water intoxication. “Our body’s cells are bathed in water and salt that are regulated within narrow limits. If you drink too much water and dilute the outside area around the cell, it swells. This can lead to brain swelling, convulsions and death.” See The Full Article When a beverage containing low sodium is consumed instead of water alone, the relative sodium deficit can be minimized. As a result athletic endurance is improved and performance is prolonged.

Overall:


 * 1.	Maintaining proper hydration requires more than water
 * 2.	Correctly formulated electrolyte solutions maintain a positive fluid balance that water cannot
 * 3.	Correctly formulated electrolyte solutions can help prevent water intoxication
 * 4.	Correctly formulated solutions can improve athletic endurance and prolong performance

Nutritional and compositional information
Ingredients: Rice syrup or rice syrup solids (for powders), trisodium citrate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, citric acid in some flavors, sucralose in some flavors, and natural flavors. Cera Sport is a kosher, fat free, lactose free, gluten free, and salicylate free product with a Natural Product Association (NPA) Tru-label.

Cera Sport is available in powder, concentrate or ready to drink form in several flavors including Citrus, Fruit Punch, and Berry.


 * More Nutritional Information

Recent Studies
Scientists at John’s Hopkins University completed a study on the comparison of CeraSport, a simple sugar based drink, and water. While equal results were shown for each product, 6% carbohydrates were needed in the glucose based drink in comparison to 4% carbohydrates in CeraSport. Over short time periods in highly trained athletes, differences are difficult to show.

Studies have shown that “sports drinks with appropriate and adequate concentrations of electrolytes and carbohydrates promote maintenance of homeostasis, prevent injuries, and maintain optimal performance.” CeraSport contains 40 grams of rice carbohydrates and zero added simple sugar carbohydrates, as opposed to common sports drinks which contain zero rice carbohydrates and 25 grams of simple sugar carbohydrates (concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and/or dextrose).

The large molecules of rice carbohydrates enable lower osmolarity, than simple sugars. Rice provides more effective and sustained fluid absorption, to help performance. Any fluid with an osmolarity below 300 is absorbed quickly and effectively. The osmolarity of a typical sports drink is 365 or more, due to the high sugar concentration. Osmolarity of CeraSport is no higher than 150 because it is formulated from a mixed-chain rice carbohydrate, rather than sugar. CeraSport has 20mEq/L of sodium, unlike the 16mEq/L found in typical sports drinks. Typical sports drinks give a short-lived sugar high. The blend of complex rice carbohydrates and low osmolarity in CeraSport also helps minimize adverse GI problems such as cramping, diarrhea and nausea associated with many sports drinks.

Competition
Cera Sport's main competition is Gatorade, POWERade, Lucozade energy drink, and All Sport.