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A sports drink is a beverage designed to help athletes rehydrate, as well as replenish electrolytes, sugar, and other nutrients, which can be depleted after strenuous training or competition. Companies marketing these products point out the fact that plain water, despite its association with good health, can actually be toxic if consumed in large amounts (cf. water intoxication). This can happen because overconsumption of water reduces levels of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium in the body by dilution, interfering with the nervous system. An example of a popular sports drink in the United States is Gatorade, which was introduced in 1966.

Currently the largest growing segment of the sports drink market is non-athletes.^[1] This market shift has led some sports drinks manufacturers to specifically target and develop products aimed at non-athletes, such as low-sodium or low-calorie sports drinks. Non-athletes who use sports drinks should also be aware that sports drinks for athletes are high calorie (water has zero calories), which will result in weight gain if consumed without a corresponding increase in exercise activity.^[2]

Sports drinks are not to be confused with energy drinks (e.g. Full Throttle, Lucozade, Mountain Dew AMP, or Monster Energy). Sports drinks are intended to replenish electrolytes, sugar, water, and other nutrients, and are usually isotonic (containing the same proportions as found in the human body). Energy drinks, on the other hand, simply provide lots of sugar and caffeine.

The sports drinks on the market today include Gatorade by PepsiCo, Inc., All Sport by Monarch Beverage Co., Powerade by Coca Cola, Accelerade by PacificHealth Laboratories, Lucozade Sport by GlaxoSmithKline, Cera Sport by Cera Products, and many others such as Pocari Sweat.

• Fluids and Hydration in Sport - includes a discussion of the role of hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic drinks.