Energy comes from food & drinks we consume for living & maintaining our physical health. No matter if you are a professional athlete in training, bodybuilder, fitness freak, or a regular individual willing to improve your mental & physical performance, nutrition is crucial for maximizing the benefits of your efforts. Sports nutrition is well-designed nutrition that helps active adults & athletes perform well and maintain optimal health. In addition, it keeps the body hydrated, well-functioning, and nourished with the right food type, nutrients, & energy. Hence, consuming good nutrition can enhance performance, prevent injuries, & promote quicker recovery.

Sports nutrition products have always been consumed primarily by bodybuilders & athletes. However, consumers, particularly the young population worldwide, are presently more inclined toward consuming these nutrients. Besides, sports nutrients are the primary factor attributed to the shifting consumer interest across various countries, including Brazil, toward recreation & lifestyle. As a result, the Sports Nutrition Products Market is expecting around 4.6% CAGR during 2022-27, cited a recent research study on account of the mounting awareness among Brazilians about nutritional supplements like creatine, protein, bicarbonate, beta-alanine, and caffeine.

Key Advantages of Sports Nutrition Products

• Boosts your endurance for longer training hours
• Enhances concentration and improves body composition & strength
• Prepares the body for the next day’s workout
• Helps in replenishing electrolytes
• Helps maintain a healthy immune system
• Minimizes the chances of injury
• Lowers the chances of heat cramps and GI distress
• Provides sufficient amount of protein to build muscles

What makes sports nutrition different from regular nutrition?

Sports nutrition differs from regular nutritional products. The athletes that do extensive workouts strain their bodies, hence, require more energy through different amounts of nutrients. Nutrient intake needs to be matched precisely to our bodies' requirements for optimal functioning. Moreover, athletes sometimes need additional energy during workouts (or before & after workouts), and eating regular food helps overcome this obstacle. Furthermore, sports nutrition combines natural foods with alternatives, such as carbohydrate gels, which provide a concentrated source of easily digestible energy. Additionally, as an athlete, the number of calories a person consumes would depend on various factors like gender, age, height, weight, body composition, stage of growth, level of fitness, and frequency & duration of physical activity. Hence, proper sports nutrition has to be customized to fit an individual's needs.

Different Categories of Sports Nutrition Products

According to the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA), Sport nutrition can be classified mainly into seven categories.

• Protein helps repair tissues and maintain healthy body weight & immune system.
• Carbohydrates provide extra energy. With the right amount, they also help increase your exercise capacity.
• Fat is an essential component of all cells in the body and provides the majority of energy for people who exercise moderately to vigorously.
• Electrolytes are salts that are part of body fluids, and we lose them when we sweat. It is vital to drink enough fluids during our workout to keep our bodies functioning properly & prevent dehydration.
• Amino Acids promote muscle recovery, repair, and growth.
• Creatine is used commonly for building muscles, improving recovery, & boosting performance in sprints.
• Caffeine promotes concentration, alertness, & performance so that you can train harder and longer. The reaction of our bodies to caffeine differs, so it is crucial to consume it carefully.

Significance of Flavors in Sports Nutrition

Nowadays, the flavor of a product plays a crucial role in both the initial purchase process & reorder decisions. According to some studies, over 75% of consumers are influenced by a product's flavor while purchasing a sports nutrition product. Standard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are becoming obsolete. Since customers nowadays require excitement & innovation, new & modern flavors in the supplements are preferred extensively over traditional ones, and flavor blends are gaining traction, with more than ever focus on more complementary & complex tastes.

Emergence of Sports Nutrition in Brazil

With the emergence of lifestyle diseases and the popularity of preventive medications, the adoption of sports nutrition products in Brazil has shown an immense surge in recent years. Additionally, there's increasing consumption of sports nutrition products among Brazilians for various applications, such as weight & energy management. The market is flooded with numerous pre-, post-, & during workout products, including gels, bars, RTD drinks, & gummies.

Nevertheless, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 has also increased the awareness about sports nutrition not just among sports athletes & bodybuilders but many regular individuals who have started consuming supplements to enhance their immunity and physical & mental health. In order to achieve these results, sports drinks, multivitamins & minerals, proteins, and amino acids are the most commonly consumed dietary supplements by consumers.

Final Words

The rapidly growing social media industry and the growing trend of health clubs offering energy drinks, nutrition supplements, & protein bars, as per consumer needs, is positively influencing the Brazil Sports Nutrition Market. In the coming years, various ongoing innovations by the leading food & beverage manufacturers on account of growing concerns about fitness & health among Brazilians would significantly propel the demand for sports nutrition in the country.