What Is Actually in Your Athlete’s Sports Drink? A Practical Look at Food Dyes, Focus, and Fuel

Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Published on: 08/29/2026

Sports drinks can be useful, but your athlete doesn’t need one for every practice. Learn what to look for on the label, when sugar and electrolytes serve a purpose, what the research says about food dyes, and why energy drinks belong in a different c