Take It Personally
Outside Magazine|December 2019
CUSTOMIZED SPORTS DRINKS AND SHAKES ARE THE LATEST INNOVATION IN THE QUEST TO BOOST PERFORMANCE. HOW MUCH CAN THEY HELP AN EVERYDAY ATHLETE?
Graham Averill
Take It Personally

I’VE JUST FINISHED a grueling 30-mile bike ride, and I’m sipping a recovery shake mixed from a sleek black packet. It has 27 grams of protein, because I’m trying to gain muscle, and omega-3 fatty acids to keep me feeling full. Beetroot boosts my endurance, and anti-inflammatory green bell pepper keeps me from getting sore. The mix was designed specifically for me by Kyoku, a California-based startup that launched in 2018.

Kyoku is one of many companies offering tailor-made performance fuels. In addition to Kyoku’s, I tested products from four others, including meal-replacement shakes from iFit Nourish and sports drinks by Infinit Nutrition. Each begins its personalization process with a survey: Kyoku and iFit focused on my lifestyle and diet, asking questions like how many servings of fruit and hours of sunlight I get each day. Infinit took things a step further: customizing my drink involved a short phone call with a nutritional consultant. Most of these companies operate on a subscription-style model. So, after perfecting my special mix, I could sign up for monthly shipments that cost roughly $40 to $85.

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