Take It Personally

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

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.