GoodSport Nutrition, a Chicago-based startup, has launched its 97% milk sports drink, GoodSport, which is sold on Amazon and the GoodSport Nutrition website.
Executive director and founder Michelle McBride said she was “frustrated” with the lack of selection of sports drinks and, after being helped by the dairy checkoff and other dairy groups, decided to do something about it.
“I didn’t want my son to have artificial-ingredient sports drinks that were offered at his baseball games,” said McBride. “I gave him chocolate milk after training as a healthier alternative and it was the inspiration to use milk as a source of hydration during physical activity.”
According to a press release, milk provides the necessary electrolytes and carbohydrates that the body uses to rehydrate and re-energize after physical activity. The company claimed some scientific studies showed that milk is better hydrated than other sports drinks and water.
However, the consistency and slow digestion of protein prevented plain milk from being a viable alternative. McBride’s company developed the formula of a clear milk-based drink that provides less sugar and more electrolytes than competing sports drinks. It also contains calcium and B vitamins, is lactose-free and does not require refrigeration.
Dairy Management Inc. helped McBride bring their vision to life by connecting with industry experts and promoting their product. Greg Miller of the National Dairy Council is also a member of the GoodSport Nutrition Scientific Advisory Board. McBride grew her business quickly through Dairy Farmers of America’s 90-day start-up program.
“GoodSport wears the healthy halo of dairy,” said Marilyn Hershey, Pennsylvania dairy farmer who serves as chairwoman of DMI. “Not only does it provide delicious refreshments and nutrients from dairy products, but it also supports our industry’s sustainability mission. This gives people a new way to talk about milk, which is exciting for dairy farmers.”
McBride also received support from Kimberlee Burrington, Dairy Ingredients, Cultivated Products and Beverage Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Dairy Research. Burrington helped McBride learn about ultrafiltration, which helped turn milk into “a clear, light drink with a mouthfeel that consumers expect from a sports drink,” while preserving electrolytes and other nutrients.
GoodSport also uses permeate, the by-product of ultrafiltration, to make cheese and other dairy products that are often viewed as waste. McBride’s product was later tested for hydration at Pennsylvania State University. The study found that the drink hydrated for two hours at a time.
“Having spent my career in hydration and exercise performance research, I know that milk contains the ingredients for superior hydration, but no one has ever found a way to turn milk into an extremely effective and refreshing sports drink,” said Bob Murray . Co-founder and former director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute who helped oversee the formulation of GoodSport. “It’s exciting to be part of the team that brings something completely new to the sports beverage category with superior hydration.”
