Patent ID: 7582324

Claim:
In a proficiency beverage comprising predominantly water, said proficiency beverage being scheduled for use by individuals having prolonged strenuous exertion tending to cause detectable dehydration, the improvement which consists of: [a] controlling the pH of said proficiency beverage to be within the range from pH 3.2 to 3.5 by reason of an edible acid; [b] controlling the proportion of higher carbohydrate to be within the range from 2% to 7% by weight; and [c] controlling the composition of the higher carbohydrate to be a polyglucose powder haying an average molecular weight from about 3140 to about 3760 by reason of corresponding to about 20 to about 24 glucose units per molecule, said powder being prepared by spray drying of an aqueous dispersion of the product from enzymatic degradation of corn starch, said proficiency beverage having an osmolality that is hypotonic with respect to body fluids in both the stomach and upper intestine, said proficiency beverage providing energy for the body during a longer time than beverages focusing on lower carbohydrates for energy.