ACCELERADE, the only sports drink that contains carbohydrate and protein in a patented 4:1 ratio, provides rapid rehydration and helps athletes perform better and recover faster. What" s the 4:1? It" s the unique ratio of 4 parts carbohydrate to 1 part protein in Accelerade, that fuels superior endurance, performance, hydration and recovery. Until the late 1990s, exercise and post-exercise nutrition for athletes was all about carbohydrate. Then a group of leading exercise physiologists came together to formulate the next generation of sports nutrition products based on the very latest science. They discovered that a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate and protein significantly enhanced hydration, increased endurance, reduced exercise-related muscle damage, and accelerated post-exercise muscle recovery compared to carbohydrate alone.