Clean, Functional, Science-Backed Innovation Is Redefining Performance Nutrition
Sports nutrition has entered a new era. Once dominated by whey and casein, the category is now driven by innovation in plant proteins, clear proteins, and multifunctional ingredient systems designed to meet the expectations of today’s active consumer.
Athletes are no longer satisfied with “high protein” alone — they want clean labels, better digestion, transparency, sustainability, and multifunctional benefits in every product. As RTD and RTM sports beverages grow, so does the demand for high protein solubility that delivers superior texture and taste without compromising nutritional value.
This is the next generation of plant protein, and Top Health Ingredients is leading the way with next-generation proteins and prebiotics engineered for the future of performance.
Why the Industry Is Moving Beyond Traditional Plant Proteins
For years, formulators struggled with plant protein powders due to challenges like:
- Chalky or gritty mouthfeel
- Earthy flavor profiles
- Sedimentation in RTD beverages
- Difficulties achieving whey-like smoothness
These limitations affected sensory experience and could lead to instability, poor dispersion, and heavy texture — particularly in high-protein beverage systems.
Today, advanced hydrolyzed plant proteins and plant based peptides have changed the game. Through precise enzymatic processing, modern plant proteins offer:
- Superior solubility
- Cleaner flavor profiles
- Low viscosity
- Smooth, stable performance in RTDs
We developed our protein portfolio to solve these exact challenges.
The Rise of Clear Protein: A New Class of Sports Beverages
One of the fastest-growing categories in sports nutrition beverages is clear protein drinks. Consumers increasingly prefer light, refreshing beverages over traditional creamy shakes after intense workouts.
Clear proteins make it possible to deliver:
- Crystal-clear beverages
- High protein content
- Minimal sedimentation
- Heat and pH stability
- Light, refreshing flavor profiles
These plant-based peptides dissolve completely, creating transparent formulations suitable for:
- Clear hydration + protein waters
- Performance teas
- Sparkling protein beverages
- Electrolyte/protein hybrid drinks
- Post-workout recovery waters
As demand grows globally, plant-based clear peptides provide a scalable, reliable solution for sports beverage brands.
Whey Extension: A Strategic Response to Supply Volatility
The sports nutrition market is also experiencing significant whey shortages and cost instability, putting pressure on manufacturers who rely on dairy proteins.
As whey prices rise and global supply fluctuates, formulators are increasingly adopting whey extension strategies using plant-based peptides — especially in clear beverages.
Plant-based soy, pea, and rice peptides offer:
- Comparable protein quality + PDCAAS score
- Dissolvability for clear RTDs
- Clean-label positioning
- Competitive, stable pricing
- Growing consumer demand
- More sustainable sourcing
This makes plant-based peptides an ideal partial or full replacement for clear whey isolates and hydrolysates.
Hybrid beverage systems of whey and plant peptides are becoming increasingly common, and our ingredients are engineered to support these advanced formulations.
AdvantaRice™ Peak: Solubility & Smoothness for Modern Performance Nutrition
AdvantaRice™ Peak is a hydrolyzed rice protein developed to dissolve entirely in solution that is optimized for:
- RTM and RTD protein beverages
- High-protein smoothies
- Clear and semi-clear performance drinks
- Functional bars and baked snacks
Key benefits:
- Instant dispersion in hot or cold water
- Reduced viscosity for smooth beverage systems
- Improved flavor and mouthfeel
- Neutral color and excellent sensory performance
AdvantaRice™ Peak is a standout solution for formulators seeking a clean-label, allergen-friendly protein with exceptional solubility.
Functional Beverages 2.0: Drinks That Do More
Sports beverages are no longer just for hydration or recovery.
Today’s athletes want multi-functional drinks that support:
- Gut health
- Digestion
- Immunity
- Muscle recovery
- Hydration
- Energy and metabolic balance
This is where AdvantaDextrin™, a non-GMO resistant dextrin prebiotic from Top Health Ingredients, delivers essential functional performance..
AdvantaDextrin™ adds functional value without affecting taste or texture. It is:
- Completely soluble in water
- Neutral flavor and color
- Low viscosity and excellent clarity
- Supports gut microbiota balance
- Synergistic with protein absorption
- Highly stable across pH and processing environments
Formulators can use AdvantaDextrin™ to create sports beverages that go beyond protein, delivering digestive support, smoother texture, and enhanced nutritional value — all without impacting sensory performance.
Formulation Insights: How to Build Next-Gen Sports Nutrition
Creating modern sports nutrition products requires more than simply selecting a high-quality protein source. To deliver the smooth texture, clean flavor, and functional performance consumers expect, formulators must take a strategic approach to ingredient selection and process optimization.
One of the most effective methods is to combine complementary plant proteins, such as AdvantaRice™ and AdvantaPea™, to achieve a more complete amino acid profile while enhancing mouthfeel and overall sensory performance. Hydrolyzed protein powders like rice, soy, and pea peptides can further improve clarity, solubility, and viscosity control, making them ideal for RTD systems where sedimentation and separation have historically been challenging.
Prebiotic ingredients also play an important supporting role. Incorporating options like AdvantaThrive™ IMO or AdvantaDextrin™ can contribute to smoother textures, add subtle sweetness, and support digestive comfort without altering flavor or creating unwanted thickness. These prebiotics integrate seamlessly with soluble proteins, providing both functionality and a well-rounded consumer experience.
Hydration efficiency is another key consideration, especially in RTM applications. Ensuring the correct particle size distribution and optimizing hydration time helps maintain consistency, prevent clumping, and produce a clean, instant-mixing final product. This step is essential for brands positioning their products as high-performance solutions that deliver convenience without compromising quality.
Formulators can create next-generation sports nutrition systems that rival the sensory familiarity of whey while delivering the clean-label benefits of plant-based innovation by combining complementary proteins, leveraging the benefits of hydrolysis, incorporating digestive-supporting prebiotics, and optimizing hydration properties.
Partner with Top Health Ingredients
Whether you’re developing clear RTDs, hybrid whey–plant blends, prebiotic protein waters, or high-protein performance snacks, Top Health Ingredients provides the expertise and consistency you need.
With third-party testing, non-GMO sourcing, certified quality, and OSOTET reliability (On Spec, On Time, Every Time), Top Health Ingredients is your partner for building the future of sports nutrition.
Connect our team today to explore bulk clear protein and prebiotic solutions, request samples, or discuss your formulation needs.
