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Arla Foods Ingredients has introduced Programer, a high-protein beverage concept for gamers who want to ‘level up’ their nutrition.
The RTD solution features energy-boosting ingredients alongside clear whey protein isolate Lacprodan SP-9213. The concept is high in essential and branched-chain amino acids and is designed to meet the needs of esports enthusiasts seeking to boost both their health and gaming performance.
Cido Silveira, Arla Foods Ingredients marketing and business development manager, South America, said: “There’s a stereotype of gamers bingeing on unhealthy snacks and guzzling down energy drinks, but a new, nutrition-focused generation is emerging. They want to maintain their energy and concentration levels over marathon sessions, but they also want the many benefits that high-protein products offer.”
He continued: “Programer allows manufacturers to formulate unique, refreshing, clear, high-protein solutions for gamers who want more from their energy drinks”.
Arla Food Ingredients stated that the concept combines protein with amino acids as research found that consuming essential amino acids leads to improvements in attention and cognitive flexibility, while a study on esports athletes showed that sufficient protein intake is associated with improved cognitive performance in gaming.
A 310ml can of the beverage concept contains 15g of protein, including 3767mg of branched-chain amino acids, as well as taurine, magnesium, zinc, caffeine and vitamins A, B3, B6 and B12 to support essential gamer needs such as concentration and vision. In addition, the concept is free from sugar, fat and lactose and contains only 60 calories per can.
Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase the Programer concept at the Nutri Ingredients Summit in São Paulo, Brazil, on 23-24 April 2024.