Dryll: This sports drink confuses me
Former professional footballer and ultra-runner André Schürrle has launched a sports drink called Dryll. With a high salt content and an interesting taste. Nevertheless, the drink leaves me frowning.
A sports drink that isn't overly sweet? The flavors "Salty Cherry", "Salty Peach", and "Salty Watermelon" sound promising. I have long since had enough of the usual syrup-like sports drinks.
Electrolytes in cans
For testing purposes, I received four cans of Dryll in the aforementioned flavors from the importer. Salty Peach is included twice. "Performance Hydration" is written on the can, which can be loosely translated as "performance-oriented fluid intake." It sounds cooler in English, of course, even though Dryll is a German company.
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According to the manufacturer, a 330-milliliter can contains 500 milligrams of sodium, 300 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium. The sodium content, in particular, stands out and is intended to be exactly what distinguishes Dryll from other drinks. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at this ingredient.
According to common recommendations, sports drinks should contain 400 to 800 milligrams of sodium per liter of fluid. Dryll has 1500, which is two to three times that amount.
In drinks and food, sodium usually occurs as sodium chloride, i.e., as salt. With four cans of Dryll, you would have covered your entire daily salt requirement – provided you consume nothing else. No bread, no cheese, no sausage, no olives, and nothing else that contains even a pinch of salt.
A lot of salt – is that good?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends consuming a maximum of five to six grams of salt per day. In Switzerland and Germany, the figures are significantly higher: according to the Swiss Salt Study 2022/23, adults in Switzerland consume an average of 8.7 grams of salt daily. This puts them about 75 percent above the recommended maximum levels. In Germany, too, according to figures from the German Nutrition Society, salt consumption for 70 percent of women and 80 percent of men is above the WHO maximum.
The situation is different for athletes: they lose sodium and other electrolytes when sweating. If the sodium level drops too low, it can lead to a drop in performance and even severe impairment. The water balance is disrupted by the lack of sodium, and blood volume decreases. Anyone who drinks water without electrolytes during long periods of exertion risks hyponatremia, also known as water intoxication. It can lead to unconsciousness and even death.
However, this is very rare and is usually more the consequence of too much water than too little salt. Salty sports drinks are only recommended for exertion lasting more than two hours and involving heavy sweating (1.2 liters per hour).
Furthermore, salt has recently gained a reputation as a performance-enhancing agent in the bodybuilding and fitness scene because it is said to promote muscle growth and positively influence the insulin response. However, research does not currently support this approach.
Electrolyte drinks can be absorbed particularly well in the intestine when the sodium concentration is between 500 and 700 milligrams per liter, which is about a third of what Dryll offers. Fluid absorption is said to be improved by a carbohydrate content of four to eight percent. Dryll contains no carbohydrates. The sweetness is created by the sweetener stevia.
This drink confuses me
I have already guzzled one can of Dryll. Salty Peach. And I have to admit: I like the combination of sweet, sour, and a little salty. The drink has something fresh and exciting about it and stimulates my taste buds in an unexpected way.
Since it comes in a can and contains carbonation, it falls into the "everyday drink" category for me. But for that, the salt content is definitely too high for me. This is not just my personal taste: studies have shown that additional salt intake outside of training provides no benefit for athletes.
So, I pour the drink into a flask and take it with me on a 10-kilometer run. I don't tolerate carbonation well while running. So, I shake the soft flask and let the bubbles escape. The can says that Dryll tastes best ice-cold. In the running vest, the drink inevitably gets warm. The taste suffers, but it is still better than that of many other sports drinks.
In fact, I finish the 330 milliliters during the ten kilometers. That is more than I usually drink. I suspect that the taste motivates me to keep drinking and the salt stimulates my thirst. Otherwise, I cannot detect any effect. The magnesium and potassium also contained in the drink do not change my performance.
Whether I actually need so many electrolytes for such a short distance, I don't know. A sweat test would be necessary for that, as you can do during a performance analysis. Or with a device that continuously measures the salt content of your sweat. These devices contain sensors that send the mineral content and the recommended amount of electrolytes directly and in real-time to your smartphone or sports watch. There will be more of these in the future. I was already able to take a look at a few prototypes at recent sports trade fairs.
The next attempt
From experience, I know that I don't have particularly salty sweat. Even during long, hot races, there are almost no salt stains on my sportswear. And when I swallowed a salt tablet on a trail in the summer, my stomach complained promptly.
As a sports drink, Dryll is therefore not particularly well-suited for me. Especially since it contains no carbohydrates to provide an energy boost and promote fluid absorption. Instead, Dryll is sweetened with stevia. However, Dryll is also available as a powder and then without carbonation. As soon as we have it in our range, it is certainly worth a test.
On the weekend, another longer run was on the agenda: 27 kilometers with 550 meters of elevation gain. I didn't have Dryll with me. But as soon as I got home, I grabbed a can from the fridge to compensate for the electrolyte and fluid loss. Here, the salt content and the fresh taste came in handy. However, after long exertion, I like to eat a normal meal, which compensates for my electrolyte balance anyway.
In a nutshell
Interesting taste, unclear application
Pro
- interesting taste
- high proportion of electrolytes
Contra
- more of a lifestyle drink than a sports drink
- Carbonation is unsuitable for many endurance sports
- salt content too high for daily use
- no carbohydrates for better fluid absorption
Research diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
