Compare recovery drinks and blends on what's actually in a serving: protein or amino acids, carbohydrate, electrolytes and anything else, plus the cost per serving. "Recovery" is a product name, not a proven effect, so we focus on the ingredients and amounts.
All amino acids & recovery · Post-workout · EAAs · Glutamine · Electrolytes · Carbohydrate powders
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What is a recovery drink?
A recovery drink is a mix taken after training that usually combines some of: carbohydrate, protein or amino acids (such as EAAs, BCAAs or glutamine), and electrolytes. What's in it varies a lot between products, so read the full ingredients list.
The British Dietetic Association suggests that for quick recovery you start refuelling with carbohydrate-rich foods and fluids as soon as possible after exercise. A normal meal or snack can do this too.
Do recovery drinks work?
There's no authorised "recovery" claim for any blend. The GB authorised claims list has claims for protein, such as "Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass", but only for foods that are at least a source of protein. Many amino acid blends aren't.
For some ingredients the evidence is weak: a 2017 review concluded that BCAA supplements alone do not promote muscle anabolism. So compare a blend with plain protein powder and a carbohydrate source before paying more.
How do you compare recovery blends?
Compare the grams of each main ingredient per serving and the cost per serving. A blend with many ingredients may contain only small amounts of each.
How to compare value (example figures, not real products): a £30 tub with 20 servings costs £1.50 a serving. If each serving has 20g of protein, that's 7.5p per gram of protein; a blend with 5g of amino acids at the same price costs 30p per gram.
We sell the products on this page. That's our commercial interest, and it's why we show the evidence alongside them. This page is general information for adults, not personalised medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Written by Andy Arshad, SupplementHQ. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.