A proficiency beverage having a pH within the range from about 3.2 to about 3.5,
and containing about 7% polyglucose having about nine glucose units per molecule
is prepared by a method involving a degradation of starch by enzymes followed by
spray drying to prepare a polyglucose powder having an average molecular weight
corresponding to about nine glucose units per molecule, preparing a solution of
about 0.2 molar citric acid, dispersing such polyglucose in such acidic solution
to provide a dispersion containing about 30% of the polyglucose, adding salts,
artificial sweeteners, and other flavors to such dispersion, and then diluting
with about three parts of water to provide such pH range from 3.2 to about 3.5,
said beverage being hypnotic both in the stomach and in the small intestine, thereby
rehydrating the body both more quickly and more durably than conventional sports beverages.
