What's the difference between Clif Shot Recovery and Accelerade?

Triathlon Forum
1

I recently started using Accelerade (orange) to see if I observed any noticeable benefit of consuming both protein and carbs during difficult sessions and races. I noticed that both the consistency and taste were very similar to the mango-orange flavor of Clif Shot Recovery so I decided to see if there was any clear reason why one should be marketed as a recovery drink and the other as a drink to be used during exercise.

When you look at the nutrition facts, they are both very similar.

Clif
Serving size: 40g, Calories 140, Fat 0g, Sodium 270mg, Potassium 130mg, Carbs 31g, Sugar 23g, Protein 5g

Accelerade
Serving size: 31g, Calories 120, Fat 1g, Sodium 190mg, Potassium 65mg, Carbs 21g, Sugar 20g, Protein 5g

So can anyone think of a good reason to support their different proposed uses or is it all just marketing? Has anyone used Clif Shot recovery during workouts? It seems like it might be a bit lighter given that it has less protein if you control for serving size.

2

Clif Shot recovery has Amino-acids in it… Glutamine in particular, which makes it more suitable for recovery.

But other than that they are similar, as Clif-shot recovery is a protein-light recovery drink, and Acclerade is a energy drink, with protein.

3

I recall once trying to read the fine labelling print to compare Accelerade w/ Endurox (same manufacturer), and the only difference I could figure out was that the prescribed serving of the recovery drink (endurox) was twice as concentrated. Since I liked the flavor of the endurox better (I had orange vs lemon-lime accelerade) I just cut it in half for my longer rides.