The all-new POCARI SWEAT ION WATER

The latest offering from POCARI SWEAT, the new POCARI SWEAT ION WATER is the company’s answer to the Singapore government’s push to reduce sugar in beverages.

Launched in 2013 in Japan

First launched in Japan in 2013, POCARI SWEAT ION WATER is a light, clean-tasting beverage designed to optimally maintain ion balance and hydration in daily scenarios. From 2014, the beverage was launched overseas with Taiwan being the first country. Singapore is now the fifth country to offer this beverage.

The POCARI SWEAT ION WATER is making its Singapore debut at a good time too – because all government offices have taken the lead by only selling beverages that meet the lower-in-sugar guidelines advocated by the Healthier Choice Symbol.

As well, local schools are only offering drinks that are lower in natural sugars, and which do not contain any artificial sweeteners.

Helps the average person stay hydrated

Targeted at helping the everyday person stay hydrated, the new POCARI SWEAT ION WATER meets the lower-in-sugar content guidelines by the Healthier Choice Symbol. At 3 per cent, it is significantly lower than the requirement of 6 per cent of total sugar.

So this means that the new POCARI SWEAT ION WATER ticks all the boxes in terms of its health benefits.

Said Puspita Winawati, POCARI SWEAT Singapore Country Manager, “We are very excited to launch our latest product, POCARI SWEAT ION WATER in Singapore. As our company philosophy is about creating new products for better health worldwide, we are taking action to heed the government’s call for less sweetened beverages.”

She added, “We want to give the everyday individual – who might be in a dry air-conditioned environment throughout the day, a fuss-free hydrating solution with reduced sugar. There is no time better than now, to introduce a product that is light on sugars and on the taste buds.”

Sweetened with natural sugars

To enhance the taste, the beverage has been sweetened with natural sugars, such as the Luo Han Guo fruit extract – but without the usage of any artificial sugars.

Received a media drop of the POCARI SWEAT ION WATER

I recently received a media drop consisting of two 330ml bottles of the new POCARI SWEAT ION WATER beverage, together with some beautiful flowers – to enhance the media package.

And trying out the POCARI SWEAT ION WATER beverage, I would say that the new drink definitely tastes lighter and less sweet to my taste buds, as compared to the original iteration of POCARI SWEAT – which I sometimes find quite sweet – when I am taking it to hydrate myself throughout the course of a busy working day.

As well, I could feel its refreshing benefits at work almost immediately after drinking a bottle.

I am not sure if this could have been due to the placebo effect though, but I really did feel more hydrated and energetic soon after having some POCARI SWEAT ION WATER to drink.

POCARI SWEAT ION WATER contains essential ions

But this could also have been because the POCARI SWEAT ION WATER beverage also contains essential ions similar to a person’s body fluid composition, which is effectively absorbed into the body. This makes it the drink of choice to rehydrate the body.

If the body is dehydrated, it cannot perform at its optimum level and you may feel tired, experience muscle cramps, dizziness or other serious symptoms which can affect your daily life.

Most people assume that dehydration is only caused by prolonged exercise or the high humidity levels in our climate.

Causes of dehydration

But in actual fact, one common cause of dehydration is, in fact, the modern workplace environment because of its dry environment and low humidity and this in turn, causes a low water content in the atmosphere, leading to faster water loss in the body.

With office workers being exposed to the dry, air-conditioned environment during the workday, drinking beverages such as POCARI SWEAT ION WATER is therefore good to counter dehydration and maintain the body fluid balance.

And with more people exercising in air-conditioned environments due to the recent influx of new fitness trends, this means that more people could be exposed to dry air-conditioned spaces outside of work, which will make them even more prone to dehydration.

Said Lim Baoying, Sports Physician at Changi Sports Medical Centre, “The body loses water in several ways – through perspiration, respiration, bowel movements and urination. After perspiration is lost according to the level of physical activity, the humidity gradient difference between inhaled and exhaled air would cause the next largest source of body fluid loss.”

She added, “Hence, while exercising in a dry, air-conditioned environment, we are still expected to have fluid loss though we may not feel as sweaty as compared to exercising outdoors. A proper hydration fluid like POCARI SWEAT ION WATER would therefore be a suitable option for people who are in a dry, indoor environment throughout the day.”

Can be enjoyed both indoors and at room temperature

And according to POCARI SWEAT too, this beverage can be enjoyed straight from the fridge or even at room temperature, when you are indoors. So this means that you need not put your POCARI SWEAT ION WATER into the office fridge – and worry that your colleagues may accidentally take it.

When I tried the beverage, I had refrigerated it overnight, so it had tasted ice-cold upon my drinking it. As I prefer my beverages cold, I have not yet tried the POCARI SWEAT ION WATER at room temperature but I am sure that it would be just as refreshing, in order to meet my hydration needs.

Developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Like the original POCARI SWEAT drink, the new iteration has been inspired by the idea of a “drinkable IV” solution and it was developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical to quickly replenish water and electrolytes lost throughout the course of the day.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a total healthcare company that aims to treat illness and sustain day-to-day well being by researching, developing and selling highly innovative and creative products – in line with its corporate philosophy of creating new products for better health for people worldwide.