Recovery drinks have become very popular over the last few years. Many of them have some special formula that promises to cure hangovers, increase energy at the gym, reduce post-exercise muscle soreness, and quicken recovery. The staff at FBWorld is always skeptical of drinks that promise so much. Because our staff is made up of equal parts wine reviewers and health freaks, when we received samples of Code Blue, it got instant attention.

The makers claim that Code Blue is “the world’s first complete recovery drink.” (It’s manufactured under the supervision of the Kashruth Division of the Orthodox Union and is kosher certified bearing the OU symbol.) In short, Code Blue is promised as a super tonic.

It’s made with all natural ingredients and contains no preservatives. There are only 40 calories, 9 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Plus, it contains the same ratio of electrolytes as Pedialyte and three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink. The product is all natural in order help you feel better faster by helping the body combat dehydration, replenishing vital nutrients, removing harmful toxins, and reducing inflammation.

So, to test out just how effective Code Blue was, we divided our samples among our wine reviews and our staff’s resident exercise nut. Two of our wine reviewers tested code blue for it’s effectiveness at curing hangovers. After a long day of tasting wines (without spiting as they normally do) and finishing off a few glasses at the end, for good measure, each took a can of Code Blue. After a few hours, both were feeling refreshed and ready to join the rest of the team for our typical Friday night festivities. The next day both of them admitted they didn’t feel 100%, but they certainly felt better than expected.

Our exercise nut is a frequent consumer of sports drinks, and he really appreciated all the extra electrolyses. The drink really did preform well for him; he noticed that each time he took Code blue within forty-five minutes his workout, his body felt more refreshed the the next day. His only reservation about the drink is its syrupy consistency. While not as thick as Pedialyte, it’s not as smooth as Gatorade. If you have a irritable stomach, the fairly dense, syrupy consistency might throw you off. Additionally, if you simply prefer lighter, more delicate flavors, you may want to stick with Gatorade like sports drinks.

All in all, it comes down to recovery verses taste. Code Blue is very effective at replenishing and nourishing your body after a hard workout, but the taste and consistency is not likely to be as appealing as other sports drinks. Still, Code Blue certainly helps your body to work its way back from hard exercise or a bit too much to drink. We would recommend trying a can for yourself and seeing if you like it.