The use of sports drinks and other food products have come to dominate the athletics industry as a means of electrolyte replenishment to improve phys. exertion. The strenuous phys. activity that athletes experience each day often results in the loss of essential electrolytes from their bodies through rapid perspiration. While these electrolytes contribute to the maintenance of the internal water balance, they also regulate the conduction of elec. signals across the nerves that direct muscle contraction and relaxation. In an attempt to prevent the occurrence of muscle cramping, many athletes rely on sports drinks and other remedies to reintroduce these vital electrolytes back into their bodies. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was utilized in order to analyze the concentrations of the electrolytes that are critical to physiol. function, including magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), and potassium (K+), in an assortment of popular sports drinks and food products that are commonly consumed by athletes. The analytes that were examined through AAS include dill pickle juice, sweet pickle juice, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, Powerade, Gatorade, Smart Water, E-Lyte Sport, and Propel. While the magnesium and the potassium concentrations differed quite considerably amongst the analytes, the calcium concentrations experienced less pronounced variations. In addition, sodium was observed to have the highest concentration in a majority of the analytes as it was heavily incorporated to promote rapid rehydration in an effort to regulate electrolyte balance. These electrolyte concentrations were then further studied through a comprehensive evaluation of the recommended dietary allowance and the maximum daily intake levels for electrolytes in order to determine the most appropriate sports drink or food product that should be used by athletes to alleviate muscle cramps.