WO2014040090A2

WO2014040090A2 - System of assessing physiologic status from sweat analysis and determining an appropriate response

Info

Publication number: WO2014040090A2
Application number: PCT/US2013/063104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boaz ROSENBLAT; Joshua J. KUNIS
Original assignee: Rosenblat Boaz; Kunis Joshua J
Priority date: 2012-09-04
Filing date: 2013-10-02
Publication date: 2014-03-13
Also published as: WO2014040090A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel set of test strips for testing human sweat of a subject during and after exercise for various substances. A scale accompanying the strips correlates test results to the physiological state of the subject. The invention further provides methods of using the strips to assess the metabolic state of the subject, to recommend appropriate nutritional replenishment based on the test results, and to recommend modifications of continued activity to greater or lesser intensity and duration based on the test results and the subject's exercise goals.

Description

System of Assessing Physiologic Status from Sweat Analysis and Determining an

Appropriate Response

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Prov. App. No.

61/696,733, filed on September 4, 2012, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This is an application for a patent for a system and process whereby the sweat of a human subject is tested with a specially calibrated test strip during or after exertion, the data therefrom is used to assess the physical condition of the test subject, and, based on the resulting assessment, either an appropriate amount and type of hydration and nutrition may be recommended to the test subject, or recommendations may be made for adjustments to the intensity and duration of an exercise program, or both.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The human body uses three macronutrients from consumed food to provide energy, categorized generally as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are energy substrates composed of large, complex molecules with chemical bonds holding them together. The body must metabolize, or break down, these large molecules into a form that the cells can use. Chemical pathways in the muscle cell break the chemical bonds, creating several smaller molecules that the cell can use to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule actually used for the majority of cellular functions, through an oxidation process. The breakdown process and rate and the energy yield are different among the different energy substrates. Carbohydrates, which are rapidly converted to sugars during digestion, are stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. Carbohydrates are the primary source of rapid energy production in the body, while fatty acids from fats and amino acids from protein work as secondary backups. Fats, stored as triglycerides in muscle tissue, the liver, and adipose cells, are important for long term energy storage, and provide the most energy yield per gram. Amino acids from proteins are also metabolized for energy during exercise, and various amino acids also perform other bodily functions, such as forming structural components like collagen and connective tissue, inducing muscle movement, regulating bodily mechanisms, and transporting substances about the body.

[0004] The utilization and depletion of each of the three macronutrients during exercise will depend on a number of factors. One of these is the body's fuel status before and during exercise. If muscle glycogen stores are already depleted when exercise is begun, the muscles will use a larger proportion of fat and protein. Conversely, if the body is well-fueled with glycogen, the muscles will consume these readily available ingested carbohydrates and less of its fat and protein stores during a prolonged exercise bout. Nevertheless, the body does not ever use one substrate exclusively during exercise or at rest— all three macronutrients continuously supply energy, although the relative proportions of each vary.

[0005] Although the muscles use all three macronutrients for cellular energy, the most readily available substance is the glycogen from carbohydrates. However, the body has limited carbohydrate stores. Increasing levels or duration of exercise will deplete these glycogen stores, causing the body to increase its breakdown of fat and protein as energy sources. When proteins and fats are consumed as energy sources during physical activity, the body must utilize a more complex and time-consuming process to produce the energy.

[0006] Every individual has a different capacity to maximize the use of carbohydrates as fuel, by slowly increasing glycogen storage capacity and also by enhancing the body's ability to burn fat rather than muscle. There are a multitude of factors that can influence a person's ability to adapt to continued physical exertion, including genetic makeup, individual conditioning, proper nutrition, and environmental factors. Total body weight also has an effect on the amount of glycogen stored as well as the amount of glycogen burned. The larger the body mass, the more glycogen it can store; but a larger body correspondingly burns a higher amount of energy when performing activities. At any given point in time, individual athletes competing in the same event will each have different requirements with respect to nutritional intake to maximize their performance. Moreover, even a single individual athlete will have varying nutritional requirements depending on such factors as initial nutritional status, level of conditioning, and environmental factors. These varying parameters make it difficult for people to determine their appropriate behavior regarding exercise and nutritional replenishment.

[0007] During physical exertion, people perspire, or produce sweat, from the eccrine glands distributed widely over the body surface. Sweating serves primarily to counteract rises in body temperature caused by an increased metabolic rate, but also to remove wastes and toxins from the body that are byproducts of the metabolic process. Human sweat consists primarily of water, a byproduct of the oxidation involved in energy production, along with minerals, lactate, urea, and ammonia, as well as smaller amounts of other organic and inorganic compounds. The minerals commonly found in sweat include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and trace amounts of several metals, chiefly iron, zinc, and copper. Chloride and bicarbonate ions are also detected. Lactate (C₃H₅O₃), is produced as a byproduct of glycolysis, the metabolic breakdown of glucose, which is the primary source of energy during exercise. Urea (CO(NH₂)₂) is produced by the oxidation of amino acids, or proteins, a secondary energy source. A related compound, ammonia (NH₃), is also produced from the metabolic breakdown of amino acids during strenuous exercise.

[0008] The pH of human sweat, a measure of the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration, commonly varies between slightly acidic and neutral values. The pH varies with the sweat rate. When the sweat rate is low, pH can reach values as acidic as 5, but alkalinity tends to increase with increasing sweat rate. Individual sweat rates can vary widely, influenced by factors that include intensity of exercise, environmental conditions, gender, body size, and level of conditioning. Several studies have correlated increasing ammonia levels in sweat with increasing pH levels, finding a significant and positive correlation between sweat NH₃ and H+. This correlation is not unexpected, since ammonia is an alkaline substance (high pH). Other studies have correlated increased ammonia levels in sweat with increased blood plasma ammonia levels, and connected both of these with increasing duration and intensity of exercise and with decreased levels of glycogen storage, as may be seen in the table reproduced in Figure 4.

[0009] The traditional technique of obtaining human sweat for analysis has been the

"whole body washdown," which involved exercising within a plastic enclosure to collect the sweat and then washing down the body and enclosure with de-ionized water. Other techniques for analysis of sweat have included patches or capsules to collect sweat for later analysis. An electronic device that measures the sweat on the body has also been used, but it is limited to testing only pH. All of these methods involve considerable expense, inconvenience, and delay in obtaining results. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that the composition of sweat is fairly consistent across the body's eccrine glands, and that sampling from a small area can produce results that are representative for the entire person.

[0010] During strenuous exercise, as sweating increases, the body utilizes or otherwise loses not only water, but many other substances, including electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium), sugars, vitamins, and proteins. Various byproducts of metabolic reactions begin to accumulate in the body. As stated earlier, when protein is metabolized, ammonia is created as a byproduct. Increasing levels of ammonia are toxic to the body, so some is excreted in the urine and sweat. As this less ideal, secondary energy source is used, increasing amounts of toxic byproducts are produced, and the body begins to experience increasing levels of fatigue and degradation of performance. When the sweat contains increasing levels of ammonia, it is an indication that the body has depleted increasing amounts of carbohydrates as an energy source and is using fat and protein as secondary energy sources. Determining the ammonia levels in their sweat and using that information to assess their current physiological status can enable individual athletes to choose appropriate behaviors in light of their goals for the exercise session.

[0011] While no current studies provide exact quantities of glycogen storage relative to the amount of ammonia secreted in sweat, the ammonia concentration provides a qualitative indicator of increasingly larger amounts of muscle breakdown. The less glycogen that is available, the more the body shifts to using the alternative fuel sources of protein and fat. While there is some variability from person to person in the point at which that shift occurs, depending on level of conditioning, nutrition status, and their genetic makeup, there is a clear correlation for all athletes that higher levels of ammonia represent greater degrees of muscle breakdown. When muscle breakdown occurs, the appropriate response to maximize continued performance is to replenish levels of consumed fuels in the form of carbohydrates that may be readily metabolized.

[0012] A variety of reagent papers impregnated with various chemicals have long been used for a number of scientific, clinical, and commercial purposes. Often, such papers are provided as small disposable strips (test strips), sometimes attached to a different material that serves to protect and isolate the sensitive material until it is exposed to the substance to be tested. Existing ammonia test strips, for example, are widely used commercially to test ammonia air levels in agricultural settings where large numbers of animals are raised, such as poultry houses, where animal wastes can lead to dangerous levels of ammonia pollution. Ammonia test strips are also used for aquarium testing to detect inadequate filtration of fish waste products. To date, however, simple ammonia test strips had not been used to detect levels of ammonia in human sweat. Existing pH test strips, often called litmus paper, are another type of test strip that has been in common use for some time to determine the level of acidity or alkalinity in a substance. Because pH levels in living organisms can be crucial to proper function, these strips are commonly used in medicine to test urine, saliva, blood, and other bodily secretions. The use of pH test strips to assess the pH level of human sweat has not previously been understood to provide useful information regarding dehydration, glycogen depletion, or electrolyte depletion levels.

[0013] In addition to difficulties in obtaining information about the state of the body during exercise, there have not been helpful guides to determine how to respond to the body's changing state during exercise. An average athlete playing a high energy sport such as tennis, basketball, football, or hockey will metabolize approximately 240 grams of glycogen and deplete one liter of water plus electrolytes in one hour. While the body can keep up with fluid losses (i.e., by consuming a liter of water during the hour) it is not able to metabolize and absorb the lost energy in the form of carbohydrates at that rate of loss. Various sports drinks and nutritional supplements have been created and marketed to replenish the substances lost during physical activity. Most such drinks are water-based and include electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, as well as various sugars (commonly glucose and fructose) for energy replenishment, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and flavorings. Using a single form of glucose, the body can absorb in one hour roughly 60 grams of the 240 g. lost, due to limitations in molecular transport and delayed gastric emptying. If a blend of sugars is used, the amount of carbohydrates made available within one hour can increase to approximately 90 grams.

[0014] Standard sports drinks and nutritional supplements, however, are not designed to accommodate variations in formulation or consumption indicated by knowing the person's physiological state before consumption. Ultimately, they compromise on a general solution that can fit the largest audience, ignoring the individual's unique needs. Real-time sweat testing can allow an athlete to determine within seconds his unique physiologic status and appropriately consume the nutrition to maximize his performance. The same physiologic test results can allow body builders to recognize when they are destroying muscle tissue in their workouts and to adequately restore their energy to avoid further muscle breakdown. By increasing their carbohydrate intake, body builders will be able to channel their cellular metabolism back to breaking down carbohydrates (glycogen) and away from breaking down protein (muscle tissue). Additionally, individuals who are dieting and exercising to burn fat need to deplete their glycogen stores before the body will begin to burn significant fat. Strip testing for ammonia in their sweat will allow them to recognize when they have reached this point in their exercise routine. Testing for ammonia levels can thus allow individual exercisers to determine appropriate solutions for their current status, in light of their goals for the exercise session.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A system and method of obtaining information on physiologic parameters of the body, including electrolyte depletion, muscle breakdown, hydration, and amino acid versus fat and carbohydrate burning, through application of a test strip that can chemically detect levels of substances secreted in human sweat, specifically the concentration of ammonia. The method has been found to be useful for making recommendations on appropriate consumption of sports drinks or nutritional supplements to adjust levels of hydration, energy, and electrolytes as well as on further levels of physical activity to pursue when trying to maximize fat burning during exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a test strip provided as part of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the calibration scale incorporated onto the test strip in one embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates a recommendation for consumption of correlated edible energy supplements, based on results of the sweat test; and Figure 4 reproduces a table showing the results of a study of ten athletes undergoing two successive timed bouts of exercise

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Analysis and testing of human sweat has established that sweat constituent concentrations collected from local sites are consistent with whole-body concentrations. Thus, testing sweat in one area of the body with a simple test strip can provide information that is representative of the composition of the sweat across the body. In one embodiment, a set of test strips is provided, to be applied periodically to the body during and after exercise.

[0018] An ammonia test strip can be used to detect the increasing levels of ammonia in human sweat. The reading of ammonia levels from the strip can serve as an indicator that increasing levels of carbohydrates need to be consumed to optimize efficient energy use by the body. Responding to this indication with appropriate nutrient consumption can enhance the body's ability to sustain longer and improved levels of athletic performance. Because of the alkaline nature of ammonia, test strips for pH levels applied to human sweat can provide a result that correlates with ammonia levels. Moreover, the response of pH strips is clearer, more obvious, and more readable for a layperson than the more subtle changes of the ammonia strip. Test paper that reacts to pH levels is available as ammonia test paper. Ammonia test paper can detect and indicate concentrations ranging from Oppm to lOOppm (parts per million). In one embodiment of the invention, each strip is imprinted with a scale calibrated so that pH color changes in the paper correlate with parts per million concentrations of ammonia in the substance tested.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a test strip that can chemically detect levels of pH of human sweat. A set of such strips is provided. In one embodiment, each strip may be approximately three inches in length by one -half inch in width, although differing sizes and proportions may be used in alternative embodiments. In a current embodiment, each strip comprises a longer section of inactive paper (101), tipped with a shorter section of pH sensitive paper (102), initially orange in color. However, strips that are entirely composed of pH sensitive paper may be employed in an alternative embodiment. In one embodiment, the test strips used are narrow range pH test strips that are sensitive in the range of human sweat, which varies between approximately 4.5 and 7.0. To employ the method, the user applies a test strip to his body at recommended intervals during and after exercise. Within approximately thirty seconds, the color of the pH sensitive end of the strip will indicate the pH level detected in the sweat. In one embodiment, testing of the sweat at fifteen minute intervals during exercise is recommended. The user may use the test results to detect changes in pH of the sweat, which reflect changes in physiologic parameters of the body relating to glycogen levels, level of hydration, energy and electrolyte depletion, muscle breakdown, and fat burning. The results are demonstrated on the test strip by changes in color, which indicate concentrations of ammonia in the sweat.

[0020] In one embodiment, a scale (110) may be imprinted on the strip consisting of four circles, each circle a different color, each color corresponding to a different level of concentrations of ammonia that represents a different level of glycogen depletion. In the current embodiment, the color of the pH-sensitive paper changes to indicate ammonia concentrations in the range of 0, 5, 10, and 20 parts per million (ppm). In one embodiment, the first scale increment (111) may be orange in color, corresponding to levels of ammonia less than 5 ppm and indicating minimal glycogen depletion; the second scale increment (112) may be yellow in color, corresponding to ammonia levels of between 5 ppm and 10 ppm; the third scale increment (1 13) may be green in color and may correspond to ammonia levels between 10 ppm and 20 ppm; while the fourth scale increment (114) may be dark green-blue in color and may correspond to ammonia levels greater than 20 ppm. In one embodiment, imprinting the scale on the test strip itself or similarly ensuring that the scale is available with the test strip, and correlating the scale to the levels of ammonia detected under various conditions significantly improves the usability of the strip during exercise.

[0021] Figure 2 shows the scale provided on the test strips in greater detail. A small silhouette image of the human figure in poses indicating increasing fatigue on each different color circle serves to remind the user of the interpretation of each color and to correlate the color with its physiological interpretation. In one embodiment, the first circle (201), containing the sprinting figure, corresponds to the orange test strip color indicating little or no detectable ammonia; the second circle (202), depicting the jogging figure, corresponds to the yellow test strip color, the third circle (203), depicting the walking figure, corresponds to the green test strip color, and the last circle (204), depicting the bent over standing figure, corresponds to the deep green-blue color indicating the highest ammonia level. [0022] Increased concentrations of ammonia correlate with increasing levels of dehydration, energy and electrolyte depletion, and fat and muscle breakdown. These readings can allow people who are engaging in physical exercise to determine the appropriate type of hydration and nutrition they should consume in order to maintain optimal performance under their current physiologic parameters. The testing strips can be marketed with various proprietary beverages, gels, chews, tablets, powders, and energy bars that will provide the appropriate amount and type of nutrition for the current test strip readings. The carbohydrates or sugars in a sports drink concentrate, for example, will provide the energy source for the athlete to continue to exercise while minimizing muscle breakdown. The lower the levels of glycogen in the body (the test strip reading higher numbers), the more sugars need to be consumed. This corresponds to increasing amounts of the drink concentrate. Alternatively, the strips can be marketed with "energy chews," bite-size chewable snacks that are formulated to supply carbohydrates and electrolytes in amounts related to the depletion levels indicated by the strips.

[0023] Ongoing research continues to test athletes' performance and fatigue levels to determine how they correlate with the ammonia test strips. In a recent study involving repeated tests of several subjects at various intervals during monitored exercise, testing showed increased ammonia levels as exercise continued, which corresponded to increased self-reported fatigue levels. After 15 minutes of monitored exercise, the average test strip reading was 2.3 on a scale of 1 to 4. After 30 minutes, the average test strip reading increased to 3.2, an increase of 22%. Figure 4 depicts a table showing the results of such a trial of two successive 15-minute exercise bouts for ten subjects. As expected, while the trial results show significant individual variations among the participants, none of the subjects exhibited a decrease in detected ammonia levels after additional exercise, and most showed an increase.

[0024] In one current embodiment, bite-size energy chews may be provided to replenish depleted electrolytes and refuel the exerciser. The method recommends the appropriate amount of chews to be consumed based on the result of the sweat test. Figure 3 shows the recommendations in one embodiment for consumption of energy chews correlated with the scale imprinted on the test strips. If the test strip remains orange, indicating 5 ppm or less of ammonia (301), a recommendation is made in orange print that one energy chew should provide sufficient replenishment. If the test strip color matches the yellow circle indicating 5 ppm to 10 ppm of ammonia (302), two energy chews may be recommended in yellow print. For a test strip color that matches the light green circle indicating 10 ppm to 20 ppm of ammonia (303), three energy chews may be recommended in green print. Finally, for a test strip color that matches the dark green-blue circle indicating over 20 ppm of ammonia in the sweat (304), four energy chews may be recommended in dark green-blue print. Each of the recommendations is printed accompanying the energy chews, in the color corresponding to each level of glycogen depletion.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, a drink concentrate may be provided to replenish depleted electrolytes and refuel the exerciser. Thirty ml of concentrate may contain 15 grams of blended sugars that can be absorbed. When an athlete wipes his sweat with an orange test strip and the strip remains orange, the method may suggest drinking 30 ml. of a proprietary sports drink concentrate in a half liter of water. As glycogen levels begin to deplete and the body begins to resort to other energy sources, the byproduct ammonia is released into the sweat. With level 2, or yellow, results, the athlete may be advised to drink 60 ml of concentrate in the 500 ml (one-half liter) of water. The next level of ammonia concentration is indicated as light green, or level 3, for which 90 ml of liquid concentrate combined with one-half liter of water is suggested. The final color is a dark green-blue, which represents severe glycogen depletion and suggests ingesting 120 ml of concentrate with one -half liter of water.

[0026] If an athlete drinks a 500 ml bottle of water with 30 ml of concentrate every 30 minutes, they would be replenishing a total of 30 grams of carbohydrates in that hour. For level 2 (60 ml of concentrate) that number would double to 60 grams in an hour. Level 3 would correspond to 90 gms, and level 4 to 120 gms. When an athlete reaches level 4, they are essentially running on empty, and they are unlikely to be able to continue this level of performance for an additional hour. They are thus unlikely to need to replenish nutrients for the full hour. They would be drinking level 4 to try to get a few more minutes of performance and also to begin the process of replenishing for the next day.

[0027] The test strips can be marketed with a number of various proprietary beverages, gels, tablets, powders, and energy bars that may each be accompanied by information regarding an appropriate amount of nutrition based on the current test strip readings, along with recommendations for interpreting the test strip results.

[0028] With low exercise intensity the body will metabolize primarily glycogen and fat. When the exercise intensity increases to a more anaerobic zone the body is unable to metabolize fat and it begins to shift to glycogen. When glycogen is progressively depleted, the body begins to break down muscle for fuel. The test strips may also be used by people who are dieting and exercising to help them determine when they have gone beyond their glycogen stores and fat burning capacity and are breaking down more muscle. The exercise regimen can then be adjusted to decrease intensity so that more fat is being burned and muscle loss can be minimized.

[0029] The test strips may also be used by body builders looking to increase muscle mass, to detect whether their current hydration, nutrition, and energy levels are causing muscle breakdown. The test strips can be marketed with various proprietary beverages, gels, tablets, powders, and energy bars that will provide the appropriate amount of nutrition for the current test strip readings.

[0030] The test strips being used for sweat testing are based on commercially available test strips currently used for different applications. There are no known documented records of using these strips to detect ammonia levels in human sweat. Testing human sweat in this manner is mobile, non-invasive, inexpensive, and requires no special training or expertise. The test enables using the ammonia levels in human sweat to interpret the physiologic status of an athlete to determine their level of hydration, muscle breakdown and energy depletion. The test strip levels can be tied to specific proprietary nutritional products and drinks to optimize repletion of lost energy, protein and electrolytes.

[0031] There are other commercially available test strips that have been designed and marketed to be used for various applications that are clearly distinct and separate from human sweat testing. Some of these strips can also be used to detect levels of substances in human sweat that are tied to some physiologic process. They can thus be used to determine physiologic parameters of the human body and be correlated with appropriate nutritional drinks and supplements when these parameters are not optimized. The inventors plan to use additional test strips of various types to supplement their primary ammonia test strip in appropriate specific situations. Other test strips that can be used include strips testing for lactate/lactic acid, sodium, chloride, calcium, specific gravity, urea, or protein.

[0032] The invention comprises a novel test strip combined with a scale correlating the test to human physiologic status. The strip may further be combined with unique nutritional drinks and supplements and instructions for their appropriate use, to provide a custom solution for individual athletes who wish to enhance their body's ability to perform. The strip may also be combined with exercise recommendations correlated to the strip results, to achieve particular results that are aligned with the goals of the user.

[0033] Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the embodiments described herein which would not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the currently preferred embodiment has been described for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but should include all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A novel set of pH test strips for testing the pH of sweat of a human subject, each of said test strip comprising:

a strip of paper comprising at least a viewable portion of pH sensitive paper, said pH sensitive portion capable of detecting pH values in the approximate range of 4.5 to 7.5 when placed in contact with the sweat of said subject; and

a scale accompanying said pH sensitive paper correlating resultant color values to the detected pH level of the tested sweat and therethrough to the current level of glycogen depletion, dehydration, electrolyte loss, and muscle breakdown in said subject.

2. A method of determining the metabolic state of a human subject during and after exercise comprising:

periodically, at intervals of approximately 15 minutes, applying a pH test strip from the set of test strips of Claim 1 to the body of said subject;

examining said pH test strip and said accompanying scale after an appropriate time to ascertain the resultant color change and the correlated pH value and metabolic state.

3. A novel set of ammonia test strips for testing levels of ammonia in the sweat of a human subject, each of said test strips comprising:

a strip of paper comprising at least a viewable portion of ammonia test paper, said ammonia test paper capable of detecting levels of ammonia in the approximate range of 0 to 20 parts per million when placed in contact with the sweat of said subject; and a scale accompanying said ammonia test paper correlating resultant color values to the level of ammonia detected in the tested sweat and therethrough to the current level of glycogen depletion and muscle breakdown in said subject.

4. A method of determining the metabolic state of a human subject during and after exercise comprising:

periodically, at intervals of approximately 15 minutes, applying an ammonia test strip from the set of test strips of Claim 3 to the body of said subject;

examining said ammonia test strip and said accompanying scale after an appropriate time to ascertain the resultant color change and the correlated value of ammonia level and metabolic state.

5. A method for indicating appropriate nutritional replenishment for a person during or after exercise that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 2; and

providing accompanying an energy and electrolyte replenishing product labeling to indicate amounts of the product that are appropriate for replenishing lost electrolytes and consumed carbohydrates correlated to the scale provided on the test strips of Claim 2.

6. A method for indicating appropriate continued exercise activity for a person that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 2; and

modifying continued activity to greater or lesser intensity and duration according to recommendations based on the results indicated by the method of Claim 2 and the exercise goals of the subject.

7. A method for indicating appropriate nutritional replenishment for a subject during or after exercise that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 4; and

providing, accompanying an energy and electrolyte replenishing product, labeling to indicate amounts of the product that are appropriate for replenishing lost electrolytes and consumed carbohydrates correlated to the scale provided on the test strips of Claim 4.

8. A method for indicating appropriate continued exercise activity for a person that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 4; and

modifying continued activity to greater or lesser intensity and duration according to recommendations based on the results indicated by the method of Claim 4 and the exercise goals of the subject.

9. A novel set of test strips that detects in the sweat of a subject levels of lactate, lactic acid, sodium, chloride, calcium, urea, protein, or specific gravity, each of said strips comprising:

a strip of paper comprising at least a viewable portion of sensitive test paper, said sensitive test paper capable of detecting levels of said lactate, lactic acid, sodium, chloride, calcium, urea, protein, or specific gravity across the general range found in human sweat when placed in contact with the sweat of said subject; and

a scale accompanying said sensitive test paper correlating resultant test strip readings to the level of said corresponding lactate, lactic acid, sodium, chloride, calcium, urea, protein, or specific gravity detected in the tested sweat and therethrough to the current level of glycogen depletion, dehydration, and muscle breakdown in said subject.

10. A method of determining the metabolic state of a human subject during and after exercise comprising:

periodically, at intervals of approximately 15 minutes, applying a test strip from the set of test strips of Claim 9 to the body of said subject;

examining said test strip and said accompanying scale after an appropriate time to ascertain the resultant readings and the correlated values of said corresponding lactate, lactic acid, sodium, chloride, calcium, urea, protein, or specific gravity and the metabolic state of said subject.

11. A method for indicating appropriate nutritional replenishment for a human subject during or after exercise that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 10; and

providing, accompanying an energy and electrolyte replenishing product, labeling to indicate amounts of the product that are appropriate for replenishing lost electrolytes and consumed carbohydrates correlated to the scale provided on the test strips of Claim 10.

12. A method for indicating appropriate continued exercise activity for a subject that comprises:

practicing the method of Claim 10; and

modifying continued activity to greater or lesser intensity and duration according to recommendations provided based on the results indicated by the method of Claim 10 and the exercise goals of said subject.