Can a pink drink really boost your performance simply through the power of suggestion? A recent study by de Salles Painelli et al. (2023) explored this question by examining how a non-caloric, artificially sweetened pink drink affected strength endurance and psychological responses in trained individuals.
The placebo effect is a phenomenon where individuals experience real, measurable improvements in health or performance from an inactive treatment simply because they believe it’s effective. This effect has been observed across multiple domains, from medical conditions to sports performance. It can be so strong that even the belief of taking a placebo can account for over half the effect of some actual medications, as seen in migraine research
In the world of performance, it’s common to hear that the placebo effect can play a significant role. A classic example is a study on powerlifters who, after being told they were taking a fast-acting steroid (which was actually just a sugar pill), managed to lift heavier weights and reported improvements in their training. Although at first glance this study highlights how powerful belief and expectation can be in affecting performance outcomes, the study’s limitations don’t really allow for any strong conclusions to be made. Check out our in-depth YouTube video covering this and another classic steroid-placebo study.
The study by de Salles Painelli et al focused on whether a pink, non-caloric, artificially sweetened drink could influence performance and psychological factors like motivation and perceived exertion in a strength endurance test. The study design was straightforward:
- 18 male participants, all experienced in resistance training.
- Three experimental conditions: drinking a pink non-caloric drink, drinking a clear non-caloric drink, and a control group with no drink.
- Participants completed 5 sets of bench presses at 70% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM) to test strength endurance.
To enhance the placebo effect, participants were told the drinks were carbohydrate-rich sport drinks designed to improve performance. However, both drinks were calorie-free and sweetened with erythritol, an artificial sweetener with no energy content.
The pink drink significantly improved strength endurance compared to the clear drink and no-drink conditions. This effect was observed despite all drinks having no actual nutritional or performance-enhancing ingredients. Interestingly, the pink drink’s effect failed to cause substantial differences in motivation or perceived exertion, suggesting that the improvement was not solely due to psychological factors like feeling more motivated or experiencing less fatigue.
Although not statistically significant, participants tended to report lower RPE after consuming the pink drink compared to the other two conditions. This implies that even though the pink drink had no real physiological benefits, participants felt like their exertion was lower – potentially contributing to their improved performance.
The findings align with previous research suggesting that drink color and appearance can influence performance. A study by Brown et al found that even rinsing with a pink non-caloric drink improved running performance, demonstrating how visual cues like color can affect perceived energy intake and performance outcomes.
However, the results should be interpreted cautiously. The effect of the pink drink was acutely observed during a single testing session and it remains unclear whether such an effect could translate into long-term performance gains or sustained improvements in strength or endurance.
The practical takeaways from this study are intriguing but limited. While the research suggests that consuming a pink drink before a workout could boost performance, the effect is likely rooted in perception rather than physiology.
If you have a drink or routine that you believe enhances your training, it might be worth sticking to it, as belief and expectation alone can enhance performance. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of scrutinizing sports drinks, supplements, and performance enhancers. The performance improvements many people associate with such products may often be the result of placebo effects rather than the actual ingredients.