Abbott’s Ensure® Max Protein Joins the Professional Pickleball Association Tour as the Exclusive Protein Shake Partner
| January 30, 2025
Pro Pickleball superstar Callie Smith joins as an ambassador
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) today announced a new partnership with Abbott’s Ensure® Max Protein shakes. This collaboration will highlight the role of protein and exercise in maintaining muscle health to enjoy an active lifestyle complete with pickleball, a sport people can enjoy at all ages.
Many people aren’t aware that adults may experience up to 8% muscle loss each decade after age 40.[i] Muscle health is essential for movement, strength, and vitality – and in keeping active in sports like pickleball.
“Muscle is foundational to our health and wellness. As a global healthcare leader, Abbott is demonstrating the vital role nutrition and exercise play in maintaining muscle health throughout our lives,” said Mindi Myser, divisional vice president of Adult Nutrition at Abbott. “Together with the PPA Tour, we aim to inspire players to enjoy the game – and nourish their muscles with our Ensure Max Protein shake on and off the court.”
Abbott, the maker of Ensure, has been studying muscle health for decades and developing science-backed nutrition shakes that help adults support muscles and overall nutrition as they lead active lives.
Callie Smith’s Winning Formula
As part of the partnership, Abbott is sampling Ensure Max Protein and Ensure Plant-Based Protein, throughout the tour and during select events. The company has also enlisted the support of PPA Tour veteran Callie Smith as an ambassador to help promote optimal nutrition for people with active, on-the-go lifestyles.
“As an athlete, I know first-hand how vital it is to give my body the right nutrients to fuel my game and overall health as I train, compete and travel for tournaments,” said Callie Smith. “I start my day with Ensure Max Protein to feed my muscles for up to 7 hours, and I get 30 grams of protein to help support for my longest rallies.”
Ensure Max Protein: Powering Pickleball Play
Pickleball’s popularity has exploded in recent years, growing 223% in the last three years according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
“The partnership with Ensure is one we are all excited about, as we both share a strong commitment to encouraging an active and social lifestyle. Ensure Max is the perfect protein shake for pickleball players across each of our 25-plus tour stops.”
Whether playing pickleball professionally or for fun, Ensure Max Protein is a delicious, ready-to-drink nutrition shake with 30 grams of fast and slow-digesting protein, feeding muscles for up to 7 hours. This science-backed formula is ideal for pre-match, post-match, and on-the-go use, and offers 1 gram of sugar, 150 calories, and 25 vitamins and minerals. Ensure products are sold at retailers nationwide and at Amazon.com.
[i] 1.Janssen I, Heymsfield SB, Wang ZM, Ross R. Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18-88 yr. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985). 2000;89(1):81-88. 2. Vandewoude MFJ, Alish CJ, Sauer AC, Hegazi RA. Malnutrition-sarcopenia syndrome: is this the future of nutrition screening and assessment for older adults? Journal of aging research. 2012;2012:651570. 3. Newman AB, Lee JS, Visser M, et al. Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. October 1, 2005 2005;82(4):872-878. 4. Forbes GB. Longitudinal changes in adult fat-free mass: influence of body weight. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. December 1, 1999 1999;70(6):1025-1031
