Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

Research suggests that sports drinks with a mix of carbohydrate and protein are more effective than carbohydrate-only drinks in improving recovery from exercise. But some sports drinks offer caffeine, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals. Do we need all that stuff in our drinks?

Not according to Runner’s World’s sports dietitian. For instance, she says that caffeine “is most likely to be benefical before, not during, runs. And for those who are caffeine-sensitive, the stimulant effect may not enhance performance.”

What about the other ingredients? “Most drinks that contain micronutrients have only select vitamins or minerals … so these products are not a substitute for a daily supplement. And vitamins and minerals are not a source of energy; therefore you really won’t notice any difference in performance while running …” As for getting amino acids, she suggests simply eating a turkey or veggie burger (not, presumably, while working out).

All you need in your drink, she says, is a product with 14-15 grams of carbohydrate and about 110 milligrams of sodium per 8 ounces.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 29th, 2009 at 8:32 am and is filed under General Fitness, Health and Wellness, Products and Reviews, Running. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.