ergo-log.com

Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

19.10.2011

Drink your sports beverage ice-cold for better times

In warm weather, sports drinks work better if you drink them like those toned models do in TV commercials: ice cold and with condensation dripping off them. In 2006 British sports scientists at the University of Birmingham published the results of a study that provided convincing evidence of the added value of cooled sports drinks.

Study
The researchers did an experiment with 8 healthy young men with an average age of 27. They got the men to cycle twice in a room where the temperature was 34 degrees Celsius.

The subjects had to cycle at 65 percent of their VO2max – an exertion level at which they couldn't quite keep up a conversation – and to do so for as long as possible.

The sports drink contained 2 kcal carbohydrates per 100 ml. On one occasion the drink had been cooled to 4 degrees Celsius; on the other occasion the drink was at about room temperature, 19 degrees Celsius. The men had to drink at least 300 ml every 15 minutes. They were allowed to drink more if they wanted, but not less. The researchers had calculated that an intake of 300 ml per 15 minutes would maintain the men's fluid levels.

Results
The figures below show that the men who drank the cooled sports drink cycled for an average of seven minutes longer. Their heartbeat was a little lower, as was their body temperature.

Conclusie
The researchers conclude that cold sports drinks cool down the body, and this effect, even if only modest, means that the body doesn't have to expend so much energy on temperature regulation. And as a result there's more energy available for physical performance.

Source:
Exp Physiol. 2006 Sep;91(5):925-33.

More:
Cold sports drink works better 05.10.2011

Archives:
Nutrition & Endurance Training

For athletes, potatoes are just as good a source of carbohydrates as gels Animal study. Nicotinamide-riboside prevents damage to the liver and nerve pathways.	Purple grape juice, a natural alternative to pre-workout formulas Practitioners of sports disciplines who demand a lot of calories can improve their performance if they drink a few glasses of purple grape juice 2 hours before a training or competition. According to a human study.	1.9 percent faster running after a cup of coffee If you want to give yourself a boost before you go for a run, but don't feel like pre-workout powders with countless exotic components, just take a good cup of coffee.