According to my wife, I have been obsessing a lot about energy drinks lately ... From all that I have seen and heard (in articles and podcasts) what you drink during a workout (or a race) is very important for anything longer than one hour so it's definitely an interesting subject for an inspiring endurance athlete, therefore my OCD.
So what's the deal with energy drinks? What is their purpose?
- combat dehydratation
- replenish electrolytes (necessary for muscles)
- metabolic stimulation
- refuel the body (for continuing efforts)
While there is a LOT of various sport energy drinks on the market that will fills this list of requirements, I found that it is more interesting to come-up with your own recipe. It will also be better suited to your particular needs (e.g some energy drinks pack a lot of sugar) and tastes and probably cheaper overall. Such an home-made drink should be based on the following contents:
- water (filtered, e.g. with a Brita filter)
- calcium/sodium/potassium additive
- caffeine (from coffee or tea)
- fast and slow acting carbohydrates as well as some proteins
Depending on the type of workout and the duration, the amount of water, electrolytes and fuel to be mixed will, obviously, vary.
to be continued ...
to be continued ...
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