Sports Nutrition

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Recent articles

  Thirst: Modern and Ancient
May 17, 2011
Our thirst is set by physiological and psychological mechanisms. I think modern thirst depends rather too much on the latter and too little on the former. We seem to worry more about "hydrating" than slacking our thirst.

Your thirst over the course of a day, not within a brief span of hard work, is an excellent guide to your water requirements. Research in the Journal of Physiology shows that you don't need the 8 glasses of water "authorities" recommend (a lot of this advice comes from bottled water and sports drink manufacturers). You need water when you are thirsty. 
  Training on a High-Fat Diet
Nov 18, 2010
Training and a high-fat diet have additive effects on energy metabolism. If you want to run hard and long, eat a high-fat diet. Then again, why would you want to do this in the first place? Far better to be strong and have great metabolism. And look good.
  Has Glycogen Replenishment Been A Big Lie?
May 6, 2010
Well, maybe, according to this older study (1977) it makes no difference. Strangely, this research never comes up in supplement ads.
  Post Exercise Drinks
Feb 27, 2010
 I have noted that high carbohydrate/protein (gainer)  drinks are unnecessary and undesirable. Here is a little experiment from the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise that finds that high carb drinks alter mood and focus.
  Nutrient Timing
Jan 13, 2010
The genetic research does not support the concept of nutrient timing in my opinion, nor does evolutionary reasoning. The idea that carbohydrate can be helpful in building muscle is not consistent with genetic research or the evolutionary record.
  Carbs Make You a Poor Mobilizer of Fat
Jan 1, 2010
Fats are readily oxidized and contain about twice the energy as carbohydrate or protein (9 calories versus 4 calories per gram). You carry far more metabolizable energy as fat than any other fuel. So, why do runners, bikers, hikers, and, well you name it, consume so much carbohydrate? They have their reasons, but I am not so sure they are that sound. 
  Modern Drinks, Foods, and Ancient Tastes
Jan 1, 2010
Sports and gainer drinks are sold on the theory that exercise drains glycogen from the muscles and you must refill those stores. Nonsense. You want to drain the glycogen from your muscles, which you do through the glycolytic exercises that are part of the Evolutionary Fitness workout.
  Tennis Players with Tummies
Dec 7, 2009
Given the nature of tennis, a rest-burst primarily FT activity, why do the players have that little tummie? Have you seen what they eat? I don't know their diets, but you can see them drinking various sugar-laden (maybe polymers, but still high glycemic) drinks and eating bananas and such during a match. Beyond that I can't say because I have not read anything of their diets. It seems likely though, that they are into the same kind of poor eating of starches and high glycemic foods and drinks as runners and cyclists because that is what the "fitness" industry, coaches, and consultants recommends.