Saturday, July 16, 2011

Spit don't swallow

Runners


Research with athletes suggests that:
  • Gargling with a sugary liquid helps athletes perform better especially if they don't swallow
You can't fool them with saccharine either. Their taste buds might be fooled but their brain isn't - apparently we have carbohydrate sensors in our mouths that are independent of our taste buds.

It's an intriguing article.

10 COMMENTS:

Old Kitty said...

Ok, but why do tennis players wolf down bananas in between sets? I'm thinking the bananas have natural sugar and are energy releasing - but the athletes swallow the fruit?

I say the more natural your intake the better for you! When will people ever learn?!?! LOL!! Remember that mars advert: a mars a day helps you work, rest and play! Who fell for that?!?! LOL! Personally I was a marathon(snickers) eater!

Ok, I'm talking solids rather than liquids now! LOL! Off I go!

pps. I loved your story over at the clarity of night blog. I seriously just clicked on no. 9 at random and it was yours! Wow!!

ppps. I am so tempted to write a story now for this, but the standards are so high, esp after reading yours!!! Oh dear!

ppppps. I seriously am going now!

Take care
x

Lexi said...

Terrible for their teeth, though, gargling with a sugary drink.

fairyhedgehog said...

Kitty, I've no idea about the bananas! I hope you do write a story for Clarity of Night.

Lexi, they should have had dentists on the research panel!

Whirlochre said...

I think athletes should run with bananas strapped to their heads.

Very aerodynamic, like spoilers on flashy cars.

fairyhedgehog said...

Whirl, what an excellent idea!

Anonymous said...

Going down on the referee might help too - for two entirely unconnected reasons... >;-)

fairyhedgehog said...

You've lost me there, Richard. But oddly I have the feeling that I'd do well to stay lost...

Anonymous said...

I suspect, dear FH, you may be right...

Unknown said...

I wonder how and why they'd come to the idea of making people gargling..

And I love kitty's questions - will athletes soon spit out there chewed chunks of banana too?

Will it become the next diet method as well? You can eat and drink whatever you want as long as you don't swallow!

All these questions make me want to eat and drink something.. No spitting involved..

fairyhedgehog said...

Lily, those are all good questions and I don't know the answers!

I don't usually spit my food out either!

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