WHY YOU SHOULD CARBO-CHARGE YOUR BODY (via
Men's Health Magazine)
We're just as tired of hearing about carbohydrates as you are. But according to a
Belgian and Dutch study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, carbs
can increase more than
endurance; they can affect power and fine motor skills, too. In the study, 13 male tennis
players drank 13 ½ ounces of either a placebo or a carbohydrate solution (with about 50
grams of carbs) every hour. During more than 4 hours of tennis drills, the men who drank
the carbohydrate solution hit the ball with greater velocity and more accuracy, and made
90 percent fewer backhand errors than the placebo group.
"Carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for the brain," says Liz
Applegate, Ph.D., a nutritionist at the University of California at Davis. She recommends
that during a workout lasting several hours. You consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates
every hour. A good way to do this is by drinking
¾ cup of a high-carb sports drink every half-hour. Or eat a lean energy bar every hour.
At 250 calories and 50 grams of carbohydrates, a Clif Bar is one choice.