• Question: What Energy Drink has the most efficent effect on your energy ?

    Asked by #harambeftw to Helen, Stephanie, LauraAnne, Katy, Emilia, Dan, Andrew on 7 Nov 2016. This question was also asked by F2 family, 264sprg52.
    • Photo: Helen Hanstock

      Helen Hanstock answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      Good question. Before a race – something with caffeine, but avoid fizz if you can. If you want something to drink during a race I would say a drink with some sugar and some salt/electrolytes (e.g. Lucozade Sport, Gatorade, Powerade, other brands available!). After a race it’s good to have a drink or snack that contains some carbohydrates and some protein (around 20g) to help you recover – could be a ‘protein shake’ or a milkshake / milk drink with a handful or nuts or a cereal bar.

    • Photo: LauraAnne Furlong

      LauraAnne Furlong answered on 9 Nov 2016:

      Helen’s advice is spot on, and as some people don’t like the taste of the main sports drinks available they make their own using some fruit juice and water, or squash, and add some salt/electrolyte mix to it. Several of my friends and I use chocolate milk as a recovery drink after exercise which is nice and tasty, and has both carbohydrate and protein in it to help with recovery and repairing the muscles. It’s important to remember to eat a proper meal 2-3 hours before you exercise though to be sure you have enough energy to last the training session, as you only have limited stores of energy otherwise.

    • Photo: Emilia McAllister-Jepps

      Emilia McAllister-Jepps answered on 13 Nov 2016:

      Hi, thanks for your question!

      If you are looking for something that has an efficient effect on your energy then you are most likely to get an immediate feeling of this from a drink that is high in caffeine or sugar. But this is not necessarily an effect that will sustain you for a performance. You would be better off fuelling well with some foods that are more carbohydrate based in order to give your body a store of energy, this is sometimes known as carb-loading, and then supplementing your diet with an energy drink on the day of your race.

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