2008 Woodie Awards
Sports drinks' effects investigated
Sara Cody, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
A scientific study conducted at the University of Massachusetts is aiming to prove that designer energy drinks and sports bars may do more harm then good.
"I'm not trying to say all sports drinks are evil," laughs Barry S. Braun, an associate professor of kinesiology and the director of the energy metabolism laboratory at the University of Massachusetts.
The positive effects that exercise has on the human body are irrefutable. They have repeatedly been scientifically proven. However, there are some preconceived notions that dominate the fitness world, such as the idea of "carbing up," or eating a high-carb diet either before or after a workout.
The whole world watched Olympic swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps shatter the previous records set by past Olympians at the 2008 summer games. Perhaps one aspect of this swimming machine that is equally as impressive as his lightning-fast speed in the water or his washboard abs was his unbelievable 12,000 calorie-a-day diet during Olympic training.
"The big thing is to distinguish between athletes who are trying to increase their performance and maintain this performance for their next workout. For the average person trying to keep from gaining weight or trying to maintain their physique, the helpful effects of this tend to be less," says Braun.
Braun encourages students to really think about the reasons why they're embarking upon exercise regimens. Phelps needed to ingest 12,000 calories a day in order to keep up with his rigorous five-hours-per-day, six-days-per-week training schedule to prepare himself for the Olympics. If the average college student were to indulge himself on a 12,000 calorie-a-day diet, they would have to enlist the help of their roommates to roll him around campus to make it to class on time.
Braun was interested in looking at a diet that was high in carbohydrates and its effects on the human body, and conducted a study with the help of three of his graduate students - Steve Black, Kaila Holz and Brooke Stephens-Hasson.
"I'm not trying to say all sports drinks are evil," laughs Barry S. Braun, an associate professor of kinesiology and the director of the energy metabolism laboratory at the University of Massachusetts.
The positive effects that exercise has on the human body are irrefutable. They have repeatedly been scientifically proven. However, there are some preconceived notions that dominate the fitness world, such as the idea of "carbing up," or eating a high-carb diet either before or after a workout.
The whole world watched Olympic swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps shatter the previous records set by past Olympians at the 2008 summer games. Perhaps one aspect of this swimming machine that is equally as impressive as his lightning-fast speed in the water or his washboard abs was his unbelievable 12,000 calorie-a-day diet during Olympic training.
"The big thing is to distinguish between athletes who are trying to increase their performance and maintain this performance for their next workout. For the average person trying to keep from gaining weight or trying to maintain their physique, the helpful effects of this tend to be less," says Braun.
Braun encourages students to really think about the reasons why they're embarking upon exercise regimens. Phelps needed to ingest 12,000 calories a day in order to keep up with his rigorous five-hours-per-day, six-days-per-week training schedule to prepare himself for the Olympics. If the average college student were to indulge himself on a 12,000 calorie-a-day diet, they would have to enlist the help of their roommates to roll him around campus to make it to class on time.
Braun was interested in looking at a diet that was high in carbohydrates and its effects on the human body, and conducted a study with the help of three of his graduate students - Steve Black, Kaila Holz and Brooke Stephens-Hasson.
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Shawn Cody
posted 9/05/08 @ 4:29 PM EST
Very informative. Marketing campaigns are very clearly aimed at higher carbs equals better performance.
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