Sports Nutrition - Energy Bars and Drinks

Looking at all the energy bars and drinks out there is like a kid going into a candy store - except that you're not getting the taste they are!

However, let's hope you're getting something that tastes decent and is healthy!

There's a bunch of stuff like energy bars and sports drinks, along with specialty recovery drinks and supplements you've probably never heard of. There are also energy gels and things that look like gummy bears.

It can be confusing, so I'll go into detail on each section below.

There are a lot of energy bars out there because they are the original source of energy. You've probably heard of PowerBar, which is the energy bar of energy bars. (Especially since Lance Armstrong used them en route to 7 Tour de France victories!)

An energy bar looks a lot like a candy bar. Its main purpose is to provide you with lots of carbohydrates for energy, while being easily eaten and digested while riding a bike or running.

Most bars vary in flavor, texture, and ingredients. Some are mainly high fructose corn syrup while some use organic oats and soy.

Try a few to see which you like the best.

You see sports drinks at the grocery store all the time. Gatorade and Powerade are pretty common. Gatorade is in use everywhere, from little league games to the NFL and the Boston Marathon.

There are also specialty drinks like Accelerade and Hammer Heed, which are catered to endurance athletes like cyclists. They typically offer more calories and electrolytes, which you need to replenish if you are racing, and you pay a premium for these drinks.

The purpose of these drinks is to rehydrate you and replenish your electrolytes. Water and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium, and magnesium) are lost when you sweat, and they should be replaced for optimal performance.

Replenishing with plain water could lead to hyponatremia and even death.

Recovery drinks are for use after your workout, and they are designed to help you recover and repair your worn-out muscles.

Energy gels share characteristics of both bars and drinks. Bars provide calories but drinks are easier to consume and digest - gels take the best of both worlds.

A gel is just that. It's like a really thick sports drink. It's easy to consume yet provides about 100 calories in one ounce.

I enjoy energy gels, although some people hate them. Try one and see what you think!