Sports Nutrition Tips for Energy, Endurance and Recovery

Energy will not only get you through your workout, but it will keep you motivated to keep going back. If you find yourself dragging, feed your body what it needs - but what exactly does it need?

T I P : Boost Your Workouts: Try Healthy Energy Drink & Chews Free!

If you workout on a regular basis, and need consistent energy, look for a supplement that raises your lactate threshold, in otherwords, something that reduces muscle fatigue so you can workout longer and harder.

If you need energy right before your workout - or during, use a supplement that your body can digest easily and quickly.

Hammer Energy Gel
I first tried Hammer Gel at a bike race where they were giving out free samples. I liked the flavors, and found that you can buy them online in bulk much cheaper than individually in stores - compared to other brands. These are great for pre-workout or during-working energy boosts, as the ingredients are easily digestible. They really make a difference in my hour-long workouts. Sometimes I use just half a serving.

Hammer Gel contains only a small amont of sugar, so you do not have to worry about getting a "sugar high" or "sugar crash". The small single-serving packs are convenient for taking on the road. Hammer Nutrition also offers large Hammer Energy Gel Jugs for even cheaper, and you can get a re-fillable flask to carry with you. If you want added caffeine, choose the Tropical or Espresso flavors.

Recovery is important, especially if you exercise in the morning and need to get through the rest of your day after a tiring workout. I like Gatorade, but after a while, I didn't want all that sugar. In searching for an alternative, I found that there are great recovery drinks with low sugar content and lots more vitamins and electrolytes - exactly what the body needs.

Another bonus - all of those vitamins seem to keep me in good health, so get to make less trips to the doctor. Who would have guessed a recovery drink could multitask?

Trace Minerals Electrolyte Stamina Power PAK Orange Blast
Easy-to-fix high performance energy drink with no caffeine, artificial stimulants or artificial ingredients. Contains all major electrolytes + over 72 verified ionic minerals and trace minerals - for more energy. Low-calorie: Stevia instead of sugar!

I love this stuff! If you are a Gatoradeaholic, but want something healthier, you'll like this. Tastes like Gatorade, but better. It comes in single-serving packs that you can easily mix with water on-the-run. I really feel energized after taking it.
Also in Raspberry | Concord Grape | Cranberry

Trace Minerals Electrolyte Stamina, Tablets
If you prefer tablet form, this high-performance energy formula contains balanced ionic minerals as well as kelp and alfalfa

Often overlooked, but essential to any sports training routine or active sports lifestyle is regular water and vitamin intake. Make sure you drink lots of water (2 liters daily for an active 150lb person) and a vitamin/mineral tablet.

Glutamine is a great supplement, as it provides many benefits to the body.

Glutamine is a primary amino acid found in muscle tissue. Heavy training can deplete glutamine in the body. By supplementing glutamine, your body can receover faster, and you can get back to you regular training routine. Glutamine also metabolizes protein and preserves muscle tissue. Plus, it may help reduce fatigue and stimulate growth hormone production.

L-Glutamine -- 750 mg - 180 Capsules
Retail $39.95, On Sale $16.99 - Save 57%
Reduces muscle tissue's breakdown, metabolizes protein and preserves muscle tissue. May help reduce fatigue and stimulate growth hormone production.

Twinlab Amino Fuel 2000
Easily digested and absorbable protein to maximize muscle growth and optimize protein synthesis.

I've tried a lot of different protein shake mixes, and besides wanting it to taste good, there are a few qualities I look for in a shake: (1) high protein (2) low sugar and (3) lots of vitamins.

30 Diet Shakes FREE
A great shake for losing weight - or simply staying healthy. Packed with vitamins, minerals and protein, this low-carb, low-fat shake even has great taste. Right now, you can try all 7 flavors in 30 shakes for free (+$7.50 shipping), so why not?

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