NYTIMES: eating to fuel exercise

[Biciclista]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...l-exercise/?em
Read the whole article, you'll find things you've heard before but
this is new and interesting:

What do we need to know about replenishing fluids as we exercise?
Answer

Everybody has a different sweat rate, so there isn’t one amount of liquid that someone is going to need while they exercise. Most people consume about 8 ounces per hour – that’s insufficient across the board. Your needs can range from 14 ounces to 40 ounces per hour depending on your sweat rate. Those people who are copious sweaters need to make an effort to get more fluid in while they exercise. I’m a runner, and I can’t depend on water fountains, so either someone is carrying water or you bring money. Store keepers always love that when you give them sweaty bills!

But nobody can be a camel. If you aren’t taking fluid in you have a risk of heat injury and joint injury, and strength, speed and stamina diminish. This is an important part of any training. Put fluid back into the body during exercise.
Question

Should we keep sipping fluids while we’re exercising?
Answer

How we drink can make a difference in how optimally we hydrate our body. A lot of people sip liquids, but gulping is better. Gulps of fluid leave the stomach more rapidly. It’s important to do this. It seems counterintuitive, it seems like gulping would cause a cramp. People are more likely to have stomach cramps sipping because fluid stays in their gut too long.

When you take more fluid in, gulps as opposed to sips, you have a greater volume of fluid in the stomach. That stimulates the activity of the stretch receptors in the stomach, which then increase intra-gastric pressure and promote faster emptying. This is why gulping is preferred.

[limewave]

Thanks for the link. All this time I've been sipping when I should be gulping.

[Biciclista]

i've always been a sipper too

[GLC1968]

Wow, very interesting. I always gulp when I'm thirsty, but I had no idea it was a good thing. I always thought I was asking for trouble!