Posted on 04/28/2009 12:53:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Winter Park junior defensive tackle Beano Duffie doesn't think energy drinks and football mix.
Duffie can't put his finger on what exactly could go wrong, but he will only chug energy boosters such as Red Bull and Monster Energy drinks in spare time.
"The coaches have told me not to drink too much before workouts," he said. "I don't drink before practice or games because I don't want to have real bad cramps. I don't know. I've just heard it could be bad me."
Numerous other high school football players interviewed by the Sentinel said they have gotten the message energy drinks are bad. Sports drinks such as Gatorade have long been deemed acceptable fluid replacement beverages, but energy drinks such as Red Bull with high levels of caffeine are not endorsed by many coaches. All 25 of the high school football players interviewed at recent Scout.com combine held in Orlando said they heard the drinks can cause negative health side effects, with some going so far as to call energy drinks dangerous for athletes.
The truth is a lot more complicated.
Red Bull and Monster Energy drinks aren't poison, but experts say they are potent drinks that can cause a mix of positive and negative side effects depending on how they are consumed by everyone.
Red Bull, which has been on the market for 21 years and sold more than four billion cans in 2008, defends the safety of its product and contends it can boost athletes' performance.
"Studies indicate that Red Bull produces a significant increase in both physical performance and cognitive functions," said Patrice Radden, a Red Bull spokeswoman. "In addition to the results obtained from scientific studies, the ongoing partnership between athletes and Red Bull is testimony to the claim that Red Bull actually works."
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Power Thirst
Aaaahhhhhhaaaaaaa!
You need salts and electrolytes. It is actually possible to die from too much water, as it will flush your salts out of your system!
The potassium from bananas can be good, too. There's something good about apples too, I forget what's in them that helps.
Also, getting a low-fat source of protein, like non-fat cottege cheese, immediately after a workout is great for rebuilding torn-up muscles quickly.
Yossarian
Ex-Triathlete who needs to get back in shape
'But we know what plants crave. Brawndo. It's got electrolytes.'
'...Okay - what are electrolytes? Do you know?'
'Yeah. It's what they use to make Brawndo.'
'But why do they use them in Bawndo? What do they do?'
'They're part of what plants crave.'
'But why do plants crave them?'
'Because plants crave Brawndo, and Brawndo has electrolytes.'
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