Monday, September 07, 2009

Nutritionist Recommends Honey for Athletes

Show Me the Honey: UCD Nutritionist Thinks Bees are Sweet
By Daily Democrat, 9/6/2009

"I recommend honey -- honey should be part of a good refueling strategy," nationally renowned nutritionist and fitness expert Liz Applegate of UC Davis, told beekeepers and scientists at the 31st annual Western Apicultural Society conference held recently in Healdsburg.

"I always have my athletes consume honey before and during strenuous exercise," said Applegate, director of sports nutrition at UC Davis and the nutritionist for the Oakland Raiders.

"Honey works," she said.

Applegate, a member of the UCD Department of Nutrition faculty, and a newly announced recipient of the 2009 UC Davis Distinguished Teaching Award, explained that the body manufactures and stores glycogen primarily in the liver (glycogen is found in lower concentrations in the muscles). During strenuous exercise, the liver depletes the short-term energy storage of glycogen in about two hours. "If you don't replenish it, it's like a runner hitting the wall or bonking," Applegate said.

"There's no glycogen in any food we eat," said Applegate, herself an athlete who lifts weights, runs and cycles.

Honey, a rich source of carbohydrates, "provides a quick source of energy," she said. It's easy to carry (in packets), easy to consume (no chewing), easy to digest and is easily assimilated…

2 comments:

Build Immunity said...

true but it depends upon the quality which are being consumed by us.I take honey every day in the morning with almonds which gives me tremendous energy.

Build Immunity said...

true but it depends upon the quality which is being consumed by us.I take honey every day in the morning with almonds which gives me tremendous energy.