Gymming Honeys
August 4, 2008
Not every one knows, but for centuries athletes have been using honey to fuel themselves. Ancient folklore has it, Greek and Roman athletes used honey to increase strength and stamina. And today, it is widely acknowledged that honey is an excellent carbohydrate fuel for those with active lifestyles. Mainly composed of energy-rich carbohydrates and water, honey also contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
Of recent interest is its antioxidant content. Honey is also known to contain a variety of flavonoids and phenolic acids, which act as antioxidants and scavenge and eliminate free radicals. Generally, the darker the honey, the higher is its antioxidant content, far more so than lighter honeys.
Exercise Fuel
As you must have been told at the gym, ingestion of carbohydrates prior to, during and after exercise enhances athletic performance and speeds recovery. Honey is a natural source of readily available carbohydrate energy that forms around 82% of its nutritional content. Its unique carbohydrate composition, approximately equal amounts of fructose and glucose, makes hone the perfect pre-exercise food.
Recent research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests carbohydrates low on the glycemic index (GI) may reduce the incidence of rebound hypoglycemia and provide sustained carbohydrate availability during exercise. Research also shows honey to be as effective as glucose in replacing carbohydrate during endurance exercise.
Healthy Sports Snacks
Whether, you enjoy jogging, biking, swimming or working out at the gym, your body needs sustained energy to function at optimum level. Which is why, many athletes, gym aficionados and people on the go opt for glucose-rich sports drinks, while carbohydrate-rich snack bars, such as flapjacks, which supply extra energy and curb hunger are also a popular method of refuelling.
While, there is a good selection of health food snack bars on the market, but most of these contain refined sugars together with many other ingredients the body really doesn’t need e.g. additives and preservatives. Rather expensive, why not then combine honey with complex carbohydrates, fruit and healthy nuts and seeds, to supply your body with high-carbohydrate energy boost when you need it most.
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