“Research has shown that ingesting concentrated carbohydrate gels during prolonged exercise promotes carbohydrate availability during exercise and improves exercise performance,” said University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Nicholas Burd, who led the research. Potatoes are a promising alternative for athletes because they represent a cost-effective, nutrient-dense and whole-food source of carbohydrates,” continued Burd. Throughout the exercise, the team measured participants’ blood glucose, core body temperature, exercise intensity, gastric emptying, and gastrointestinal symptoms. “Both groups saw a significant boost in performance that those consuming only water did not achieve,” added Burd. This may be a result of the larger volume of potatoes needed to match the glucose provided by the gels, Burd said.

Source: Hindustan Times October 19, 2019 09:03 UTC