I think Greg-o brought this up last summer, but now that the entire world is living on a budget and I'm taking my recovery more seriously, cheap recovery drinks sounds like it makes sense. Here's what I've found.
The majority of recovery drinks on the market contain only a few things.
1) Carbohydrates - spikes the blood sugar to speed up nutrient delivery to muscles. Also feeds the body so it doesn't think it's going to starve after a workout. If the body isn't fed, it will burn the protein you put in it to save its fat reserves. If you satisfy your body's craving for carbohydrates (fuel), then it will save the proteins for when it works to rebuild structural breakdown once you go to sleep.
2) Protein - obviously very important in muscle repair, protein is the brick and mortar in getting stronger.
3) Vitamins - Certain ones speed recovery and everything, I don't know the exact science. I figure I can crush up a Centrum and throw it in there, or save myself the trouble and just swallow it (which is what she said).
4) Flavoring - I want my drink to taste like Nick's cock. Which tastes eerily similar to my own ass. Fuck.
The most common (and I suppose healthiest) carbohydrate used in recovery drinks is maltodextrin, which has a high glycemic index and is absorbed quickly into the blood stream like glucose. It is also fairly tasteless, maybe a little sweet. You can get it online from beer brewing companies for about $2-3 per pound. Protein, as we all know, is readily available at any GNC type nutrition/supplement store for $3-10 per pound, depending on how fancy the packaging is. Flavoring is easy, either suck it up, or add a little vanilla extract, strawberry or chocolate syrup, or whatever your favorite flavor is. Vitamins can be taken orally...
For a limited time only, you can get 15 grams of protein, 45 grams of maltodextrin, and vanilla flavoring for about 50 cents per serving. This is using the a 3:1 carb to protein ratio. If we decide on 4:1, it would be about 60 cents. Still real fucking cheap compared to buying a gatorade and balance bar for like $3 total.
Would anyone be interested in a homemade drink like this?
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mmm.... chocolate milk....
ReplyDeletewait wut?
ReplyDeleteIf you're gonna go the chocolate milk route, make sure you get skim. The fat in 2% or whole tends to slow recovery. Good fats are an important part of any diet, but save it for later.
ReplyDelete