Our body
is an amazingly complex machine. All of its various cells and tissues
communicate with each other, and their activities are precisely coordinated.
Even as you sit reading this, your heart pumps blood throughout your
body, your intestines digest and absorb nutrients, your kidneys clear
waste products and your lungs bring in oxygen. Although you may feel
at rest, your body is physiologically quite active. Imagine, then,
how much more active all of your body systems become when you engage
in active movement. As your physical activity increases, so does your
muscle's physiological activity. Active muscles require more nutrients
to serve the wide variety of metabolic functions and events. It is
a common misconception that physical activity is an "anabolic
event", during which our body builds tissues, when it is, in
fact, a "catabolic event", during which tissues and fuel
sources are being broken down. It is the post-exercise recovery that
is responsible for the rebuilding process. And as in any construction
site, the right building blocks are required to rebuild that which
has broken down and become depleted.
The
six important recovery 'building blocks' are:
1. Carbohydrates / Glycogen:
* Glycogen
is the storage form of carbohydrate in the body.
* We have a limited capacity to store it.
* It is the limiting fuel for endurance exercise.
* It is needed to burn fat.
* It is replenished by consuming carbohydrates.
* It recovers slowly, therefore using the "window of opportunity"
is essential.
* Its most potent "window of opportunity" is up to 30 min.
after exercise, with the following 24 hours also being very important.
* Optimum recovery needs about 50 to 100 g carbohydrates by the first
30 minutes, though practically speaking, this may be difficult depending
on the condition of your gastrointestinal tract, especially after
exercise in the heat. EMENDTM supplies 60 g of carbohydrate per litre,
an optimal starting point.
* The best carbohydrates for quick recovery are high glycemic index
carbohydrates.
* EMENDTM uses Dextrose as its' principle carbohydrate, and sucrose
as its' secondary carbohydrate, totaling 60 grams of carbohydrate
per litre of fluid, for rapid glycogen repletion.
2. Protein:
* It
is an essential building block in the body, from muscles to the immune
system.
* It is comprised of essential and non-essential amino acids.
* It is vital to consume complete proteins.
* When used as fuel, its' anabolic capacity is wasted, therefore a
"protein sparing" diet is highly recommended.
* Protein induced muscle recovery is at its peak during the "window
of opportunity".
* Its most potent "window of opportunity" is up to 30 min.
after exercise.
* It is best absorbed in combination with carbohydrates.
* Optimum recovery needs at least 5-9 grams of protein by the first
30 minutes.
* EMENDTM supplies 15 grams of ultrafiltered whey protein isolate
per litre.
3. Water:
* It
is our most important nutrient.
* Dehydration during prolonged exercise, and chronically, is detrimental
to performance.
* During recovery, replace fluids at the rate of 1½ x the deficit.
* Prevent or reduce dehydration during exercise - using e load
is a great way to achieve this.
* See our Post Exercise Fluid Calculator to determine the best way
to recover your fluid losses.
* Replace fluids as soon as possible to prevent chronic dehydration.
* EMENDTM contains an optimal sodium concentration to facilitate rehydration.
* EMENDTM tastes great with natural orange flavor, encouraging you
to drink.
4. Electrolytes:
* Electrolytes
are imperative to preserving water balance and the function of the
nervous and the muscular systems.
* Electrolytes are lost in sweat and urine both during and after exercise.
* Your recovery drink should include the appropriate amounts of sodium,
potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
* Sodium should be in the range of 900-1000mg/litre for optimal rehydration.
* EMENDTM supplies 940 mg/litre of sodium, which is a practical upper
limit of sodium due to impaired taste with higher concentrations.
All other electrolytes are present in physiological ranges.
5. Antioxidants:
* Antioxidants
are important in the recovery period as they neutralize free radicals
generated by aerobic exercise.
* They can help reduce protein oxidation by free radicals and prevent
secondary muscle fatigue.
* Water soluble antioxidants are safest as surpluses can be urinated
out of the body.
* Vitamin C is a safe, effective, water soluble antioxidant.
* EMENDTM uses Calcium Ester C, a buffered (low acid) form of Vitamin
C that is very stomach friendly. You can actually see the Calcium
Ester C because it's a different colour than the rest of the EMENDTM
powder.
6. pH:
* pH
is a measure of acidity.
* Prolonged exercise, especially in the heat, is especially stressful,
and as such will increase the amount of acid in your stomach (stress
increases stomach acid, as many of you with stomach ulcers will know).
This can lead to stomach pain/cramps. Therefore, you want to minimize
the amount of acid in your drink. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, like water;
a pH above 7.0 is basic, and a pH below 7.0 is acidic. Since protein
is basic (the opposite of acidic), drinks that contain a relatively
high amount of this compound are more likely to have a higher pH,
often above 7.0. These very high protein drinks are more difficult
to digest, especially after intense exercise in the heat. Drinks with
a pH below 7.0 are likely to have a more stomach friendly amount of
protein, and the closer to 7.0 their pH, the more stomach friendly
the drink. EMENDTM has a pH of almost 5.0. This is the closest to
7.0 of any recovery drink with a pH less than 7.0, indicating a level
of protein and overall acidity that is stomach friendly.
eMend
Contains
Whey Protein Isolate
Promotes enhanced glycogen repletion and tissue repair. Use ultra
filtered whey protein isolate as opposed to concentrate. Isolate contains
more protein per gram vs concentrate, thus has a higher biological
value. Its also stomach friendly and easy to digest/absorb.
Dextrose
A high glycemic index carbohydrate for rapid glycogen repletion. Also
promotes maximum sodium absorption.
Vitamin C
(As low acidic Ester C) for antioxidant support
Optimal Sodium Levels
For maximum rehydration based on the most up to date research
.also
contains correct physiological ratios of potassium, calcium, magnesium
and zinc
Low Acidity
Stomach friendly formula