Jim Sadler
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New research indicates that the ergogenic benefit of drinking a sugary sports drink may stem from activation of oral receptors -- not from the ingestion of the carbs themselves.
Interesting. No mention of effects on cortisol of actual ingestion versus swishing it in your mouth. Haven't checked out the original article yet."They propose that the sugar or carbohydrate glommed onto receptors in the mouth, causing a signaling cascade that activated these brain regions, with the result that the athletes felt they were not working as hard as they actually were—contributing to endurance and power output. Once again, it seems as if the brain, not the muscles, ultimately govern how well we do even on what seems to be a purely physical task. As the scientists put it, “carbohydrate in the human mouth activates regions of the brain that can enhance exercise performance.”