Recovery Shake

Night Protein

Protein before bed rest improves recovery and muscle building during the night

Taking a protein-rich late meal before going to bed after strength training, supports recovery and muscle protein synthesis. What has long been known to experienced bodybuilders and endurance athletes was scientifically confirmed a few years ago in a study by first author P. T. Res at Maastricht University Medical Centre. The influence of an additional protein intake shortly before going to bed was investigated with regard to digestion, absorption and protein metabolism during the nightly recovery phase after resistance exercise. Immediately after an evening strength training session, all participants received a usual portion of carbohydrates (60 g) and protein (20 g) for regeneration. In addition, they were given a drink with or without 40 g casein 30 minutes before bedtime. During the night (7.5 h) this protein was effectively digested and absorbed, leading to a rapid increase in circulating amino acids, which was maintained throughout the night. Overall, the additional amount of protein before bed increased muscle protein synthesis by approximately 22% and resulted in a significantly improved net protein balance.

The most effective protein products for the night
Right after training, it is recommended to take a WEIGHT PLUS or RECOVERY SHAKE. If you also want to take creatine, ideally use the MASS GAINER. The MULTI PROTEIN is excellently suited as a late-meal protein shake, since it is based on slowly available, microfiltrated, natural whole milk protein (approx. 80% casein, 20% lactalbumin, no caseinate) and thus ensures a long-lasting amino acid influx into the blood during the night. Or you can use pure CASEIN, which is also offered in filtrated, micellar (native) quality by SPONSER.

Reference
Res PT et al.: Protein ingestion before sleep improves postexercise overnight recovery, in: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Aug;44(8):1560-9.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

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Crossfit nutrition

Nutrition plays an important role when it comes to crossfit workouts

Most crossfit trainings last about an hour and therefore correspond to high intensity train; apart from warm-up, coordinative units and cooldown. In other words, the training is rather short, but extremely intensive, similar to interval training.

Nutrition before training
If you want to do a high intensity training, it is essential to start the training with filled stores. Not with a full stomach, of course, but not sober either. Ideally, a few easily digestible bites should be taken shortly before training: depending on preferences and tolerance, this can be a small banana, an easily digestible sports bar, a honey bread, a carbohydrate-containing sports drink or something silimar.

During training
During a crossfit training there is usually no or very little time for food intake. Sports drinks that contain a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution and thus support endurance performance and fluid intake are particularly suitable for this purpose. ISOTONIC or the mildly aromatic, acid-free COMPETITION are the beverages of choice for crossfit athletes. If the training lasts longer than one hour, a LIQUID ENERGY GEL tube (with or without caffeine) can help to keep the blood sugar level high and to avoid hangers during the workout. Solid food is not appropriate during a crossfit workout, as the athlete has neither the time to chew nor the energy to digest.

After the workout
The immediate nutrition after a high intensity workout pursues the following goals: hydration, supply of electrolytes and energy, regeneration. For these reasons it is important to supply the body with carbohydrates, liquids and protein within 30 minutes after the training. Besides protein-rich ready-to-drink products such as PROTEIN SMOOTHIE or PROTEIN DRINK, regeneration products such as PRO RECOVERY or RECOVERY SHAKE, which are mixed with water or milk, are indicated. But also a PROTEIN 50 Bar or a PROTEIN LOW CARB Bar, a low-sugar quark dish or a small cheese roll serve regeneration.

Protein for crossfit athletes
Protein fulfils many important functions in your body. To perform its tasks optimally, your body must be provided with the necessary basic protein requirements. The Swiss Society for Sports Nutrition therefore recommends athletes a daily amount of approx. 1.3-1.8 g protein per kg body weight. For a woman of 60 kg this means about 80-110 g protein per day, while a man of 80 kg body weight needs about 105-144 g dietary protein. For special phases such as strength building, diets or weight training, higher recommendations of 2.0-2.7 g protein per kilogram body weight apply. With our protein calculator the recommended daily requirements can be calculated to cover your individual needs.

Protein: timing of intake
The body protein is in a dynamic equilibrium. It is constantly built up and broken down. This is called anabolism or catabolism. Therefore, you are dependent on a regular intake. For optimal protein synthesis, about 20-30 g of protein should be consumed every 3-4 hours.

» download infographic «protein synthesis» (PDF)

High-quality protein products by SPONSER

WHEY ISOLATE 94
Use: recovery, muscle build-up
Properties: best whey protein quality, 100% grass-fed from Ireland, lactose-free

MULTI PROTEIN
Use: basic protein, night protein, muscle build-up, recovery
Properties: high-quality multi-protein blend, wide range of application, contains whey, casein and egg albumin origin Switzerland

PRO RECOVERY
Use: recovery
Properties: high-quality recovery, with colostrum

LOW CARB PROTEIN SHAKE
Use: weight management, basic protein blend, meal replacement
Properties: sustained satiety, with fibres, L-carnitine and choline

Conclusion
With the right nutrition, crossfit training does not get easier, but definitely more effective. Above all, it should not be forgotten that individual tolerance and personal taste preferences are always to be taken into consideration.
So get ready for your next crossfit training, the kettlebells are waiting!

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

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Protein before bed rest improves recovery and muscle building during the night

Interview Giulia Steingruber

Gymnast Giulia Steingruber about her ambitions at the World Championships 2019

For quite a long time you did not hear anything from gymnast Giulia Steingruber. After her great bronze medals in the jump - at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 as well as at the World Championships in Montréal in 2017 - a serious injury forced the Swiss talent to take a longer break. The rehab lasted almost a year. Tough times for such a successful athlete like Giulia Steingruber, who had previously been European Champion in the jump discipline, on the floor and in the all-around competitions.

World Championships coming next
But now she's back. And more than just back! At the Swiss Championships 2019 Giulia Steingruber won her eighth all-around title. The form is back and the hunger for further successes is likely to be greater than ever. A few days before the upcoming World Championships in Stuttgart, Giulia Steingruber took the time to answer a few questions for her long-time nutrition partner SPONSER SPORT FOOD.

Giulia, are you doing a kind of «competition diet» in the days before an important competition?

No, I don't stick to a special diet, I mainly leave away the carbohydrates.

What does your breakfast look like in the morning of an important competition?

What I do not want to miss is fresh coffee. In addition to that, there are muesli with fruits, natural yoghurt and a little honey.

Do you have a favourite SPONSER product that should not be missing in any competition preparation?

I mainly use the LOW CARB drink as well as the low-calorie ELECTROLYTES tabs. After the competition I have a RECOVERY SHAKE.

What are your plans for the 2019 World Cup in Stuttgart?

My goal for the World Championships is to do a clean qualification. I would like to be among the top 24 in the singles and in the top 12 with the Swiss team.

How do you celebrate your success?

After the competition I really enjoy a fine dinner! I love to celebrate my success with my family and good friends sitting together comfortably.

Marathon nutrition

Important nutrition tips for running a marathon

Basic nutritional recommendations for marathons

The nutrition strategy before and during a marathon is basically a very individual matter, especially for longer running distances. Nevertheless, there are important guidelines to follow in order to get through the competition optimally. Special attention should be paid to the following three parameters:

• Fluid balance: Drink regularly and according to your thirst.
• Energy: Use easily digestible carbohydrates as the main source of energy, approx. 60-80 g per hour. Sports drinks and energy gels are particularly practical during marathons.
• Electrolytes/salt balance: Preferably use sports drinks and additionally take electrolytes (salt capsules) if the race lasts more than three hours. Especially, if pure water is drunk and warm temperatures prevail.

» The graphic marathon nutrition illustrates what runners need to pay attention to when it comes to nutrition within a marathon.

No experiments in competition!
Prior to use during competitions, we recommend testing all products in advance during training under competition-specific stress. Because even though optimal digestibility of the products is a central development component of SPONSER®, there are always individual and situational factors that have to be considered. Many an elite athlete has had to learn the hard way in this regard. Rule number one is therefore: No nutritional experiments on the day of competition or immediately before!
Ideally, your nutrition concept should be tested during long runs. Experienced athletes start them in a sober state and start later with the competition specific energy supply (after about one hour). Like this strategies, ingestion and tolerance can be tested under realistic conditions.

BEFORE COMPETITION

Activation of NO metabolism
Formerly a secret tip, the so-called nitric oxide activation has spread in recent years thanks to broad scientific support. In addition to professionals, this concept is also used today by numerous ambitious amateur athletes. The activation of the nitric oxide metabolism (NO) aims, among other things, at increased oxygen availability and improved blood flow. The most efficient products are NITROFLOW PERFORMANCE² and RED BEET VINITROX.

Carboloading
The longer the competition, the more the body's limited carbohydrate reserves and absorption capacity become the performance-limiting criteria. As a rule, marathon runners therefore benefit from carboloading prior to a marathon. Efficient carboloading means filling the body's various carbohydrate stores to the maximum. Study results suggest that one to two days of carboloading before competition is the adequately efficient. However, large amounts of food on the eve of a competition often lead to an unpleasant feeling of fullness or even digestive problems, and are therefore not recommended.
Consequently, in addition to a generally carbohydrate-rich diet immediately before the competition, we recommend taking the specially developed CARBO LOADER on pre-race days. CARBO LOADER is a highly concentrated, carbohydrate-electrolyte drink without free fructose. Ideally, one portion should be taken after each main meal.

The advantages of such a carboloading are:

• Maximally filled glycogen stores.
• No feeling of fullness and less flatulence.
• Practical handling: CARBO LOADER, especially in a portion bag, can be easily taken at any location.

Electrolytes
The electrolytes balance should be maintained before the race start. A little extra salt during the last meals is a suitable measure in this respect. Ideally, you should take one or two salt capsules (SALT CAPS) or dissolve ELECTROLYTE TABS in a water bottle. If you want to take carbohydrates at the same time, take a sports drink (COMPETITION®).

Breakfast and last hour before competition
The last meal should preferably be eaten about 3 to 4 hours before the start. It should be easy to digest (as little fibre as possible!) and rich in carbohydrates. POWER PORRIDGE is ideal as such a pre-race breakfast. It is also advisable to drink regularly (but not excessively) until the start of the competition. Ideally not only water, as it does not contain electrolytes. It is recommended to take half a tube of LIQUID ENERGY GEL with some water about 5-10 minutes before the start.

IN COMPETITION

Energy
For almost all marathon runners, carbohydrates are the main source of energy in competition. However, their absorption capacity is physiologically limited. As a rule of thumb: Consume between 60-80 g carbohydrates per hour or approx. 1 g carbohydrates per kg of body weight.
Provided that carboloading has been carried out, you should start taking 60-80 g carbohydrates per hour (gels/drinks) about 30 to 60 min into your run. Without previous carbolading, carbohydrate ingestion should be started at the latest starting from 30 min run duration. In principle, it does not matter whether the energy intake is achieved through sports drinks or gels. Intake intervals of 15 to 20 minutes would be ideal. If too much energy is absorbed, this can lead to flatulence or digestive problems.

Fluid and electrolytes
Not only fluid but also electrolytes are lost through sweat. Therefore, it is important to drink regularly right from the start and to pay attention to the feeling of thirst, which is the most reliable indicator according to scientific findings. For nutritional and physiological reasons, we recommend taking COMPETITION®, LONG ENERGY or ULTRA COMPETITION carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks. The advantage: These sports drinks provide the body with valuable electrolytes, fluids and, of course, the necessary energy in hypotonic form. The drinks are also acid-free, provide a broad carbohydrate spectrum and are only discreetly flavoured, which makes them optimally tolerated.

Practical implementation
In practice, it is rarely possible to carry your own drinks during a marathon. Organizers rarely make an individual catering zone available, as it is known in professional sport. For this reason, we recommend carrying some LIQUID ENERGY GELS (attached to the running belt) in order to standardise energy and electrolyte absorption. As a rule of thumb: 1- 1.5 LIQUID ENERGY gel tubes or 60 to 80 g carbohydrates distributed over one hour. Ingest the major part preferably shortly before arriving at the refreshment stand in order to cover the concomitant fluid requirements with water.
The choice of gels (LIQUID ENERGY PLUS, BCAA, PURE, or SALTY) is individual and can be varied at preference. The LIQUID ENERGY SALTY gel is a good change in heat - not least from a taste point of view. It contains more salt, tastes spicy-salty and less sweet. With increasing competition duration, high temperatures and a tendency to cramp, we recommend the use of SALT CAPS as an additional electrolyte source (approx. 1-2 caps per hour).

Performance Optimizer
If you tend to cramp with increasing competition duration or in general, you can use the MUSCLE RELAX shot as a remedy. The pickle juice-like, sour-sharp drinking solution activates neurosensory receptors and helps to normalise muscle function.

AFTER COMPETITION

Fast regeneration pays off
The regeneration phase begins immediately after the finish line and is particularly decisive. The faster, the better for the body, even if there is usually no feeling of hunger at this point.

The following three factors are central to your rapid regeneration:

• Replenishment of glycogen stores through easily digestible carbohydrates.
• Rehydration with fluid and electrolytes.
• Restoration/repair of the muscles with protein.

Elite athletes consume a professional regeneration drink with a protein content of approx. 20 to 30 g within 30 minutes after passing the finish line in order to cover all important elements easily and efficiently. PRO RECOVERY, RECOVERY SHAKE or WHEY ISOLATE 94 are used most frequently. The RECOVERY DRINK (combined with a flask AMINO 12500) has also proven itself in practice thanks to its practical portion size.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences FH
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

Interview Christiane Reppe

«My dream: to race the para-triathlon at the Paralympics in Tokyo»

Christiane Reppe has started her career as a para-swimmer. Years later she switched to handbike racing where she was able to win Olympic gold in Rio. Half a year ago the German athlete switched again, now racing in para-triathlons. We were able to interview her after her World Cup win in Magog, Canada.

Read the interview in German:

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Christiane! Hast du in Magog den perfekten Tag erwischt und einfach alles richtig gemacht?

Danke erstmal! Ich denke, im Wettkampf ist es immer ein bisschen von allem! Ich habe mich im Training ziemlich schnell und gut entwickelt. Innerhalb von wenigen Monaten schaffte ich es, im Schwimmen ein gutes Level zu erreichen. Meine besten Zeiten im Handbike sind noch nicht so lange her, daher versuche ich dort, meine Stärke weiter auszubauen. Der Rennrollstuhl ist bisher meine schwächste Disziplin, aber auch dort konnte ich mich an die Besten herankämpfen. Am Ende ist der Tag sehr erfolgreich gelaufen und hat mir sehr wichtige Punkte für die Tokyo-Quali eingebracht!

War dir von Anfang an klar, dass du im Triathlon derart abräumen wirst, weil du eine Vergangenheit als Spitzenschwimmerin mitbringst? Oder kommt dieser Erfolg von hartem Training gepaart mit viel Talent?

Dass ich so schnell abräumen würde, war mir nicht klar! Die Kombination der bisherigen Sportarten lässt natürlich auf mehr hoffen, aber klar gehören auch immer viele Trainingsstunden dazu. Ohne Fleiß kein Preis!

Im August steht ein ITU World Olympic Quali-Wettkampf für die Paralympics Tokyo an. Was hast du dir da vorgenommen?

Für den Quali-Wettkampf in Tokyo warte ich erstmal die Veröffentlichung der Startliste ab. Leider findet dieser genau zwei Wochen vor der Weltmeisterschaft in der Schweiz statt, so dass das Starterfeld wahrscheinlich etwas kleiner ausfällt. In Japan wird es vor allem darum gehen,  sich bestmöglich an die klimatischen Bedingungen anzupassen. Zusammen mit der Elite werden wir bereits zwei Wochen vorher in der Nähe von Tokyo ein Trainingslager durchführen.

Letzte Frage: Hast du ein Lieblingsprodukt von SPONSER®, das du im Para-Triathlon besonders gerne einsetzt?

Mein absolutes Lieblingsprodukt ist seit Jahren der RECOVERY SHAKE Banane. Nach langen und harten Einheiten merke ich deutlich, dass ich wesentlich schneller regeneriere.

Christiane Reppe im Web und auf Social Media folgen:

www.christiane-reppe.com
https://www.facebook.com/christianereppede
https://www.youtube.com/user/christianereppe1
https://www.instagram.com/christiane.reppe

Recovery drinks

What is the difference between RECOVERY SHAKE, RECOVERY DRINK and PRO RECOVERY?

SPONSER® offers a range of recovery drinks that are suitable for quick regeneration after hard endurance exertion. A quick overview is provided by this table comparison of our regeneration drinks.

Basics on regeneration in endurance sports
From a nutritional point of view, endurance athletes primarily need carbohydrates and protein following exercise. However, it is virtually impossible to determine the exact amount and ratio of carbohydrates and protein required for each type of exercise. There are too many individual and situational factors involved. For example, the utilisation rate of food intake alone is different for each individual.

However, there are a few rules of thumb that should be adhered to in order to promote recovery:

• 50-60 g carbohydrates per hour after an energetically demanding load, every hour until the next main meal.
• Each main meal should contain 20-30 g protein.
• Take a late meal (possibly also without carbohydrates) with slow protein (for example CASEIN or MULTI PROTEIN) to bridge the night phase.
• Goal: Take one serving of protein every 3-4 hours. A dose of approx. 20-30 g is the necessary trigger amount to optimally support protein synthesis, i.e. recovery.

RECOVERY SHAKE, RECOVERY DRINK and PRO RECOVERY by SPONSER® are equally suitable for recovery or muscle building. The shakes differ primarily in their carbohydrate content and functionality. Briefly described, the shakes differ as follows:

• PRO RECOVERY and RECOVERY SHAKE both deliver approx. 20-25 g protein per prepared portion. PRO RECOVERY, in contrast to RECOVERY SHAKE, contains significantly less carbohydrates, so that the carbohydrates can be added according to hunger or need (bar, banana, pasta, etc.). Depending on the training goal (e.g. low glycogen training) or also for physiological reasons (body weight) it is advisable to reduce the carbohydrates in a certain training phase.

PRO RECOVERY is, as the name suggests, even more geared towards professional and ambitious athletes. It consists of a broad protein mixture with quickly and slowly available protein sources including colostrum, and offers higher convenience through lower drinking volume and its preparation with water. PRO RECOVERY with its functional ingredients delivers the highest possible quality in the regeneration area and is also suitable for taking shortly before strength training or hard units.

• RECOVERY SHAKE is more satiating and tastier for many grace to its preparation with milk, but it also provides significantly more carbohydrates, which is ideal for classic muscle build-up but also for energetic regeneration.

• RECOVERY DRINK is intended for the first replenishment of the energy stores at the competition or training site, or in the changing room. It provides a light, well-tolerated first portion shortly after the end of a performance in a comfortable portion sachet, and is designed for preparation with water. In combination with AMINO 12500, RECOVERY DRINK is an ideal recovery product in competitive situations.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences FH
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ