I heard eating a banana before and during a game is good. is it true? what about drinking electrolyte? is it better than water? thanks.
I drink diluted gatorade in between matches and can say its far better than just plain water. it works for me, electrolyte drinks
Yes, bananas have potassium (helps prevent cramping) and is a quick source of energy (the calories of a banana converts into immediate energy to use, but I do not mean after you eat a banana, and in 5 seconds you'll start feeling hyper)
If you have non-energetic games, then sorry, it won't make a difference. But have you managed to lose weight?
Chocolate milk is good for recovery, better than gatorade etc etc. Can look up the research on Google.
Actually, if you blend a banana, chocolate milk, ice cubes and maybe some whey powder or protein powder, you can make one of the ultimate smoothies!!!
Oh perfect. I just read this article http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/are-sports-drinks-harmful-or-healthy
That article is more of an opinion piece, if you want to look at the details of sports drinks, don't go for some women who writes for ladies magazines, look at the actual scientific papers or solid research rather than what someone says and you may find she's talking a load of trash or is indeed herself biased for her own reasons. Most athletes drink those sports drinks because they do need them and they work. That article seems to be focused on the idea that they are bad for the recreational user, which is true, but not for the athlete or high intensity users (which intermediate and advanced badminton players tend to be). Electrolyte drinks are intended to replace salts and sugars more than water, pure water will be better at rehydrating you, but if you are exercising for prolonged periods your blood sugar levels will drop, which is why the electrolytes are better for that scenario.
encounter few badminton coaching that spare bananas for their fellow players. they do ate bananas during rest time. what's the purpose of banana? recovering energy lost?
I have seen Djokovic eating banana during the game, not a whole banana all in once but 1 or two bites of it.
Bananas are one of the more easily digestible foods and will give you pretty fast energy compared to other foods. That's why a lot of athletes eat it. However don't choke on it! Just as djokovic eats bananas during his tennis matches, nadal has actually gotten a piece of banana stuck in throat during his match! He eventually dislodged it and continued playing but be careful
Here's a pretty useful link for info on Op's question about electrolytes. http://www.brianmac.co.uk/drinks.htm