A new study had revealed that fast food is as good as sports supplements. The research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, found there was no significant difference in glycogen recovery when cyclists ate fast food after a workout versus when they ingested traditional sports supplements such as Gatorade, Powerbar and Clif products.

A study was conducted on 11 male cyclists in a randomized order. Each trial included a 90-minute glycogen-depletion ride followed by a four-hour recovery period. Immediately following each ride and again two hours later, researchers provided participants with either sports supplements or fast food, such as hamburgers, french fires and hash browns. Following a four-hour recovery period, participants completed a 12.4-mile time trial.

The researchers analysed the blood samples and muscle biopsies taken between the two rides and compared the glucose levels and insulin responses. They found that there are no significant differences in glycogen recovery. The main researcher Brent Ruby said that "Our results show that eating fast food in the right amounts can provide the same potential for muscle glycogen as sports nutrition products that usually cost more". "A lot of the articles out there are totally misrepresenting the study," he said. They had participants eating small servings of the fast-food products, not giant orders of burgers and fries. Moderation is the key to the results they got.

AW: Lizitha