Spit Out Your Sports Drink?

When I found out that you might be able to get the same performance boost by swishing and then spitting out your sports drink, I needed to delve deeper into this possible calorie-saver.

As a moderate exerciser and light sweater, I rarely indulge in sports drinks unless I'm running outside in the summer heat. For the most part, I just don't think I'm workin' it hard enough to justify all those extra calories, so I keep it boring and stick with water. But if you're a workout pro and actually chugalug to boost your performance, it's possible to get the same performance enhancement without swallowing.

That's right. Based on a study published in The Journal of Physiology, you can take a swig of your sports drink of choice, spit it out and keep on running. The findings suggest that certain receptors in the mouth acknowledge the presence of sugar just by a short swish in the mouth and send reward and pleasure signals to the brain. Because researchers posit that the brain plays more of a role in physical performance than muscle, the signals sent to the brain boost performance without the body having to consume energy-providing carbohydrates.

Sure it saves calories, but it's kind of gross. So before I go ahead and give you all a license to spit, I asked Fabio Comano, A.C.E. spokesman, to weigh in on the study's validity.

"The results of the study have to be taken with a grain of salt," Comano says. "I'm not disputing the findings because the receptors in the mouth have a huge influence on brain function. Getting some carbohydrates can influence serotonin levels. [But] you can't make that generalized statement that the influence of the brain is as important as the muscles. If you don't have energy and fluid going into the body, there's no gas in the tank. You can crank the ignition in the car as many times as you want, but if there's no fuel in the system, the car doesn't go."

Whether you're working out moderately or really pushing the pedal to the metal, you need to remember to hydrate. The most important aspect of a sports drink isn't necessarily the carbohydrates or the electrolytes, it's the water, Comano says. If you're a calorie-counter and medium exerciser, like me, you should just stick with plain, old water. But if you work out harder and still want the benefit of electrolytes, try a low-calorie sports drink, such as Propel or Gatorade's G2.

While Comano admits there's definitely a link between physical performance and mental state, he doesn't recommend spitting out a sports drink just to get a performance boost. "When you start sweating, you cannot replace fluid at the same rate as you lose it," says Comano. "You may lose three pints in an hour if you're a good-sized person, so I'm never going to make a recommendation that you put it in your mouth and spit it out. You need the water."