Here’s a question for anyone out there:
My track coach insists that drinking soda is bad for runners. Aside from the amounts of sugar in it, he says that when our bodies try to absorb the carbonated water they also absord the dissolved CO2 as well. This, he says, allows he blood to absorb less oxygen. Is he right? Are there any other things that can be bad for a runner due to carbonated water?
Thanks.
IMHO, he’s full of carbonation, to some extent. Pop is not the best drink while exercising since it contains 12% sugar. This does slow the absorption of water. Tim Noakes, in Lore of Running documented that 10% or less sugar does not slow the absorption of water. Sports drinks generally have 8% or less.
Blood absorbs oxygen in the lungs and this has nothing to do with the digestive system or what you ingest.