World records are tumbling fast at this year's Olympics, and it's incredible to see that in person. Are the athletes that much fitter? Or is it the gear? Can we look forward to the smashing of other world records and, if so, what gear and other innovations could be helping the athletes and teams in the coming days?
Fact is, not only have we seen a tremendous number of records fall, but we can expect a whole lot more. That's because the athletes are training and eating better than ever before, and they understand how their bodies work better than ever. But it's also because every sport seems to have introduced record-breaking technology to give nature a boost. Here's how these athletes get an edge on the competition.
Amino Acid Supplements
Swimmer Dara Torres credits her incredible comeback to amino acid supplements. But what are they? When you drink a glass of milk, your body breaks down the protein into amino acids, which it then uses to repair fatigued muscles.
And these supplements work faster than regular protein. And the faster you get those amino acids into your muscles, the faster you're ready to go again.
PureSport Performance Drink
You've heard of carbo-loading, which is when athletes eat a whole lot of pasta before a big race? Well, athletes are realizing that a more balanced nutritional load will help them bounce back from a race faster. PureSport is called a "nutritional delivery system." (We used to have food, now we have "nutritional delivery systems." Go figure.)
But this one was designed by John Ivy, Chairman of Kinesiology and Health Education at University of Texas. It's meant to be consumed 15-30 minutes after completing a workout to maximize the replenishment of energy used during exercise, as well as ensuring speedy muscle recovery.
Think about how precise this is: PureSport has a carbs-to-protein ratio of 2.67 to 1. (That's way more scientific than spaghetti and meatballs.) It's particularly popular with the U.S. swim team; Michael Phelps says, "It's the best performance drink I've ever found."
By the way, you can get almost the same effect after a workout by drinking chocolate milk, which has a similar carb-to-protein ratio and has spread from preschool to professional athletes in recent years. Studies show that chocolate milk speeds workout recovery faster than regular milk, and faster than many sports beverages.
That's not all. Read here about how athletes are benefiting from space-age swimsuits, high-tech shoes, jerseys, and more.
And don't forget that how you eat is crucial to your own goals, Olympic or otherwise. So make these smart swaps when eating out, and avoid these 16 belt-busting beverages to keep trim and fit.
Have your own thoughts on the pace of Olympic improvement? Please share them with the rest of us!
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