Tour pros are drinking this during hot rounds. Here’s why.
· Yahoo Sports
It was the first week of August, hot and humid. And I was playing in a three-day tournament. The nerves mixed with the heat in a way that made my appetite vanish. I didn’t feel hungry, and when it did occur to me that I should eat something, nothing sounded good. My stomach churned at the sight of a turkey sandwich. I took a few bites of a granola bar. But I was underfueled. By the back nine of the final round, I was exhausted. I made some really bad swings, and some mistakes that I should’ve been able to avoid. If I’d been properly fueled, I don’t think I would’ve limped it in like that. So I reached out to the PGA Tour’s nutritionist, Ryan Harmon, to learn how the pros eat in the heat.
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Harmon said that I’m not alone. She sees a lot of players on Tour having trouble eating during really hot rounds. The heat is an appetite suppressor, so she knows when it’s hot out, players are going to be fueling more with liquids than solid foods.
“The goal is to keep energy up, stay hydrated, and avoid gastrointestinal distress,” Harmon says. “The best on-course fuel provides fluids, easily digestible carbohydrates and electrolytes.”
The most-popular product players reach for is Momentous Fuel. They mix it in their water bottles and drink a packet worth every four holes or so. Some also mix it into smoothies. Harmon says one crucial ingredient Momentous Fuel has is isomaltulose.
“It’s a low glycemic index carbohydrate derived from beet sugar that is gentle on the stomach and provides energy without spiking blood glucose,” Harmon says.
The combination of isomaltulose and fructose in the mix helps the body absorb carbohydrates, which is necessary when you’re competing for hours on end, in the heat.
The mix also contains electrolytes and minerals. Each of which has a certain role in helping your body perform.
“Sodium regulates fluid balance, osmotic pressure and enables electrical signaling,” Harmon says. “Potassium works with sodium to maintain fluid balance, osmotic pressure and electrical signaling. Magnesium powers electrolyte pumps, plays a crucial role in energy production, reduces muscle cramps, and supports recovery. Zinc aids muscle repair and recovery, and energy metabolism.”
This combination of isomaltulose, fructose, and electrolytes works well for golfers playing in the heat because it not only hydrates, but it also provides carbs that will keep your blood sugar steady. Harmon says that spiking blood sugar can impair cognitive function, which is something you can’t afford on the golf course. Isomaltulose breaks down slowly, so it will provide a player with energy over a longer period of time, Harmon says.
And it does all of this while coming in liquid form. So even if you can’t get yourself to eat anything during the hottest rounds of the year, you can still keep your body properly fueled.