Endurox Accelerade, 60 Servings

Accelerade is the first sports drink that shifts the energy dynamic during exercise to improve performance. Like conventional sports drinks, Accelerade supplies the necessary carbohydrates and electrolytes for rehydrating and replenishing muscle reserves.

But unlike conventional sports drinks, Accelerade has the patented 4 to 1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein to speed the movement of carbohydrate into the muscle. Accelerade contains the ideal combination of simple and complex carbohydrates for rapid and sustained energy. By increasing the energy efficiency of every gram of carbohydrate, Accelerade conserves muscle glycogen and improves endurance.

Studies show that, compared to a conventional sports drink, Accelerade extends endurance by 24%. And because Accelerade contains essential antioxidants, it reduces post-exercise muscle damage. Accelerade lets you train longer and harder, and you'll feel less sore afterwards.

A New Generation Sports Drink
Delivering More Energy To The Muscles Faster
Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D.

Research coming out of the University of Texas may dramatically change our perception of what constitutes an ideal sports drink when used under real life competitive conditions. Over the past 2 decades, exercise physiologists have shown that endurance athletes can exercise longer and harder if they consume additional carbohydrates during exercise. And for most athletes, the easiest way, is to down a carbohydrate-rich sports drink. Studies have shown that endurance athletes, who consume a conventional sports drink containing 6-8% carbohydrate (6-8 grams of carbohydrate per 100 ml of fluid) and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) while exercising more than 60 minutes at a steady state intensity level, are able to maintain their pace longer and with less fatigue than athletes who only drink water.

However, this research does not replicate how you ride both in training and competition. As you know, most endurance road races are not conducted at steady state intensity levels. There are periods of high intensity (greater than 75% of VO2 max) that are followed by low to moderate intensity (less than 50% of VO2 max). Sports drink research, for the most part, has focused on the need for fluid replacement and the type of carbohydrate used during steady state exercise.

Previously, University of Texas researchers measured the effect of carbohydrate consumption during variable intensity exercise, as one experiences in racing conditions. They found if they could boost insulin levels during exercise they could further spare muscle glycogen and improve endurance capacity. One way to enhance insulin levels is by the addition of protein. But the amount of protein is critical. Too much protein will slow gastric emptying. Research on muscle recovery has shown that the addition of protein to a carbohydrate sport drink in a 4-1 ratio further increases insulin levels, glucose uptake and glycogen loading following exercise. The Texas researchers speculated that a carbohydrate-protein sports drink consumed during exercise might provide more immediate energy and greater endurance than a conventional sports drink.

This assumption was put to the test. Athletes on three different occasions were either given water, a 7.75% carbohydrate sports drink or a 7.75% carbohydrate and 1.9% protein sports drink (Accelerade, PacificHealth Laboratories) during a ride of varying intensities. The results were quite dramatic. The athletes consuming the Accelerade drink had a 24% improvement in endurance when compared to the 7.75% carbohydrate drink and a 54% improvement when compared to water.

The data suggest that the addition of protein increased insulin and glucose uptake thereby providing an immediate source of energy to the exercising muscle. The result - a sparing of muscle glycogen and a significant improvement in endurance.

The development of Accelerade represents an important advance in sports drink research. The combining of carbohydrate and protein in a 4-1 ratio enables endurance athletes to shift the energy dynamic during exercise resulting in improved energy production, sparing of muscle glycogen and extended endurance in the later stages of competition. The bottom line: you can train and compete longer and harder. With the introduction of Accelerade, sports drinks have entered a new era in optimizing athletic performance.

Dr. Edmund Burke is a professor and Director of the Exercise Science Program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is author of the best selling book, Optimal Muscle Recovery (Avery Publishing). For more information visit www.optimalmusclerecovery.com.

What results can I expect with Accelerade?
In clinical trials against a sports drink containing the same amount of carbohydrate, Accelerade improved endurance performance by 24%. Against water, the results were more impressive. Accelerade improved endurance by 57%. These trials were conducted using a protocol that involved exercise levels of varying intensities which more closely simulates real life athletic events.

What is the importance of the 4-1 ratio carbohydrate to protein?
University of Texas researchers measured the effect of carbohydrate consumption during variable intensity exercise. They found if they could boost insulin levels during exercise they could further spare muscle glycogen and improve endurance capacity. One way to enhance insulin levels is by the addition of protein. But the amount of protein is critical. Too much protein will slow gastric emptying. The combining of carbohydrate and protein in a 4-1 ratio enables endurance athletes to shift the energy dynamic during exercise resulting in improved energy production, sparing of muscle glycogen and extended endurance in the later stages of competition. The bottom line: you can train and compete longer and harder.

What is the best way to take Accelerade?
For one serving, mix one scoop with 12 oz. of cold water in shaker, water bottle or glass. Use before, during or after exercise.

What is the difference between Accelerade and Endurox R4?
Accelerade and Endurox R4 are based on groundbreaking research showing how nutrition can improve muscle performance and recovery. Both products contain the patented 4-1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein to speed glycogen replenishment plus antioxidants to reduce post exercise muscle.

DURING EXERCISE
Accelerade helps you achieve optimum performance during exercise because it increases the energy efficiency of every gram of carbohydrate to extend endurance up to 24%.

FOLLOWING EXERCISE
Endurox R4 speeds recovery because it contains a higher level of carbohydrate, protein, antioxidants, the amino acids, arginine and glutamine, as well as branched chain amino acids. Endurox R4 reduces muscle soreness by 36% and improves performance during the next workout up to 55%.