Levi Leipheimer & Dr. Allen Lim: Building a Better Sports Drink

Elite cyclist and time trialist Levi Leipheimer sits down with Dr. Allen Lim, head of sports science for Team RadioShack, to talk about optimal hydration for endurance sports, and especially for elite cyclists. Dr. Lim says that hydration is more important than calories (food) when it comes to performance; athletes at all levels need to be thinking about hydration all the time. Unfortunately, many sports drinks currently out there don't optimize hydration, with "natural" flavors, and artificial ingredients. Those ingredients, though, can lead to indigestion or "gut rot" - which can hurt your performance because you can't empty your stomach. Dr. Lim worked with Dr. Stacy Sims at Stanford and, through a long series of trial and error, developed a new sports drink based on all the science they knew. Dr. Lim and Dr. Sims just launched www.secretdrinkmix.com to offer optimal hydration to anyone who wants to try their formula, which is also based on feedback from elite athletes. Importantly, their mix includes more sodium - a crucial electrolyte. In this video Dr. Lim also shares more tips for optimal hydration for top performance in your sport. For more innovations in cycling, running, yoga, fitness, health, and the environment, go to Nissan Innovation for Endurance at facebook.com/innovationforendurance, where you can enter for your chance to win a 100% electric Nissan LEAF or one of our weekly gear giveaways.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• levi leipheimer
• cycling
• bicycling
• elite cycling
• tour de france
• tour of california
• team radioshack
• allen lim
• nissan leaf
• electric car
• hydration
• performance
• water
• sodium
• electrolytes
• secret drink mix
• stacy sims
• endurance sports
• endurance training

[gbadner]

Does Dr. Lim suggest the same for runners? The drink, drink, drink mentality of fluid consumption goes against new and trending research done by Dr. Timothy Noakes and the International Marathon Medical Directors Association (IMMDA). Their recommendation is to drink "ad libitum" or "at ones pleasure". This is mostly in response to the increase in cases of hyponatraemia. Just wondering if his advice translates across sports.

[damonpettit]

Dr. Lim is one of my favorite people. So smart and innovative!