Pelo que pude ler por aí, a coca cola é ingerida apenas na fase final das provas (último terço), e não antes nem durante a prova toda. E em provas de endurance.
In Endurance Sports Nutrition, 2nd Edition by Suzanne Girard Eberle:
"caffeine most likely works by helping the body maintain better glucose levels (energy for muscles and the brain) and by stimulating the release of two powerful hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which helps increase blood sugar levels and enhance strength of muscular contractions."
"it’s not really a recommended SPORTS DRINK, however, the caffeine and the sugar may help these guys get to the finish line easier!"
Hammer Nutrition:
"As a rule, simple sugars, especially high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients and preservatives should be avoided in our general diet. During exercise, they should simply not be consumed. Simple sugars cause unstable blood sugar levels, and require additional fluid and electrolytes for digestion. What this means for an athlete is unreliable energy levels, and resources being pulled from working muscles in order to aid in digestion. The digestive tract is working at a highly reduced capacity during exercise, since the body’s priority is keeping blood and oxygen moving to the brain, heart, lungs and muscles. Artificial ingredients and preservatives only create more work. Only the highest quality fuels should be consumed, including high-glycemic complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy lipids (depending upon the duration).With that said, I have seen several cyclists “reward” themselves with a Coke after a long ride, because the body is depleted and it just plain tastes good. This certainly doesn’t replace the need for a more substantial recovery drink (with complex carbs and whey protein,) but as a fuel, soft drinks should not be consumed. Simple sugars should not be used as a fuel, but using them in combination with complex carbohydrates can be even more problematic."
Outra opinião:
"My opinion is that a little bit of good tasting carb and caffeine is not so bad, especially after a hard race. Those boys have every right to drink that stuff. Its refreshing and I don’t know why there should be anything bad about it. Any liquid form of carb should be easily digested by the body. As for me, I have no qualms about what I should eat and drink because I’m in my early 20’s and I need all the food I can get, especially with all the cycling miles!"
O elevado índice de açucar na Cola Cola pode trazer problemas gástricos para além de reduzir o efeito de hidratação, por isso mesmo só deve ser ingerida perto do final das provas.
Também se repararem nessas transmissões televisivas das provas, as latas são bem mais pequenas que as normais. Parece que são produzidas especialmente para as equipas:
"Usually, Coke was consumed during the last half of the competitions, which lasted for two to six hours, and generally the popular fluid was drunk in the 'de-fizzed' state (with carbonation removed)"
"At first glance, it seems an unlikely sports-drink candidate. Its carbohydrate content checks in at about 11 per cent, a bit too high for a sports beverage (exercise scientists have identified 5 to 9 per cent as the optimal range for sports-drink carbohydrate concentrations; beyond 9 percent, gastric emptying is retarded, and water may even be dragged into the gut to dilute the excess carbs, robbing tissues and blood of fluid)"
"In addition, Coke offers little in the way of electrolytes, and its carbonation is thought to increase the risk of gastric upsets during exercise. Finally, Coke's acidic content and artificial colours make the beverage in the red-and-white can an improbable choice for serious athletes."
"The fact that cyclists reach for Coke during the latter stages of their races, when fatigue is at its highest level (and when caffeine's boost would likely be most beneficial), suggests that caffeine may be Coke's big draw, but what does science have to say? Is there any evidence that Coke actually works well as a performance enhancer?"
"Basically, the elevated fatty acids, better-maintained blood-glucose levels, and enhanced release of epinephrine and norepinephrine which could be produced by Coke's caffeine might all augment exercise capacity (glucose could be used by muscles for energy, and epinephrine could increase the strength of muscular contractions). In addition, if Coke's carbos were diluted a bit (by mixing Coke with a little water, for example), the carbohydrate in Coke could be an excellent, well-absorbed source of fuel during prolonged exercise."
Podem ler o artigo na totalidade aqui:
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0204.htm
Espero ter ajudado.
