Back in the '70s and '80s, many swimmers in my area used to eat jello powder (pure powder, off of their wet fingers) about half an hour before their races for an energy boost. Does this actually work, or is it just a myth?
2007-02-02 13:39:12 · 9 answers · asked by penguine's mom 2 in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
I remember doing that! For me, it was more of an excuse to eat raw jello powder and not have my parents complain too much. How else could a 10 year old convince his parents to let him eat pure sugar? "But, Mom, if I don't eat it I won't win my race! You want me to win, don't you?" :)
All the sugar does give an energy boost temporarily, but it goes away just as quick afterwards and leaves you feeling lethargic. Also at that time there wasn't all the stuff like power bars, ZipFizz, RedBull, etc. so the only options were jello powder.
Do you also remember eating ramen raw from the package? That seemed to be another swimming favorite.
2007-02-02 14:49:37 · answer #1 · answered by SwimsALot 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(This is my mom, not me!) I don't know if this is a myth or not, but so many studies have come out, and are still coming out, about what you should and shouldn't do during meets (like stretching, warm-ups, and what to eat). I know jello powder has a lot of processed sugar-an unhealthy sugar- in it and that type of sugar will give you that boost right before your event, but because the pancreas (a gland in our bodies) releases fluids during digestion, these types of fluids will slow down your performance since the pancreas helps to get rid of those "bad' sugars. Try eating complex sugars like fruits, energy bars, and sports gels, and complex carbs like bagels, wheat bread, and low-sugar dry cereals. Complex sugars and complex carbs are better for digestion. In other words, don't eat jello powder!
2007-02-03 12:45:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
hey crippled
sugar is the energy that u need
i am sure that u eat jello powder a lot not
how's ur foot
does the jello work for u
2007-02-04 18:35:34 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't ever heard of that but with all that sugar I guess it's possible. I know it would be good for an energy boost to the teeth too!
2007-02-02 21:47:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sugar is just giving you energy. It will energize you for a little bit. Then, you will crash and not have a whole lot of energy.
2007-02-03 17:15:11 · answer #5 · answered by sarahthomas_4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's one of the worst things you can eat before you swim. when I was a swimmer, and I saw someone with red fingers, I knew the race was over for them, every time.
2007-02-03 19:01:50 · answer #6 · answered by toomanycigars 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is energy in the sugar.
2007-02-02 21:46:37 · answer #7 · answered by mlemt76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive never heard of that, it might work, but i do know that jello powder is REALLY sour.
2007-02-03 21:11:52 · answer #8 · answered by george 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't work because it is just a ton of sugar.
2007-02-03 20:07:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋