My BMJ is becoming better value for money (will never catch up with Fellrunner though :wink - 2 major exercise related debates in the last month (there's also been one on exercise and depression).

I don't think it's a good idea to conflate the eating and drinking issues. With eating there is a measurable loss of performance if hypoglycaemia occurs after depletion of glycogen stores and eating some calories thereafter is essential to preserve activity above what fat burning can support. Even in those who have great natural and trained fat burning capability and running economy there will be a benefit from carb calories and ingestion of carbs is worthwhile in the absence of hunger (and often presence of nausea). With drinking there is no good evidence that dehydration impairs performance over the distances and times studied and therefore no reason to advocate drinking in the absence of thirst. There have been deaths in marathons due to over zealous rehydration causing hyponatraemia. Much is also said of the need for electrolyte intake which again lacks any proper evidence and this is also often tied in with prevention of cramp whilst the evidence suggests cramp has nowt to do with electrolyte status. As for f'in' beetroot don't even go there

As far as sports drinks go my 2p is (in agreement with points others have made) firstly that I find it easier, when driven to drink by thirst during a run, to get something flavoured down my neck than plain water - generally Nuun nowadays as most energy drinks are so sweet as to be off-putting and I can dip stream water and add tabs on the run. Maybe I've still got some illogical attachment to the electrolyte stuff too. Secondly, if you acknowledge the need to get calories in then many will find ingesting them by drink, which is going down for hydration anyway, is the best tolerated and easiest way to do it. So to my mind they're useful and not a complete con but hugely and knowingly oversold by the manufacturers. It is also annoying that so much bad science has been wilfully created to pollute the environment and a shame that all those funds couldn't have been channeled in to some decent research.

I've made a mental note to go back and read the evidence for mixing carb and protein rather then just carb in the endurance setting - I was reasonably convinced by the limited published evidence but can't really remember the ins and outs of it or the level of evidence. There are several products using this mix now -eg a SIS drink - and I maybe convinced to give these a go versus Nuun and food

At the end of the day there's a lot to be said for the placebo effect - if you feel it's doing you good in a sporting context it probably is, mentally at least - so long as the placebo is harmless and not bankrupting

cheers, P