The Need for a Quality Recovery Drink
Mike’s Mix aids in recovery by replenishing lost glycogen. Therefore, an understanding of glycogen and its importance to performance are a prerequisite to fully grasp the benefits of Mike’s Mix.
What is Glycogen?
| Glycogen is the primary source of carbohydrate storage in humans and is made of long chains of glucose. Glycogen is the preferred energy source for exercise, necessary for fueling muscles, supplying glucose to the brain as well as being required for burning fat. During exercise, continuous muscle contractions will leave the body glycogen depleted. If the form of exercise is strenuous enough this may take as little as 30 minutes. When glycogen stores run out, exercise cannot be maintained at the same intensity and often the athlete is forced to stop. This is referred to as “bonking” or “hitting the wall”. Unfortunately, many athletes suffer from chronically low glycogen levels and consequently never perform at their potential. The greater your muscle glycogen stores at the start of long, hard exercise,the better your performance. Therefore, it should be every athlete’s goal to maximize their glycogen stores. |  |
How do you keep glycogen levels high?
There are three nutritional factors to focus on when attempting to maximize glycogen levels. First, eat a diet high in complex carbohydrates. Endurance athletes have a higher carbohydrate need than the average sedentary person and should be taking in more than 60% of their calories from carbohydrate. Second, stay well hydrated. You need to store water to store glycogen and being dehydrated negatively affects your ability to store glycogen. Third, consume high-glycemic carbohydrates, protein, and a little fructose in liquid form immediately after exercise. This special combination of nutrients leads to maximal glycogen replenishment. This is where Mike’s Mix comes in.
Timing is critical!
After strenuous, prolonged exercise glycogen levels are severely depleted. The enzyme that is responsible for synthesizing glycogen (glycogen synthase) is relatively inactive most of the time. However, there is a short window of time immediately after exercise where conditions are favorable and glycogen synthase becomes extremely active. An athlete needs to consume the precursors (carbohydrates) of glycogen while this enzyme is dancing. Failure to ingest proper nutrition immediately after a workout will result in reduced glycogen stores and this unfavorable condition may last as long as several days. Athletic performance will be significantly compromised until glycogen levels reach an optimal elevated level.
Benefits
For the endurance athlete nothing is more important than having consistently fresh and strong workouts to build athleticism and progress towards your individual goals. Mike’s Mix is a powerful aid in maximizing the quality of your workouts and preparing you for your competitions.
Mike’s Mix replenishes lost glycogen:
Mike’s Mix is designed with one purpose in mind: to quickly replenish lost glycogen after a workout. Mike’s Mix provides 73 grams of quality high-glycemic carbohydrates per serving, more than any other recovery mix on the market. High-glycemic refers to how quickly carbohydrates are converted to glucose and glucose molecules are the building blocks of glycogen. Taken in liquid form nothing delivers carbohydrates needed for glycogen synthesis more quickly to your muscles than Mike’s Mix. Consuming Mike’s Mix after all your workouts will significantly aid in replenishing lost glycogen and lead to consistently fresh and strong workouts.
Mike’s Mix provides 20 grams of whey protein per serving. Recent research shows that whey protein added to a high-glycemic mixture of carbohydrates significantly speeds up the rate of glycogen synthesis. The protein in Mike’s Mix also provides amino acids to muscle cells for repair of damaged tissue.
Other Benefits of Mike’s Mix:
- Mike’s Mix tastes great with water, milk and in fruit smoothies. Without artificial sweeteners or flavoring, Mike’s Mix is hard to beat on taste.
- Mike’s Mix is super convenient and easy to mix. Combine Mike’s Mix with liquid in any bottle with a lid, shake and drink.
- Mike’s Mix has no spoiling or storage issues. A serving is very light and compact and can be taken anywhere.
- Mike’s Mix is affordable. At the same price of bananas you get the best glycogen replenishment product on the market.
- Made with all natural ingredients Mike’s Mix is easy to digest and quickly absorbed. Taken in liquid form, carbohydrates are absorbed more quickly through the gut wall and are then instantly shuttled to the muscles and liver where they become available for glycogen synthesis.
- Mike’s Mix is a superior aid to hydration. For every gram of glycogen stored, your body must store an additional 2.7 grams of water to maintain osmotic homeostasis within the muscle. Simply put, your body must store water when it stores glycogen. Drinking Mike’s Mix keeps glycogen levels high, which in return allows you to store additional water reducing the risk of dehydration.
Nutritional Info
- Serving Size 100 grams
| Amount Per Serving | Mike’s Mix |
| Calories | 382 |
| Calories from Fat | 12 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 1.5g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat <1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol 45mg | 15% |
| Sodium 125mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 73g | 36% |
| Sugars | 40g |
| Protein 20g | 40% |
Not a significant source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium or Iron.
INGREDIENTS: MALTODEXTRIN, DEXTROSE, WHEY PROTEIN
CONCENTRATE, CRYSTALLINE FRUCTOSE.
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be
higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Typical Amino Acid Profile:
(per serving)
| Alanine | 1200 mg | |
| Arginine | 250 mg | |
| Aspartic acid | 2625 mg | |
| Cystine | 300 mg | |
| Glutamic acid | 4500 mg | |
| Glycine | 550 mg | |
| Histidine | 425 mg | |
| Isoleucine | 1600 mg | |
| Leucine | 2600 mg | |
| Lysine | 2300 mg | |
| Methionine | 450 mg | |
| Phenylalanine | 800 mg | |
| Proline | 1575 mg | |
| Serine | 1300 mg | |
| Threonine | 1600 mg | |
| Tryptophan | 525 mg | |
| Tyrosine | 600 mg | |
| Valine | 1475 mg |
The Formula
I present the ingredients in Mike’s Mix and the reasoning for their incorporation in the formula. The combination of the following ingredients is the quickest way to replenish lost glycogen from athletic activity. Replenishing lost glycogen leads to recovery and consistent, strong workouts.
Maltodextrin: Is the predominate ingredient in Mike’s Mix. The maltodextrin in Mike’s Mix is isolated from corn and is considered a complex carbohydrate. Maltodextrin is also a glucose polymer, which means many molecules of glucose are linked together forming long chains. Maltodextrin is a common component of many foods and is considered safe and easily digestible. Numerous research shows that glucose polymers should be the predominate ingredient in a glycogen replenishment formula. Although a complex carbohydrate maltodextrin has a high-glycemic index, meaning it is converted to blood glucose quickly. The speed at which glucose can be available to the muscles for glycogen synthesis is vital. The enzyme that is responsible for synthesising glycogen (glycogen synthase) is relatively inactive most of the time. However, there is a short window of time immediately after exercise where conditions are favorable and glycogen synthase becomes extremely active. An athlete must provide a sufficient amount of these high-glycemic index carbohydrates to replenish glycogen effectively. Maltodextrin accomplishes this better than anything else.
Dextrose: Is sometimes referred to simply as glucose and is also derived from corn. Dextrose is a simple carbohydrate and is very easily digested. Dextrose is considered safe and is used in many food products as a sweetener. Dextrose has the highest glycemic index of any food item. Research shows that a combination of dextrose and glucose polymers replenishes lost glycogen at a faster rate than either dextrose or a glucose polymer (maltodextrin) by themselves. Therefore, Mike’s Mix is composed of a maltodextrin/dextrose blend.
Whey Protein Concentrate: Some studies have shown that the addition of protein to a recovery formula doesn’t accelerate the rate of glycogen synthesis if the amount of carbohydrate is sufficient. However, numerous recent studies have demonstrated that the addition of some protein does in fact boost the rate of glycogen replenishment and therefore warrants addition to the Mike’s Mix formula. Whey protein is made up of amino acids that also contribute to muscle repair after workouts. There are many sources of protein however, egg (albumin) and whey (lactalbumin) are used most often in research and contain optimal (closest to human muscle tissue) amino acid profiles. There is also evidence that whey protein boosts immunity and other forms do not. Therefore, Mike’s Mix uses whey protein concentrate (81% pure protein) in its formula.
There are other forms of whey protein on the market including isolate and hydrolysates. Isolate is around 90% pure protein and comes with a much higher price tag. Isolate is designed for folks who are trying to keep ingestion of carbohydrates to a minimum (not a good idea for an endurance athlete). Since Mike’s Mix is made predominately of carbohydrates the extra cost of isolate doesn’t justify its use. Hydrolysates are partially digested proteins and usually consist of 2 or 3 amino acid units. Some studies show that hydrolysates do have an advantage over traditional intact proteins in absorption rates and retention. However, Mike’s Mix is designed for the endurance athlete and I have not come across any research that suggests hydrolysates are advantageous in promoting glycogen replenishment. Also the endurance athlete’s workout differs greatly from the bodybuilder or strength athlete whose main concern would be the addition of muscle mass. If I were formulating a bodybuilding recovery formula it may differ from Mike’s Mix in carbohydrate to protein ratios and I would consider adding hydrolysate to this formula. However, the endurance athlete is better served by the more affordable and high quality whey protein concentrate in Mike’s Mix.
Crystalline Fructose: Fructose is better known as fruit sugar and should not be confused with high fructose corn syrup. Fructose is found in almost all fruits and vegetables and is naturally very sweet. Although fructose is a simple carbohydrate it has a very low-glycemic index value, which means it enters the blood stream slowly. As mentioned earlier ingesting high-glycemic carbohydrates like maltodextrin and dextrose lead to much faster muscle glycogen synthesis than ingestion of low-glycemic index carbohydrates such as fructose. However, the human liver also stores glycogen and although its contribution to total body glycogen is far less than the muscles, its role is very important in delaying fatigue. In digestion most glucose bypasses the liver. However, fructose is metabolized in the liver and preferentially replenishes liver glycogen after a workout. So Mike’s Mix contains a sufficient amount of fructose to replenish liver glycogen. Fructose also pleasantly adds a bit of sweetness to the formula naturally.
Mike’s Mix uses only the highest quality of these ingredients available.
Our Promise
Mike’s Mix is founded on integrity. Our business relies on word of mouth and we will bend over backwards to make sure our customers are satisfied. We offer a 100% money back guarantee (minus shipping and handling cost) for anyone who isn’t completely satisfied with our product for any reason whatsoever.
Besides using only the highest quality all-natural ingredients, Mike’s Mix family goes out of the way to ensure that every container of Mike’s Mix undergoes stringent quality control. If you are not satisfied, simply return the unused product for a replacement or refund, your choice. Simply contact Mike and he will provide instructions for returns or exchanges.
Product Comparisons
At Mike’s Mix we know we are only one of several recovery products competing for your consideration. The following discussion provides information to help you make an educated decision when choosing your post-workout nutrition. Although we don’t specifically name our competitors, we list classes of products into which all competing recovery supplements should fit. Keep in mind that whether you are consuming a nutritional supplement or a raw food, you must take in calories to recover from your workout. We have compared both supplements and traditional post-workout food items to assist you in making a more thorough assessment.
This discussion is tailored to the endurance athlete whose main concerns for recovery should focus on replenishing lost glycogen and re-hydration (see product benefits for more information about the importance of glycogen replenishment).
Class 1: Recovery supplements sold specifically for taste but ignore research
Not truly designed, but often marketed for the athlete, these supplements first consideration is taste. These are popular and familiar products, which appeal to the masses by tasting fruity and sweet, but don’t fulfill your post-workout needs. Most of the largest manufacturers of sports, recovery, energy, and hydration drinks are guilty of promoting sweetness before science. If you are serious about your recovery, stay away from sucrose and high-fructose supplements.
The first ingredient is the most abundant component in a supplement and thus is the most important thing to look for in a recovery mix. After your workout, you must replenish your glycogen fast. You must ingest a significant amount of high-glycemic (fast digesting) carbohydrates to replenish this glycogen. Many supplements first ingredients are high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose (table sugar), or fructose. These sugars have a much lower glycemic index than what is necessary for optimal glycogen synthesis. Slowly digested carbohydrates will not provide glucose fast enough to effectively replenish glycogen.
A product with either maltodextrin or dextrose as the first ingredient means you are off to a good start. Although not nearly as sweet as the previous mentioned sugars, these carbohydrates have a high glycemic index, are easily digested, and constitute the foundation of any quality recovery supplement. Mike’s Mix is made predominately of maltodextrin and dextrose.
Class 2: Recovery supplements formulated on research (often overpriced)
There are several well-made recovery products on the market. Unfortunately, most are significantly over-priced. Your post-workout supplement should predominately be made of maltodextrin, dextrose, whey protein and a small amount of fructose. However, even the highest quality of these raw ingredients are modestly priced. Although most manufactures market “unique” formulas based on independent research, most quality products are identical with the exception of a few unimportant additives. Why? Literally decades of research and hundreds of studies have focused on glycogen replacement and recovery nutrition. There are few secrets in sports nutrition, just marketing that would make you believe so. This research is readily available to you, me and my competitors. The combination of nutrients that leads to effective glycogen replacement and recovery is well documented.
Why the price discrepancy?
Too often most of your money buys expensive advertising, pays professional athletes for endorsements and testimonials, and goes towards large profit margins. Wouldn’t you rather just pay for quality ingredients? There are many serious endurance athletes that will justifiably settle for nothing less than the best. Marketing experts are aware of this and realize most people equate quality with price. If increasing price will generate more sales because the consumer thinks they’re getting a superior product most companies will go that route. Currently a product that is expensive, tastes super sweet and offers vibrant colors and tropical flavors is the best combination for selling. Help change this pattern by making educated decisions and take a careful look at the product you’re purchasing, just paying more won’t make your recovery any quicker.
When comparing prices, compare cost per pound, not price per serving!
Most manufacturers keep their serving size small to give the illusion of more servings per container and reasonably priced servings. A 100 gram serving, the highest I have found of any product on the market, is necessary for a recovery drink to be effective after a long strenuous workout. There are some company’s whose serving size is less than 25 grams! Consider that Dr. Michael Colgan, known internationally for his work in sports nutrition, suggests taking in 225 grams of recovery mix immediately after exercise. Now I could have made a Mike’s Mix serving 40 grams and state a cost of 50 cents a serving, but I wouldn’t be doing athletes any favors or being honest in doing so.
Mikes Mix cost a $1.10 for a 100 gram serving, contains the highest quality all-natural ingredients and is based on 40 plus years of sports nutrition research. Products of similar composition and quality average $3.30 a 100 gram serving. Three times as much! You will not find a better product at a better price!
Class 3: Recovery supplements or snake oil
Snake oils and elixirs sell well in the supplement industry. There is a third class of products on the market that self-promote with scientific jargon or flaunt the newest super herb or chemical. Fortunately, the average endurance athlete is educated and discerning, so this sort of product receives only small buy-in within our community. Through the years I have seen products derived from antlers through bull testicles that promised instant athletic results. These products, and others like them, are eventually dismissed as ineffective or even harmful but then new ones take their place. The FDA does not monitor or regulate claims made by supplement manufacturers. You must be skeptical when reviewing information and look to peer-reviewed research that comes from scientific journals (see research on this site) if you want independent verification of information. Beware of products pushing scientific jargon and super ingredients. Purchase your products based on research, not fads or trends.
Chocolate Milk
Chocolate milk has recently become a popular recovery drink for its blend of carbohydrates and protein, which are present in optimal proportions for recovery. A 600 gram serving of chocolate milk offers the energy equivalency (calories) of one serving of Mike’s Mix and has everyone beat at a price of about 70 cents per serving. Chocolate milk also has my vote for being extremely tasty. However, chocolate milk has one serious flaw. It is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose and the other carbohydrates in milk are predominately lactose. These carbohydrates have a low-glycemic index and are not optimal for glycogen replacement and recovery. Chocolate milk also spoils quickly and requires refrigeration. Additionally, many people have trouble digesting lactose or are lactose intolerant.
Bananas (Can’t beat them, so join them)
A delicious yellow fruit, the banana has been a staple of post-workout nutrition long before recovery supplements hit the market. Bananas have several advantages in that they are tasty, and affordable. They are also fairly convenient with the exception of ripening issues and a fairly short shelf life. The calories in banana come from high-glycemic carbohydrates, which are exactly what you need to replenish glycogen. At $1.40 for an equivalent caloric serving, bananas cost more than Mike’s Mix, but are still considerably less expensive than most nutritional recovery products. The disadvantage of bananas is that they don’t contain protein, which provide amino acids for muscle tissue recovery and increase the rate of glycogen synthesis in a recovery formula. Taking your recovery formula in liquid form also increases the rate of absorption, the rate of glycogen synthesis and reduces the risk of abdominal distress. As discussed earlier, some experts recommend taking 225 grams of carbohydrates after exercise. After consuming Mike’s Mix, bananas are a great source for accumulating additional carbohydrates after your workout.
Water (the king)
Your hydration is the most important factor in your recovery (glycogen is second) and should take first priority in your recovery nutrition. Water is refreshing, nearly free, and is the most quickly absorbed fluid you can consume. It beats every other liquid hands down. Drink a quart of plain water immediately after your workout, consume a serving of Mike’s Mix, and you are on your way to complete recovery (you have to continue to drink water and eat carbohydrates until the beginning of your next workout to ensure you are optimally hydrated).
To reiterate how Mike’s Mix stacks up to the competition:
Effectiveness: Mike’s Mix will replenish your glycogen faster than anything else you can ingest because it contains the perfect blend of high-glycemic carbohydrates and protein. Mike’s Mix is formulated on decades of research and not fads or trends.
Customer satisfaction and quality: Mike’s Mix is a small company and we take great pride in our product. We only include the highest quality all-natural ingredients in our mix and we back our product with a money back guarantee.
Affordable: You will not find a more effective or affordable recovery supplement than Mike’s Mix, not even at the price of bananas.
Convenient: Mike’s Mix is super convenient! It mixes instantly and easily. A serving is very light and can be taken with you anywhere without worry of spoilage or degradation.
All- Natural Maltodextrin
Athletes engaging in extended workouts can improve performance by ingestion of carbohydrate during exercise and can improve recovery significantly by consumption following exercise. Maltodextrin is an easily digested complex carbohydrate often referred to as a glucose polymer; a carbohydrate made of linked glucose molecules. Maltodextrin is easily digested and supplies energy quickly. Most quality gels, sport drinks and recovery drinks are made predominately from maltodextrin or similar glucose sources.
Mike’s Mix Maltodextrin is the highest quality sports grade agglomerated maltodextrin, a fine white powder that mixes instantly in a shaker with liquid. Mike’s Mix Maltodextrin is all-natural and flavorless. Our maltodextrin is free of sweeteners (artificial or natural), coloring, heavy metals, hormones or preservatives. Mike’s Mix maltodextrin is derived from corn, so it’s gluten free, lactose free, kosher, and vegan friendly.
Buy with confidence from Mike’s Mix , a family owned and run business where we focus on integrity, honesty and customer service. We continue to offer you the highest quality products at reasonable prices.
Uses: Add to shakes, smoothies, or other drinks, blend for best consistency. Can combine with milk, juice or water and shake in closed container to dissolve. Maltodextrin is flavorless.
Unflavored All-Natural Whey Protein Concentrate
Protein at it’s finest! Mike’s Mix Whey Protein is a great low-calorie food that builds lean muscle and supports immunity! Mike’s Mix Protein is not loaded with additives; there are no sweeteners (artificial or natural), coloring, heavy metals, hormones or preservatives. We add absolutely nothing to our protein and it still tastes great and mixes easily. It’s a testimony to the quality of our protein that we don’t need to mask its subtle yet pleasant flavor. The flavor tastes naturally like milk cream.
Buy with confidence from Mike’s Mix , a family owned and run business where we focus on integrity, honesty and customer service. We continue to offer you the highest quality products at reasonable prices.
At 81% protein and with only trace amounts of lactose and fat per serving, you won’t find a more pure whey concentrate on the market. Mike’s Mix Whey Protein is also gluten free and kosher.
Uses: Add to shakes, smoothies, or other drinks, blend for best consistency. Add to food such as cereals, yogurts, or use for baking. Whey protein can be combined with milk or water alone, just shake in closed container to dissolve.
Nutrition Facts:
| Serving Size: 1 scoop (28 grams) | ||
| Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value | |
| Calories | 114 | |
| Calories from fat | 13 | |
| Total fat | 1.5 grams | 2% |
| Saturated fat | < l gram | 5% |
| Trans fat | 0 gram | |
| Cholesterol | 50 mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 125mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate (as lactose) | 2.5 g | |
| Sugars | 2.5g | |
| Protein | 23g | 40% |
| Calcium | 80mg | 8% |
| Phosphorus | 100mg | 10% |
| Magnesium | 16mg | 4% |
| * Percent Daily Values are based on 2,000 calorie diet. | ||
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Ingredients: 100% Whey Protein Concentrate. Contains: milk. This product is sold by weight not volume. Store in a cool, dry place. PleaseRecycle. *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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