It might sound totally bonkers, but this psychological hack has been proven to improve performance in a new study
We know that it’s important to hydrate when we run, but now it seems as though the colour of our drink could be key to our performance.
A study conducted by the Centre for Nutraceuticals at the University of Westminster found that consuming a pink drink before a workout can increase exercise performance by 4.4%, as well as boosting our mood, making the exercise seem easier.
The participants in the study ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Both groups rinsed their mouths with the same drink – except one had the addition of pink food dye. The result? The pink drink group ran an average of 212 metres further, with their mean speed increasing by 4.4%. They also reported finding the run more enjoyable.
Scientists reckon that this clever placebo effect is due to an association between pink foods and sweetness, tricking our brains into thinking that we’ve consumed sugar and carbs, which help us to fuel our runs.
Whatever the reason, we’re up for trying it – we’ll race you to the baking aisle…
