Recoverite

Why do I need a recovery drink?

What you do in training is of course important, but if you don't consistently pay attention to proper recovery, you'll never get the most out of the time and energy you put into training. Remember, the gains happen during recovery – but only with enough rest and the right nutrition.

The key to kick-starting recovery is getting high-quality carbohydrates and protein immediately after exercise (within the first 30 minutes – the sooner, the better). During this window your body is especially receptive to replenishment:

• carbohydrates help refill your muscles' glycogen stores – the fuel for your next workout;
• protein contributes to a growth in and maintenance of muscle mass;
• fluids and electrolytes replace what you lost through sweat.

Recoverite and Vegan Recoverite provide the ideal 3:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein, along with 3 grams of glutamine per serving, L-carnosine and a full-spectrum electrolyte profile. That way your body is ready for your next workout or race.

What is the difference between Whey Protein and Recoverite?

One serving (1 scoop) of Whey Protein contains 15 grams of pure whey protein isolate and 6 grams of glutamine. After a pure strength workout (for example, a weight-training session in the gym), 1 scoop of Whey Protein is a good choice to give your muscles the amino acids they need for recovery. It's also worth taking before bed, because much of the recovery process takes place while you sleep. And you can use it any time during the day to top up your daily protein intake.

One serving (2 scoops) of Recoverite contains 10 grams of the same whey protein isolate and 3 grams of glutamine, plus 32 grams of complex carbohydrates – Whey Protein contains only 0–1 gram of naturally occurring carbohydrate. After an endurance workout, your body also needs carbohydrates to refill depleted glycogen stores, and the protein and glutamine help with this too. Recoverite also contains chromium and L-carnosine.

In short: Recoverite after endurance workouts; Whey Protein after pure strength workouts and before bed.

How can I measure a serving without the scoop?

No scoop at hand? No problem:

1 level scoop (50 cm³) = 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon. One serving is 2 scoops, i.e. 6 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons (50 g).

What is the amino acid profile of the whey protein isolate in Recoverite?

Amino acid content of the whey protein isolate in one serving (2 scoops) of Recoverite, in milligrams:

Essential amino acids: leucine 970, isoleucine 600, valine 460, methionine 200, histidine 150, lysine 970, phenylalanine 290, threonine 610, tryptophan 160.

Conditionally essential amino acid: arginine 210.

Non-essential amino acids: cysteine 260, aspartic acid 965, alanine 460, glutamic acid 1710, glycine 160, proline 550, serine 370, tyrosine 270.

Can I mix it with warm water?

Yes. You can mix Recoverite and Vegan Recoverite with lukewarm water too – the nutrients won't lose any of their value.

Does Recoverite contain caffeine?

Only one flavour, Caffe Latte, contains caffeine: 25 mg per serving. The Chocolate, Orange, Strawberry and Vanilla flavours are caffeine-free.

Can I add extra Whey Protein to Recoverite?

Yes, you can certainly add half a scoop to one scoop of Whey Protein. In our view, though, it isn't really necessary: 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of glutamine are enough to kick-start recovery, and most people eat a protein-containing meal within an hour or two anyway.

Tip: a serving of Whey Protein mixed with water only, taken right before bed, can do a lot for your recovery.

Can I use Recoverite during a long workout or race?

We don't recommend it, for two reasons:

1) Recoverite's 3:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio isn't harmful, but it isn't ideal during exercise. While you're exercising, only a small part (about 8–12%) of your body's energy needs should come from protein, so a ratio of around 7:1 or 8:1 is ideal. That's exactly what our long-distance fuels are made for: Perpetuem and Sustained Energy.

2) The main reason is the added L-glutamine. Glutamine is a very beneficial amino acid, but when it is first metabolised it produces some ammonia. After exercise this isn't a problem, but during exercise your body is already producing ammonia, which is one of the main causes of fatigue, and you don't want to add to it. After about 3 hours, glutamine actually helps neutralise ammonia, but during exercise you don't have that much time.

For best results, use Perpetuem or Sustained Energy during exercise and save Recoverite for afterwards.

Are the products tested for heavy metals?

Yes. Hammer Nutrition products are tested for heavy metals and meet or exceed the established safety limits. We require an independent laboratory analysis with every shipment of raw material, covering microbial contamination, heavy metals, solvents and pesticide residues, among other things.

What is the difference between Recoverite and Vegan Recoverite?

Recoverite contains whey protein isolate, while Vegan Recoverite contains organic pea protein. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, pea protein is an excellent choice: it's one of the least allergenic protein sources, easy to digest, has a good amino acid profile (rich in the three branched-chain amino acids, the BCAAs), and is gluten- and lactose-free.

If you have no dietary restrictions, whey protein isolate offers the best bioavailability and essential amino acid content of all protein sources.

Why does Recoverite contain maltodextrin?

For a short time after you finish exercising, two things are especially active: the enzyme glycogen synthase and insulin. Insulin helps the glucose from the carbohydrates you take in enter the muscle cells, and glycogen synthase then builds glycogen from it and stores it in the muscles and liver. Because this window is short, you need a fast-acting carbohydrate – which is why maltodextrin's high glycaemic index is an advantage: the faster the carbohydrate arrives, the sooner your glycogen stores start to refill.

We only recommend high-glycaemic carbohydrates such as maltodextrin immediately before, during and immediately after exercise; for the rest of the day, low- or medium-glycaemic carbohydrates are the better choice.

Does the whey protein isolate in Recoverite contain lactose?

Recoverite contains exactly the same whey protein isolate as Whey Protein. It isn't 100% lactose-free, but it is about 98% lactose-free, so most people with lactose intolerance can consume it without any problems. If you have a milk protein allergy, however, we don't recommend any product containing whey protein.

Why does Hammer use maltodextrin instead of sugar?

Here are the benefits of maltodextrin, along with information about its effect on insulin during and after exercise.

The benefits of maltodextrin

1. You can digest more calories from maltodextrin than from short-chain, so-called simple sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose). As one nutritional scientist puts it, maltodextrin lets you take in more energy in less volume. Simple sugars can only be digested efficiently in weak, low-calorie solutions, so you can't get enough energy from them. But if you make a “double-strength” mix, the overly concentrated sugar solution sits in your stomach for a long time and can cause serious stomach distress. You won't have that issue with maltodextrin.
2. Maltodextrin provides fast-acting energy because it's a high-glycaemic carbohydrate – its glycaemic index is the same as glucose. At the same time, because it is made up of many weakly bonded sugar units, it provides more consistent, longer-lasting energy than glucose or other simple sugars, without the “peak and crash” typical of simple sugars.

Because of the high glycaemic index, many people ask about insulin. Maltodextrin does raise blood sugar quickly and triggers an insulin response. Immediately before and during exercise, however, this is not an issue. As Dr. Bill Misner explains, during exercise the hormones of the sympathetic nervous system inhibit insulin release, and exercise itself increases the muscles' uptake of the glucose you take in. So insulin is not a significant factor during exercise.

After exercise, when your body needs to restock its energy stores, a high glycaemic index is also desirable. This is the very purpose of Recoverite and Vegan Recoverite.

These are the only three times – immediately before exercise, during exercise and shortly afterwards – when it makes sense to consume a high-glycaemic carbohydrate such as maltodextrin.

What is the osmolality of Recoverite?

You can find the osmolality test results in this document (PDF).

How much manganese is in Hammer products?

In our view, athletes need somewhat more manganese than non-athletes: manganese takes part in the energy-producing enzyme reactions of muscle cells and contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress (it is a component of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase). Your body uses it up during exercise and also loses it through sweat, and only a small part (about 3–5%) of orally ingested manganese is absorbed.

Manganese content of Hammer products:

• Endurolytes – 0.25 mg per capsule
• Endurolytes Fizz – 3.0 mg per tablet
• Endurolytes Extreme – 0.5 mg per capsule
• Endurolytes Extreme Powder – 0.5 mg per scoop
• HEED – 2.0 mg per scoop
• Recoverite – 2.9 mg per serving (2 scoops)
• Vegan Recoverite – 0.6 mg per serving (2 scoops)
• Premium Insurance Caps – 1.07 mg per capsule

I'm lactose intolerant. Can I use Recoverite and Whey Protein?

Most people with lactose intolerance can consume the whey protein isolate in Recoverite and Whey Protein without any issues. If it still causes you problems, choose Vegan Recoverite.

How much L-glutamine is in one serving of Recoverite?

One serving (2 scoops) of Recoverite or Vegan Recoverite contains 3,000 mg of L-glutamine.

Does Recoverite contain egg?

No. Recoverite contains no egg, none of its ingredients are derived from egg, and there is no possibility of cross-contamination with egg.

Does Recoverite contain soy?

No. Neither Recoverite nor Vegan Recoverite contains soy or soy protein.

Is Recoverite made in the same facility as the CBD products?

No. Hammer's CBD products are made in an entirely different city – and therefore an entirely different facility – from all other Hammer Nutrition products, including Recoverite and Vegan Recoverite.

What is the difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate?

We use whey protein isolate in Recoverite and Whey Protein because:

• Concentrate can range from 35% to 75% protein, with much of the rest being lactose and fat. Isolate goes through several filtration steps, making it almost completely free of lactose and fat, with a protein content of at least 90%. The whey protein we use is about 97% pure protein.
• Biological value (BV) shows how much of a protein is utilised and incorporated by the body. Concentrate has a BV of about 102, while isolate can reach 159 – the highest of all protein sources.

Does Recoverite contain antibiotics or hormones?

No. The whey protein isolate in Recoverite comes from grass-fed, US-raised cows that are free of hormones and antibiotics.

Is Recoverite kosher?

Yes, Recoverite is kosher certified: kosher certificate (PDF).

Can people with diabetes use Recoverite?

In our experience, yes: many of our customers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes use the maltodextrin-containing Hammer products. Immediately after exercise – ideally within the first 30 minutes – when the enzyme glycogen synthase is especially active, a fast-acting, high-glycaemic carbohydrate is a real advantage. Outside this window (and the time during exercise), we recommend low- or medium-glycaemic carbohydrates.

If you have diabetes, always discuss its use with your doctor.

Can I give Recoverite to my dog?

No! Recoverite contains xylitol, which is an excellent natural sweetener for humans but toxic to dogs. Never give your dog Recoverite or any other food or sports nutrition product containing xylitol!

How can I avoid clumping when mixing?

First fill your bottle or shaker about a third of the way with water, and only then add the powder – if you pour water onto the dry powder, it clumps easily. Close it and shake well. Then add a little more water, shake again, and repeat until the bottle is full.

Should I take Recoverite after exercise or before bed?

Immediately after exercise. Recoverite's main ingredients are complex carbohydrates, whey protein isolate and glutamine; you'll get the most out of it if you drink it right after your workout, when insulin and the enzyme glycogen synthase are most active. The carbohydrates refill your muscles' glycogen stores, and protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.

Before bed you don't need the carbohydrates, but the protein and glutamine are useful – so for this, Whey Protein is the better choice.

After exercise: Recoverite. Before bed: Whey Protein.

What is Hammer's position on the recent news about xylitol?

Lately there have been a lot of sensational headlines about xylitol and cardiovascular risk. Our position is that the study in question showed only a weak association, not a cause-and-effect relationship:

• The study did not measure xylitol consumption but the level of xylitol naturally present in the blood, based on a single blood sample. The participants' eating habits were not recorded.
• Xylitol is found in many fruits and vegetables, and the body produces it too, so it is not an artificial sweetener.
• Most of the participants (average age 64) already had health conditions: many were overweight, had diabetes or high blood pressure, or had cardiovascular disease.
• It was an observational study, which can only show an association, not cause and effect.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.