The Psychology of Comfort During Tough Training Sessions

Have you considered how your nutrition plays a part in the mental aspect of your training and racing? Getting your fuelling right and having confidence in your nutrition strategy makes a big difference to your overall success. Familiar tastes, routines and the power of ginger can help athletes push through difficult moments in training.

Here at Active Root we’re passionate about delivering sports nutrition to help power your fitness, training and racing requirements. Our range of ginger-based products is there to help you at every stage. The vital role of nutrition cannot be understated, and the type of fuel you choose can make a significant difference in performance and recovery.

The Power of Ginger

At the heart of Active Root lies the potent force of high gingerol compound ginger. Ginger has been used to cure nausea and sea sickness since ancient Chinese times. We use natural root ginger in our products to help soothe the stomach and prevent gastric discomfort. Ginger contains unique gingerol compounds, which interact with the stomach and help keep your digestion feeling normal.

Working not only to help calm your stomach, ginger is also packed with anti-inflammatory compounds that can help sore muscles recover faster, and ease stiff and sore joints too. Research indicates that supplementing with ginger post-workout can help with muscle pain and support your body with recovery. A natural painkiller, ginger activates the digestive system and stimulates blood flow which can help avoid stomach issues and nausea.

Incorporating ginger into your nutrition daily can pay dividends for everyday life, not just during training and racing. The health benefits of ginger are multiple, and as part of your daily routine can help with stomach discomfort, strengthening your immune system, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow.

For athletes dealing with chronic injuries or those who are prone to muscle pain after workouts, having nutrition that features ginger can help with these issues and support their bodies with recovery. Ginger has also been found to improve cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol levels and improving blood circulation. Better cardiovascular health means a better supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles during exercise, enhancing endurance and performance.

Ginger is a great source of vital vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B6 and C, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Combined with its high antioxidant content, Ginger can help strengthen your immune system. This is particularly important for athletes who put their bodies under significant stress during training periods.

Ginger also stimulates appetite, making it easier for athletes to consume necessary nutrients and fluids during prolonged exercise sessions.

Tackling Tough Training with Active Root

Practicing your fuelling during your training is a key part of the overall training process; gut training helps improve its ability to handle larger amounts of carbohydrates and fluids, which in turn reduces symptoms such as bloating, cramping and nausea.

However, there is also the mental side to consider during training. Here’s where familiarity and routine with your nutrition in training can play a big factor in pushing through difficult moments. Repetition and practice during training means that come race day your mind and body know what to expect, and it becomes second nature. Variety in flavours and textures can also really help. Natural ingredients tend to retain more of their original flavour. Where we use real ginger and other natural ingredients like unbleached cane sugar, the taste composition of our products is more authentic and enjoyable compared to those loaded with artificial flavours.

We offer a variety of products all containing our signature ingredient. Whatever the format, it is there to help keep your stomach settled and give our nutrition its unmistakable Active Root character.

For fuel you can sip: Sports Drink Mix combines 239mg of ginger with 40g of carbohydrates per serving, making it a practical choice for steady fuelling and hydration during longer sessions.

For lighter hydration: Electrolite Drink Mix focuses more on replacing what you lose through sweat. Each serving contains 203mg of ginger, up to 325mg of sodium and just 31 calories.

For quick, portable energy: Energy Gels provide 30g of carbohydrates and 50mg of ginger in a convenient, ready-to-use format. If you prefer to fuel little and often, Energy Chews deliver 24g of carbohydrates and 1,452mg of raw ginger per five chews.

For fuelling your own way: Energy Gel Mix lets you adjust the amount you carry in your flask. Each serving provides 24g of carbohydrates and 102mg of ginger, so you can build it around your session.

For something more substantial: Our soft and chewy Energy Bar combines rhubarb with warming stem ginger, providing 24.8g of carbohydrates and 172 calories before, during or between sessions.

After hours of gels and sports drinks, it’s not just your taste buds that get tired. Many athletes find themselves craving something they can actually chew. Our Energy Bar offers a welcome break from liquid fuel. Including solid food in your fuelling strategy can help break up the monotony and make it easier to keep taking in the energy you need as the miles add up. Fuelling isn’t solely about carbs - it’s about finding options you’ll actually want to keep eating.

For after training: Recovery Drink Mix turns ginger into a warm post-session drink, with 199mg of ginger and up to 26g of carbohydrates to help replenish your energy stores.

Practice and Power Through

It’s never too early to start with your nutrition training - practice hydration and eating strategies during your training and your stomach will thank you on race day. At Active Root we have a variety of products to help build digestive tolerance for racing no matter the distance, and reducing race-day stomach issues with our ginger-powered, stomach-friendly natural ingredients.

Familiar tastes, routines and the power of ginger can help you push through difficult moments and hard sessions in training. Experiment with different fuelling strategies and products during your training to find what works best for you!