The first gulps of water I’ve after a long term are scrumptious. They’re refreshing and life-giving, sure, however the water additionally tastes good. It truly tastes candy, to be extra exact.

Which, once I stopped to consider it mid-gulp in the future, I discovered odd. Isn’t water a famously, um, impartial taste? And why does it style totally different after one in every of my lengthy runs?

I’m not imagining issues: A systematic overview of literature on the connection between style and train discovered that candy style depth and sensitivity will increase after acute train. Nonetheless, Jason Machowsky, an train physiologist and registered dietitian on the Hospital for Particular Surgical procedure in New York Metropolis, says why that’s truly taking place will not be so clear.

“There doesn’t appear to be any well-researched causes for it,” Machowsky says. “There are, nonetheless, plenty of theories.”

The primary speculation has to do with the concept of “heightened sensitivity.” Machowsky explains that there are minerals in water that do style candy to some individuals, and so after a strenuous exercise, these minerals would possibly style much more noticeably sweeter.

In a associated (however semi-gross) rationalization, your post-workout water could possibly be dredging up previous meals particles or residue in your mouth that you just’re re-tasting in a extra dramatic manner, due to that sensitivity.

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Or one thing else could possibly be occurring fully. You’ll have heard of “ketosis,” the metabolic state wherein the physique burns fats as an alternative of carbohydrates (reaching ketosis is the goal of the keto weight loss program). This state happens when glycogen shops (which come from carbohydrates) are depleted, so the physique turns to fats for vitality. What, in addition to the keto weight loss program, could cause somebody to run by their glycogen shops and use fats as an alternative? Intense, extended train.

Being in ketosis can have some bodily manifestations, together with—anticipate it—candy breath.

“A ‘candy’ taste or aroma to [the] breath is a byproduct of the breakdown of ketones for vitality,” says Machowsky. So ingesting water and noticing a candy taste may come from the interplay of water and your personal breath. Nonetheless, Machowsky notes that this may solely come about if somebody is adhering to a strict ketogenic weight loss program, or if they’ve achieved “sustained exercise to considerably deplete your glycogen reserves.” So not simply any previous exercise would trigger this—you’d probably have to be doing cardio train for about an hour and 45 minutes earlier than hitting this level.

The ketogenic state leading to candy breath will not be one thing you must essentially aspire to. Particularly, for individuals with diabetes, a candy style or candy breath could be a warning signal that their glycogen shops are low.

“Those that have diabetes who train when their blood sugar will not be effectively regulated or too excessive (>250 mg/dL) could expertise ketone manufacturing, indicating their physique will not be correctly utilizing the glucose of their physique for vitality and could also be resorting to ketones as vitality,” Machowsky says. “Intense train can typically exacerbate that situation.”

That’s why Machowsky advises that “in case you are diabetic and your blood sugar is just too excessive, it could be finest to do low depth exercise (like strolling) or get your blood sugar again right into a safer vary earlier than beginning excessive depth train.”

It doesn’t matter what your post-workout water tastes like, it’s a must to agree that the way in which our our bodies gasoline our motion is fairly miraculous. So be sure to’re giving your self correct vitamin and loads of relaxation in between exercises so you’ll be able to preserve dwelling that candy life.