Why do players often gargle between matches?

During a break between halves, players often rinse their mouths with carbohydrate solution to improve their mobility, increase performance.

Watching football matches, fans easily noticed a very common action of players to gargle on the field during recess.

A break between the two rounds, the Vietnamese Olympic players sat down with coach Park Hang Seo and took advantage of their mouths and rests.(Photo: Lam Thoa).

According to Livescience, the type of water the player gargles is a carbohydrate solution . This solution is an essential nutrient that helps maintain the body's functioning. When gargling, the carbohydrate solution is stored in the mouth for 5-10 seconds, enough to be converted into substances that increase the athlete's motor performance. Sports players with an intensity of about one hour often gargle with this solution.

In 2014, US scientists analyzed data from 11 previous studies of gargling with carbohydrate solution. The results show that carbohydrates in the mouth activate certain areas of the brain, thereby improving body movement function to help players increase 2-3% of performance. Furthermore, the carbohydrate solution contains glucose with sweet taste or maltodextrin, a colorless and tasteless food additive. The sweetness in the mouth makes the drinker feel more motivated.

Dr Michael Joyner, a physiologist at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, said most research on carbohydrate mouthwash has so far been conducted in the laboratory and focused on cycling. It is not yet possible to confirm the effect of carbohydrates in stressful football matches. However, gargling with this solution is a practical, accessible and less-viable method, athletes can freely experiment.

The player does not swallow carbohydrate liquids to avoid digestive problems, although gargling behavior and spitting out make many people feel unsanitary. The doctor recommends that players should only rinse their mouths during 1-2 hours of competition. Exercises that last more than 2 hours should not be used.