[Nick Voth is currently finishing his degree in Exercise Science from Bowling Green State University, where he competes on the Cross Country team. He is an Applied Sports Science Intern at Athletic Lab.] As previously stated in Part One of this blog, Part Two will focus on carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinsing for speed-power performance. Because CHO mouth rinsing enhances endurance exercise lasting approximately one hour via stimulation to pleasure and reward centers in the brain (Stellingwerff & Cox, 2014), it has been hypothesized that this same strategy can be used to increase shorter duration, high-intensity efforts. However, research regarding the potential benefits of CHO mouth rinsing on speed, strength, and power performance is conflicting. Strength training has been studied with inconclusive results. Clarke et al. (2017) recently investigated the effects of a CHO mouth rinse on a wider range of high-intensity, short duration activities. Countermovement jump height, 10-meter sprint time, bench press, squat, and arousal were all enhanced with CHO mouth rinsing (Clarke et al., 2017). In line with that, Gant et al. (2010) found increased maximal voluntary force production following a CHO rinse. The results from Clarke et al. (2017) may be of practical significance because the study was conducted in the morning following an overnight fast. Athletes who train in the morning may not eat prior to a session. Revisiting the idea of fear of gastrointestinal distress, CHO mouth rinsing may provide a fueling solution while avoiding the ingestion of fuel. On the other hand, CHO mouth rinsing was found to have no effect on maximal strength or strength endurance (Dunkin & Philips, 2017; Painelli et al., 2011). A possible explanation for the results observed by these studies resides in the ability of [...]