eload Energy Gels

Clean streamlined fuel for your performing body. NO benzoates, NO sorbates, NO artificials.

After formulating several tier one sports nutrition products to allow for optimal exercise performance in the heat, when the need for easily digestible carbohydrate is at its most and gastrointestinal (GI) function can be at its worst, we thought we would follow it up with a sports gel to once again stand out in the heat. Of course, we have taken it a step beyond the competition and zeroed in on one of the primary causes of GI upset, the use of the wrong type of carbohydrate. After hours of research and countless tests we have produced a gel that is truly a step…make that a leap…above the rest. The following “snapshot” will give you insight into the factors that are essential to consider when choosing a sports nutrition gel that is right for you. It will also highlight reasons we feel that we have been able to deliver a superior product to help you optimize your performance, especially in the heat!

Resistant Starch
Resistant starch (RS) is defined as the fraction of dietary starch which escapes digestion in the small intestine. High amylose cornstarch is classified as RS2, which is a starch that is in a certain granular form and is resistant to enzymatic digestion. Again, the source of this starch is amylose, one of two types of starch found in vegetable sources. The other type of starch is amylopectin, which yields no resistant starch. Resistant starch will move down to the large intestine where the particles will have to either undergo fermentation by gut microflora or be excreted. This can contribute to flatulence, abdominal cramping and bloating, and lead to diarrhea and dehydration during exercise. e load™ Energy Gel contains the carbohydrates Dextrose and Maltodextrin.

Carbohydrate During Exercise
Glycogen is the storage form of carbohydrate in the human body and we have only a limited storage capacity for it.
Glycogen is the limiting fuel for exercise. It is needed to fuel muscles, supply glucose to the brain and burn fat.
To prevent glycogen depletion, ingestion of carbohydrate is necessary. There is a wide range of individual tolerance to the amount of carbohydrate that can be ingested during exercise and it is not related to body weight. Dr Stoddard recommends starting off by trying 1.0 gram of carbohydrate / kg of body weight / minute and then adjusting either up or down depending on stomach tolerance. It is always recommended to test this out in training during your longer race pace efforts. Over time and with practice it is possible to improve your carbohydrate tolerance during exercise. Practice! Practice! Practice! taking in your gels during your "race like" training sessions. Remember to take into consideration ALL the carbohydrates you are ingesting, keeping in mind to include in your calculations those carbohydrates that are present in your sport drink or other nutrition products.

Carbohydrates with higher Glycemic Index (GI-the rate at which the carbohydrate elevates your blood glucose level) are the preferred fuel during exercise because they provide rapid energy to the athlete. This provides an alternate source of carbohydrate and allows for sparing of glycogen stores so that the intensity and duration of activity can be sustained. Carbohydrate in a gel should be rapidly absorbed and have excellent gastric emptying capabilities while having no resistant starch particles.

e load™ Energy Gel uses maltodextrin derived from ‘waxy corn' a.k.a 'waxy maize' amylopectin starch, which has a high GI. This allows for rapid absorption of all carbohydrate to permit glycogen sparing, essential for preventing “bonking”. It also ensures that there will be no resistant starch present in the large intestine to cause gastrointestinal upset, especially when exercising in the heat.

Taste
During exercise, and particularly exercise in the heat, sweet flavors are intensified and can even become nauseating. e load™ Energy Gel uses a waxy maize derived maltodextrin with a Dextrose Equivalent of (DE) of 10, to provide a readily available carbohydrate sources with low relative sweetness. The all natural flavors enhance the taste of e load™ Energy Gel without adding artificial products and highly concentrated syrups which can cause gastrointestinal upset during exercise in the heat.

Electrolytes
The main electrolyte contributors to decreased level of performance or heat related injury include sodium and potassium. A well formulated product will match the ratio of electrolytes in the gel to the ratio of electrolytes lost in sweat. Each packet of e load™ Energy Gel contains a 4:1 ratio of sodium to potassium. This matches the ratios of electrolytes lost in human sweat.