GU Sports Carbohydrate Energy Gel by GU GU Energy Gel is specifically formulated to energize your body during exercise. Using GU energy gel during your regular workouts will keep your mind alert and active, and your muscles going strong. GU gel gives the most concentrated form of immediate energy with no stomach bulk or distress, is quickly and efficiently absorbed, and will maintain your blood sugar at the optimal level for a great workout start to finish.
During a workout or race, no matter what type, you need to quickly absorb carbohydrate-based calories to replace the glucose you are burning at 400 - 600 per hour or you will begin to lose concentration and energy. The fat, fiber and protein found in bars are very slow to absorb and create unwanted bulk in the stomach. GU sports energy gel is created for the body during exercise, and because of its form and ingredients is absorbed much faster than a bar so you will feel the energy almost immediately.
GU Energy Gel contains maltodextrin, the best complex carbohydrate for delivering energy to working muscles. GU sports gel also contains the optimal balance of carbohydrates for the body during exercise: 80% complex/20% simple. It is this balance of maltodextrin and fructose in GU that delivers a quick rise in blood sugar and
maintains that glucose level for up to 45 minutes during exercise.
By simply adding GU energy gel to your normal workout routine -
one packet 15 minutes before starting then one packet every 45 minutes or so - you will feel strong and energized, be able to maintain your effort throughout the workout, feel better when you finish, and recover quickly for your next workout. If you want to have a good workout you have to supply your body with the right fuel - GU Energy Gel.
Energize:
A shot of fast-acting natural fructose (fruit sugar) goes straight to work building your energy levels back up while the maltodextrin is quickly absorbed and sent to your muscles. Vital electrolytes keep your blood chemistry in line and hydration levels stable. Calcium keeps your muscles humming and caffeine adds an extra kick to your power.
Sustain:
Complex carbs in the form of maltodextrin (70-80% of the complex/simple carbohydrates blend) help you maintain glucose levels over time. Citrates (potassium citrate, sodium citrate and citric acid) help speed the conversion of these carbs into energy molecules and mitigate performance-sapping acid build-up in muscles. Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, valine and isoleucine, serve as another fuel source, aid in recovery and can improve mental performance and reduce fatigue by limiting the central nervous system's production of serotonin. Histidine, an essential amino acid, acts alongside the citrates as a buffer that helps neutralize lactic acid build-up in muscles.
Recover:
Antioxidant vitamins C & E defend muscles from assault by free radicals. Chamomile works as an anti-inflammatory during and after exercise. Ginger soothes the stomach. Sea salt supplies a host of minerals.
Maltodextrin & Glucose: GU's Carbohydrate Formula for Success
GU provides athletes with a shot of 100 calories in the form of 70-80% maltodextrin and 30-20% fructose (The ratio depends upon the flavor.). Why maltodextrin? It's a complex carbohydrate, and studies have shown that some complex carbs are actually digested faster than simple sugars like table sugar and honey. This matters because the quicker your body can tap these carbs, the less blood needs to be diverted away from your muscles to the stomach to digest them. This benefit also comes into play during recovery, as a packet of GU eaten just after exercise goes straight to work replenishing your muscle glycogen stores?the energy source first tapped by the body during intense physical exertion. Fructose is the principle sugar in fruit, and we use it because your stomach processes it faster than the maltodextrin, yet it doesn't produce a sugar high like you experience with simple sugars. We don't use more fructose because too much of it can upset your stomach and draw precious blood away from your muscles. Fructose also enhances the flavors?it's what makes you crave GU. But we don't make it too sweet. That's because studies have shown that our mouths become highly sensitive to sweet tastes after extensive exercise. As a result, what tasted sweet at the beginning of exercise will, two-plus hours later, taste overly sweet and become unpalatable. GU, on the other hand, will taste perfect, which means you'll continue to eat and keep your body fueled.
GU Amino Acid Blend: Puts the "Long" in "Longer"
In addition to continuously resupplying your body with fuel, GU features a unique blend of amino acids to combat muscle fatigue, accelerate the conversion of carbohydrates into usable energy, and maintain mental focus.
Histidine:
When you stress your muscles, they fatigue and experience a rather unpleasant side-effect, metabolic acidosis (a.k.a., "the burn"). Both are primarily due to proton (H+) build-up1. In our research, we found studies2 that demonstrate how various naturally occurring proteins packed with histidine have buffered the muscles' acid build-up. That's because the histidine residues contained within these proteins are able to neutralize those nasty H+ ions, and therefore reduce the effects of acidosis. By adding histidine, we're encouraging the body to produce more of these buffering proteins and keep your muscles pumping harder longer. Also, the less damage done to your muscles, the faster they recover.
Citrates (potassium citrate, sodium citrate, and citric acid):
During physical exertion, the body requires energy to keep moving. Central to the production of energy is the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), which is responsible for the breakdown and processing of amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids into ATP3, the actual energy molecule that fuels your muscles. GU's citrate blend contributes to the citric acid cycle and promotes greater efficiency in the production of ATP. Why? Because the faster you can produce ATP, the sooner your muscles can use it.
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs?leucine, valine and isoleucine):
When your heart and muscles are working hard, BCAAs become a major fuel source in addition to promoting protein synthesis?the converting of protein into fuel?as well as setting the table for rapid glucose biosynthesis3,4. GU's BCAAs also thwart muscle catabolism, a distressing natural situation where the body starts breaking down its own muscle to use as fuel. In addition, research5 suggests that BCAAs supplementation may delay the onset of central fatigue by blocking the transport of tryptophan into the brain, thus limiting the production of serotonin. This key neurotransmitter has been linked to depression of the central nervous system function which leads to feelings of sleepiness and fatigue6. By blocking this effect, GU helps you stay more alert and on top of your game.
Two C's (Calcium and Caffeine) for High Performance:
We put calcium into each packet of GU because you lose calcium during exercise, and your body needs it to thrive. Research has shown that there may be a link between muscle fatigue and calcium loss, so adding it back to your body is a good thing.
GU uses 20mg of caffeine (Strawberry Banana and Lemon Sublime have none, while Espresso Love has 40mg of the stuff) for two reasons: It acts as a stimulant? let's call this the caffeine-kick effect?and it helps the body metabolize fat during exercise, providing the body with an additional fuel source. 20mg is an ideal amount of caffeine to keep you alert and burning fat without getting a case of the jitters. The extra caffeine in Espresso Love is there for those days you really, really need help jump starting your workout.
GU's Antioxidant Blend: Saving You from Yourself
Each packet of GU comes with a healthy dose of vitamin C and vitamin E (how much depends on which flavor you choose). They're there because antioxidants provide a defense system against free radical damage to muscle tissues caused by the increased oxygen (oxidation) found in working muscles7. They won't boost your performance, but they protect against the muscle tissue damage that comes from a hard workout.
GU's Herbal Blend: A Little Homeopathic Love to Make Life Easier
Towards the end of GU's ingredient list is its Herbal Blend comprised of chamomile, a natural anti-inflammatory, and ginger, which naturally soothes the stomach as it quickly goes to work digesting the contents of each packet of GU.
And that's it. Everything inside each packet of GU is engineered to do one simple thing: provide your body with the essential requirements it needs to keep going for miles and miles and hours and hours. It goes down easy, and it goes to work fast so you don't have to slow down.
References:
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b. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000, 72(2 Suppl): fds647S-52S,.
