Energy Gels

The perfect energy gel composition for cyclists and endurance athletes

Als sporter weet je dat je een energy gel nodig hebt om optimaal te presteren. Maar het is best uitdagend om niet te verdwalen in het doolhof van wetenschappelijke formules. Onze ervaring leert ons dat een goede energy gel voor duursporters goed moet scoren op deze vier punten: de hoeveelheid energie per portie, de verhouding tussen snelle en trage koolhydraten, de verteerbaarheid en de toevoegingen.

Spoiler: Forget the outdated isotonic gels. At Neapharma, we are one step ahead of the competition: Extra moisture in a gel helps with better digestion and faster energy absorption. We have optimized the additional moisture in our energy gels so that their effectiveness can be compared to an iso-gel! But with more energy!

1. Keep it simple: Energy value

You use a gel to absorb energy. So, it’s important to know how much energy is actually in the packaging when comparing energy gels. Therefore, don’t just look at the nutritional values per 100 grams but also consider the size of the serving. A gel that weighs only 30 grams cannot be compared to a gel of 60 grams by only looking at the “per 100 grams” table.

  • How many grams of carbohydrates are in one dose? What is the goal: for each gel, you should aim for between 30 – 40 grams of carbohydrates. If you have a gel with fewer carbohydrates, you may not be optimally supporting your body. If you have more than 40 grams of carbohydrates, there’s a good chance your stomach won’t absorb everything, unless the gel works with 3 different carbohydrates.
  • Always consider drinking isotonic during cycling to get additional energy. That’s why a good Energy Gel always has more than 50 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams.
  • Extra water: Extra moisture in a gel helps with better digestion and faster energy absorption. At Neapharma, we have optimized the additional moisture in our energy gels so that their effectiveness can be compared to an iso-gel! But with more energy!

2. The ideal ratio between fast and slow carbohydrates

Not only the total volume of energy is important, but the composition also plays a significant role. For cyclists, it’s actually quite straightforward.

Not only the total amount of energy in the gel matters – the ratio between different energy sources is also crucial. Your body absorbs fast carbohydrates (fructose) first and then slow ones (glucose). The ideal ratio between these two depends on the type of effort you are going to exert. A ratio of two parts fructose to one part glucose proves to be ideal for endurance athletes. As an endurance athlete, you benefit most from a 2:1 ratio of fructose to glucose and a multi-stage absorption. With this ratio, you are assured of powerful and consistent support during prolonged exertions.

2:1 ratio of fructose to glucose: double power

Fun fact: our body can only absorb 65 grams of carbohydrates per hour, which is a limiting factor for endurance athletes. But… you can bypass this rule and absorb 30% more energy per hour! How? By combining 2 energy sources: fructose and glucose. Because your body processes these substances differently, you can absorb them simultaneously without limiting each other’s effects.

The secret weapon: Multi-stage absorption

At Neapharma, we work with 3 different carbohydrate sources in the energy gel. Unique in the world! That’s why, in addition to the 2:1 ratio, we also use a multi-stage absorption to take in extra carbohydrates.

Multi-stage, as the name suggests, means that you’ll be absorbing energy in different phases. First, your body will prioritize fructose and glucose. Afterward, energy absorption stops. Unless you use an additional dose of Maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is a long-chain energy that can provide energy up to 45 minutes after intake. This ensures that after the fast 2:1 absorption, you don’t experience an energy dip and can perform for a longer duration. For endurance athletes, like cyclists, this is an absolute must. Otherwise, you would experience an energy dip 20-25 minutes after taking a gel, which is the opposite of what you want to achieve.

3. Digestibility

What good is an energy gel with plenty of energy in the right proportions if you don’t feel well afterward or have to seek the soft verge? To prevent that, we have two tips:

  • Always choose a gel with a neutral pH. This is indeed the best proof that the gel doesn’t contain added acids or flavorings and is therefore easily digestible. This way, you don’t lose precious energy during digestion.
  • Always choose a gel with a neutral pH. This is indeed the best proof that the gel doesn’t contain added acids or flavorings and is therefore easily digestible. This way, you don’t lose precious energy during digestion.
    ‘Train your gut.’ Just as your body can’t run 100 km without preparation, your stomach can’t suddenly digest more than 65 grams of calories per hour. To avoid any issues, you need to practice this regularly. Just as your body can’t run 100 km without preparation, your stomach can’t suddenly digest more than 65 grams of calories per hour. To avoid any issues, you need to practice this regularly.

4.  A smart way to load carbohydrates: Pro Sport Fruit

Energy fruits often cause a rapid spike in blood sugar, leading to a dip after 15 minutes. By using a high-quality carbohydrate source, namely isomaltulose, hunger and energy dips are prevented with the Pro Sport Fruits. The composition ensures that the energy lasts extra long. A Pro Sport Fruit is ideal as a replacement for a Pro Energy bar or as a supplement to Pro Isotonic and Bars to build up to an energy intake of 120 carbohydrates per hour.

Thanks to the isomaltulose composition, you can use this as a booster to build up higher carbohydrate levels or as a replacement for a bar without experiencing a dip!

Pro Sport Fruit

5. Added ingredients

An energy gel gives you a lot of fast and easily digestible energy. Nothing more. Nothing less. Unfortunately, many brands still add ingredients purely for marketing purposes that don’t contribute to improving your performance or body composition.

  • Salt or sodium: When you sweat, you lose salt. To keep going and prevent dehydration, this needs to be regularly replenished. Therefore, a gel should contain at least 0.5 grams of salt per 100 grams, and it’s best to complement it with an isotonic drink.
  • Vitamin C or manganese: Vitamin C has been used for centuries to transport carbohydrates faster through the body. This allows your body to access the energy you consume more quickly. Recent research indicates that manganese does this even better. That’s why the latest generation of energy gels contains manganese instead of vitamin C.
  • Caffeine: Gels with caffeine provide an extra boost. Within 15 minutes of ingestion, you feel an additional shot of energy, alertness, and freshness. Since the effect inevitably diminishes after an hour, we recommend using caffeine gels only in the final stage of a long training or competition.
Check out the Pro Boost Gel