Hydration Balance
Energy gels are potent energy boosters, but don’t expect to extract 300 ml of fluid from a 60 ml gel. It is important to have realistic expectations, as each gel has limited capacity to maintain your hydration balance.
Digestibility
A good energy gel also includes moisture to facilitate the smooth absorption of carbohydrates. The moisture acts as a conductor for the carbohydrates in your intestines, promoting better digestibility. It is always beneficial to have fluid in your gels to enhance proper digestion.
Speed of Absorption
An additional benefit of moisture in energy gels is the faster and more complete absorption of carbohydrates. Thick, sticky gels can cause up to a 50% loss in absorption. Therefore, moisture in gels is advantageous to increase the efficiency of carbohydrate absorption.
Isotonic Gels
Isotonic gels are an outdated science where you receive fewer carbohydrates and overly focus on fluid intake. A good energy gel contains sufficient moisture (without being isotonic) for the above reason and, in reality, has nearly the same fluid absorption as an isotonic gel but with a lot more energy.
Of course, various factors play a role in this. Duration, intensity, sequence, … but nutrition and recovery also play a crucial role:
- Building endurance starts during the training; drink enough: a dehydrated body can convert up to 25% less endurance building from a workout.
- Afterward: Everything is proportional: short workouts versus long workouts. For short workouts, effective endurance building is possible. Then we use Pro Leucine: focus on muscle recovery and building. For long workouts, we aim for complete recovery with Pro Elite Recovery. You can find more information and details on the detail page.
“Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins play a crucial role in numerous physiological processes in the body. For athletes, amino acids are particularly important due to their diverse functions that contribute to muscle building, recovery, and overall performance. Here are some functions of amino acids for athletes:”
- Muscle Building and Recovery: Amino acids are essential for protein synthesis, which, in turn, is crucial for muscle building and recovery. Particularly, the so-called ‘essential amino acids’ cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from diet. They play a key role in repairing and building muscle tissue after intense physical exertion.
- Energy Production: Amino acids can, under certain conditions, be converted into energy. This can be particularly relevant during prolonged or intense workouts when the glycogen stores in the muscles become depleted.
- Immune System Support: Intensive physical activity can temporarily weaken the immune system. Some amino acids, such as glutamine, are involved in supporting the immune system, which can help reduce the risk of infections and illnesses.
Salts and minerals play a crucial role in the overall health and performance of athletes. These substances, also known as electrolytes, are essential for various bodily functions and can be lost during physical activity through sweating. Here are some reasons why salts and minerals are important for athletes:
- Fluid Balance: Electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, help maintain fluid balance in the body. During exercise, excessive sweating can lead to the loss of these electrolytes, which may result in dehydration if not replenished.
- Muscle Function: Calcium, potassium, and sodium are crucial for normal muscle function. A proper electrolyte balance is essential to prevent muscle cramps and weakness.
- Nerve Function: Electrolytes are involved in transmitting nerve impulses in the body. A balanced electrolyte status is crucial for effective communication between nerve cells, which is important for muscle contraction and coordination.
- Energy Production: Various minerals, including magnesium, are involved in cellular-level energy production. Adequate energy production is crucial for sports performance.
- Recovery after Exertion: After exercising, it is important to replenish lost electrolytes to promote recovery. This helps reduce muscle soreness, fatigue, and maintains a healthy electrolyte level.
- Prevention of Hyponatremia: During prolonged exertion, excessive water intake without sufficient electrolyte intake can lead to hyponatremia, a serious condition where the sodium concentration in the blood becomes too low.
Athletes can replenish electrolytes by consuming sports drinks, dietary supplements, or by eating foods naturally rich in these minerals. It is important to pay attention to individual needs, depending on the intensity and duration of physical activity, climate, and individual factors such as body weight and sweat level. It is recommended to seek advice from a nutritionist or health professional for personalized guidance.
Yes! That’s the idea! This way, you personalize your isotonic drink.
Little. 1 Hydro stick adds extra salts and minerals to your isotonic drink. 2 Hydro sticks, of course, do the same, but then the ratio of your substances is so optimal that you are talking about an O.R.S. ratio. Often, it is not necessary to add 2 sticks, and 1 (Hydro, in this case) is already sufficient.
Hydro
During prolonged exertion, you sweat out fluids and electrolytes. As a result, your fluid and salt balance will no longer be in balance, leading to a loss of performance. The Pro Elite Hydro sticks contain a low-calorie blend of essential salts, minerals, and electrolytes to maintain your fluid and salt balance.
ORS
With a double dosage (2 sticks in 500ml water/Pro Isotonic), an ‘Oral Rehydration Solution (=ORS)’ is created. This concentration contains 7.5g of glucose (maltodextrin) and 900mg of sodium. The combination of sodium and glucose in a hypotonic solution maximizes fluid absorption in the small intestine. The ideal solution for athletes who sweat a lot.
At Neapharma, we combine our Superior sports nutrition with our own Fuel Plan App. But that’s not a must!
You can use each Neapharma product on its own: an energy gel, recovery shake, or isotonic drink. Or you can personalize your sports nutrition with Kristof De Kegel’s Fuel Plan App.
Based on your energy expenditure, temperature, sweat profile, and 28 other parameters, you can personalize your isotonic drink and carbohydrate intake, and our free Fuel Plan App will assist you.
– Pro Carb Max sticks: You turn your isotonic drink into a hypertonic drink because you want to absorb much more carbohydrates (=energy). This is perfect in the final stages or at the start of a significant challenge. Add 1 to 2 sticks to your isotonic sports drink.
– Hydro & O.R.S. sticks: Add 1 to 2 sticks to your isotonic drink to maximize support for your fluid balance.
You can combine both the Carb Max sticks and the Hydro sticks in one water bottle with your isotonic sports drink.
Good question! Because out of ignorance, you might think it’s a dye. But we don’t use dyes…. So indeed, strange. One of the substances that helps carbohydrates be absorbed faster (our isotonic is absorbed the fastest of all isotonic drinks) is beta-carotene. It is also found in carrots and is 100% a natural product. If you put spaghetti sauce in a jar, sometimes there is also an orange hue left behind, that is due to beta-carotene, the carrot. We use it as a carrier to speed up the absorption of our substances by the body, but it does leave a color. But it’s 100% natural, 100% harmless.
In Belgium, all orders above 30€ are shipped free of charge. Shipping for orders under 30€ is 4€. For shipments outside Belgium, but within the EU, there is an 8€ charge if the order is less than 40€.
All Neapharma products are pH-neutral. Without flavoring and acids which affect pH, everything is absorbed faster and more effectively for maximum impact, without stressing your stomach and intestines. In addition, products with a neutral pH are kinder on your tooth enamel.