What is energy gel?
It is a popular energy supplement for athletes who engage in prolonged, high-intensity activities such as running and cycling. Energy gels typically contain high levels of sugar and carbohydrates, providing a rapid energy to delay fatigue and improve athletic performance.
Science in Sport has launched many different types of energy gels to date. How should you choose among these products? Let's explain it clearly below.
Figure 1: Classification diagram of SiS energy gel
GO Energy Isotonic Gel
This is a convenient and quick source of liquid carbohydrates, ideal for use during intense exercise when energy is needed to maintain performance and prevent fatigue. Its isotonic formula means this energy gel can be part of your energy replenishment strategy without causing bloating and fatigue like liquid drinks.
For exercise lasting less than 90 minutes, it is recommended to take 1-3 doses every hour.
GO Energy + Caffeine Gel
It can provide energy for exercise and enhance physical and mental performance. 22 grams of carbohydrates can maintain energy levels during exercise, while 75 milligrams of caffeine can refresh the mind when fatigued.
As exercise duration increases and fatigue intensifies, cognitive function gradually declines. Caffeine can improve attention and alertness, thereby enhancing mental performance, while also improving various physical functions such as explosive power and repetitive sprinting ability, making it crucial for the final sprint phase of training and competition.
Caffeine energy gel can be taken 30 minutes before strenuous exercise to prepare your mind. Towards the end of endurance training, if you feel the need to replenish energy or improve alertness and focus, you can take 1-2 more gels.
BETA Fuel Gel
BETA – the most comprehensive nutrition solution for endurance sports. BETA Fuel Energy Gel is a dual-source, high-carbohydrate energy gel designed to provide athletes with more energy during long training sessions.
Each serving contains 40 grams of carbohydrates, with a maltodextrin to fructose ratio of 1:0.8. Designed for exercise lasting 2 hours or longer, which requires 80-120 grams of carbohydrates per hour.
For endurance athletes (whose competitions typically last more than 2 hours), consuming 80 to 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour is crucial for maintaining peak performance.
During a 3-hour cycling session, replenishing with SiS Beta Fuel gel (maltodextrin to fructose ratio of 1:0.8) at a rate of 120 g/h resulted in a reported peak oxidation rate of 1.58 g/min and an oxidation efficiency of 72%, highlighting the Beta Fuel series as the most comprehensive energy replenishment solution for endurance sports.
Depending on your sport or event, you should take 1-3 energy gels per hour to reach your daily target intake of 80-120 grams.
BETA Fuel + Nootropic Gel
BETA FUEL + Nootropics is a dual-source high-carbohydrate energy gel with added nootropic ingredients. Cognizin® (cytidine diphosphate choline) is designed to provide energy and enhance cognitive function in athletes who train for extended periods.
This innovative combination of 40 grams of dual-source carbohydrates, 250 mg of Cognizin® cytidine diphosphate choline, 1 gram of L-taurine, 200 mg of caffeine, and 200 mg of the amino acid L-theanine can enhance your physical and mental performance.
One serving per day. When taken with other energy supplements in the BETA series, it can provide an intake of 80-120 grams of carbohydrates per hour.
