GU Liquid Energy - Individual

As hard as we may try to get all our energy and nutrients at the dining table, inevitably, the hunger knock will strike will knock far from home and we will want to have the right resources to fight that empty feeling. With the GU Energy Gel, we can count on having in our back pockets the sort of security from bonking that will give us the confidence to go that much harder on our rides.

 

The idea behind the GU Gel packs is that they are formulated to give us first a quick shot of energy while still providing us with a long-lasting, slow-release energy form as well. They do this by mixing their patented 20-30% fructose, which burns immediately and fast, with 70-80% maltodextrin carbs, which take longer to activate and burn more slowly. With this carb mixture, you won’t have to worry about a quick high and an even quicker crash, rather you can take a gel pack shortly before a big climb and expect to feel the benefits immediately and throughout the 20 or 30 minute intense effort. That’s largely because, though there are more than twenty grams of carbs in one pack, there are only seven grams of sugar.

 

GU uses carbs that are easily digestible, and each pack is only 100 calories, so you won’t be bombarding your tummy with too many calories too fast. They’ve also added ginger extract to the ingredients, which among other things, is helpful in combating GI upset. Keeping hydrated is also essential in keeping the right balance, and to help with that, GU Gel Packs contain an assortment of electrolytes to ensure proper hydration. The electrolytes such as calcium, potassium and sodium, present in each GU Gel Pack, are also key to helping the muscles work properly, and lacking the right balance of these will often result in weakness or cramps. A good dose of vitamins C and E, which are important antioxidants, will help the body fight all the free-radicals that will result from vigorous exercise and can cause muscle damage. 

 

For best results, GU suggests that you take a gel 15 minutes before starting your ride or race so that you will immediately have some fast energy shots as well as a good reserve of energy to keep you pedaling enthusiastically for the first 30- to 45-minutes of the ride. After that, you should be looking to take one gel every 45-minutes or so. GU knows that most bodies can digest up to 340 calories an hour without diverting blood from the hard-working muscles. If you are super fit and have a very fast metabolism, then you could probably get away with having a gel every 30 minutes, but for most of us, once we start over-supplementing, our efforts are counter-constructive since the body will have to work harder to digest what you’re taking in, reducing its efficiency. Remember, too, that you should be drinking between 24 and 30 fluid ounces per hour to remain as hydrated as possible. And if you are making use of a GU energy drink, then you will be getting added carbs and calories there too. 

 

Though GU Energy Gels are meant primarily for pre- and during exercise, they can in a pinch be used as a post-ride energy boost, since your muscles will be hungry to replenish their glycogen stores. And since the GU Energy Gels do also employ an amino acid blend, it will help ameliorate muscle fatigue and get your body on the road to recovery that much faster.