Food vs Gel vs Drink: Which is the Best Form of Endurance Fuel?
, by Brad Keyes,
4 min reading time
Which is the Best Form of Endurance Fuel?
Every endurance athlete knows that easily digested calories, specifically carbs, are the name of the game during a long hard workout or race. But the form in which you consume those carbs can vary and some forms might be better than others. Let's get into it.
Solid foods.
Solid foods can obviously do the job when it comes to getting calories and energy into your body, but they come with a few disadvantages.
#1 Inconvenient.
Solid foods can be inconvenient, bulky, and hard to handle especially at a race pace.
#2 Gut Bombs.
Solid foods can be hard on your digestive system and can lead to an unpleasant stop on the side of the trail.
No one wants to be sick while watching their competition blow past them at the same time!
Gels
Gels can be an effective way to get quick energy but there are a few disadvantages.
#1 Texture.
For some people, swallowing gooey, oozy gel can be nauseating, especially if it's your 10th one of the day. Again, being sick on the side of the trail sucks.
#2 The mess.
Opening up a gel while on the move, especially while riding a bike is tough. You can end up dropping your precious fuel on the ground or spilling it all over yourself.
Drinks
Drinks are our favorite endurance fuel for a few reasons.
#1 Ease of use.
Drinks are easy to mix up and easy to use whether you're running, biking, or swimming. Even if you drop your bottle, you can pick it up and keep sipping, no harm no foul.
#2 Easy on the Gut, Easy on the Pallet.
Your gut bomb risk drops dramatically with liquids. Unlike solid foods, your digestive system is able to respond better to liquids.
For most endurance athletes, drinks are also much easier to stomach because the texture is more palatable. Even after a long hard day, drinks will still go down smooth and easy.
The Gold Medal for Best Form of Endurance Fuel = Drink
With 333 calories, it was designed to be light on your stomach while providing your body the most energy possible. It also has amino acids to promote healthy muscle recovery and of course electrolytes to make sure you're replenished and energized!
If you want to Fuel Smarter, Go Farther then add 333 Half Evil to your race/workout regimen!
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