Synthetic Energy Gels vs. Natural Energy Gels

Andromeda

I was thinking that athletes as a collective like to be healthy as possible with the choices they make. Some more vehement and vigilant than others.

I then got to thinking that I eat and drink pretty healthy - as naturally as possible. But when it comes to supplements to training all the rules go out the window - specifically energy gels, energy bars, recovery drink/powder. They are GENERALLY completely synthesised and don't sit well in many athletes' stomachs. Not to mention the chemicals that are then introduced to the body.

Is that because that's what is offered to us on the market? Of course we can get natural and organic foods that do a similar (or the same?) thing. But I think it comes back to readily available, convenient and proven products that draw people in that perform the role they want - energy on a long run or ride and recovery after.

My question is: If you could get a totally natural energy gel or energy bar that tasted good, was the same price and did the same as the synthetically produced products would you use it? Surely it's a no-brainer...

The only product I can find in the UK seems to be MuleBar.

Thoughts?

danlikesbikes

Personally I use bikefood - http://bikefood.com/index.php/what-is-bikefood/ which is a natural product and I seem to get on well with it and does not when racing hard give me any bloated or sickening feelings.

But I have also used Torq - http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/acatalog/t ... _gels.html which are also a natural product & have had no issues with their stuff either.

Guess its down to taste, cost, availability & own personal body preferences really.

simon_e

Andromeda wrote:

My question is: If you could get a totally natural energy gel or energy bar that tasted good, was the same price and did the same as the synthetically produced products would you use it? Surely it's a no-brainer...

The only product I can find in the UK seems to be MuleBar.

Thoughts?

Of course it's a no-brainer. Stuff like Powerbar and SiS is artificial, processed gunk. Google definition:
Artificial
Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, typically as a copy of something natural: "artificial light".
Not existing naturally; contrived or false: "the artificial division of people into age groups".
Synonyms: factitious - false - unnatural - affected - man-made

There is a great deal more to feeding and maintaining the human body than numbers, calories, carbs and proteins.

You could try these:
Torq - http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/
9bar - http://www.9bar.com/ are made by Wholebake
Nak'd and Trek bars from http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/
Tropical Wholefoods bars (made in the same place as Torq) - http://www.tropicalwholefoods.com/

High5 gels seem OK but they moved from their hardline "no artificial crap" stance when they launched those Zero things. Slippery slope IMHO.

And there's always bananas and homemade flapjacks.

nawty

Cyanide is natural, doesn't mean it's good for you...

Personally I like bananas and apples and if I need concentrated energy I'll use maltloaf (or banana loaf if the wife has been baking) which is hardly synthetic central.

I can't get on with gels, 100% emergency use maybe but the subsequent blood sugar crash far outweighs any benefits.

edit: seems like an odd question for your first post, are you selling something?

edit 2: it would seem you are, if Google is anything to go by...

lotus49

Andromeda wrote:

Not to mention the chemicals that are then introduced to the body.

You will have to look a long way to find food that isn't made of chemicals.

orangatang

I don't know about in the U.K but I like to use http://shop.honeystinger.com/products/Gold.html
they also make one kind with added Ginsting. Other flavors too.
If you can get these, they are made with honey, b-vitamins, and potassium. If you go the the page and scroll down a little bit you can see the ingredients.

thegreatdivide

Clif pride themselves in being organic. I'm a fan of their stuff.

chrisaonabike

nawty wrote:

edit: seems like an odd question for your first post, are you selling something?

edit 2: it would seem you are, if Google is anything to go by...

+1 - anything but MuleBar, from now on.

A friend makes me enormous quantities of delicious flapjack in return for teaching her daughter chemistry. Mulebar, schmulebar....