Gel

Energy gels: What are they?

When we consume food in the human body, a series of processes are carried out in order to finally turn it into energy which in turn ends up in the muscles. But all of this is a "time-consuming" process and there are cases where in sports we may need large amounts of energy "immediately" such as for example in endurance races.

This is where energy gels come in to supplement and cover the body's emergency needs. Essentially what the gels do is provide this energy in an almost finished form ready for use. It is a quick and convenient source of carbohydrates and electrolytes, where they are specially designed to quickly replenish the fuel that our body uses during our sports activity.

Energy gels are offered in various shapes and sizes, but most of the time they will be a small, and usually easy to open, package that can be easily transported and consumed through the mouth, without having to stop our sports activity.  


How exactly do they work?

The energy gel is essentially concentrated carbohydrates in the form of maltodextrin and fructose, which not only can increase glycogen levels in the muscles, but can also increase glycogen levels in our blood, giving our body the command to ''keep going''.

Especially in sports activities that require endurance, we often feel the feeling of fatigue after some time. This is due to the lack of glycogen present in the blood, during exercise, where it plays an important role in the transport of carbohydrates to the brain, which is why, as we continue to exercise, we feel the feeling of fatigue more and more intensely. Gels can solve this problem if we provide our muscles with the fuel they need, essentially stimulating our brain as well, during exercise.


When is the best time to consume them?

In general there is no specific instruction, what is most important and we should always keep in mind, is not to wait until we feel very tired to consume the energy Gel. It is preferable to take the gel early enough before we get tired in the sports activity (usually within 40-45 minutes) so that the body can still process it, without being in a state of great stress.

In our store you can find the best energy gels of the highest quality sports supplement companies High 5, First Endurance, Gu SaltStick, Xendurance, SCN Nutrition and Maurten