Energy that makes physiological sense
An energy gel has one job to do:
To quickly replenish usable carbohydrates during exercise. The muscles contain roughly 500-800 g of glycogen and the liver another 80–100 g. During intense endurance efforts these stores are depleted quickly. That is why energy has to be topped up continuously, so that performance does not drop and hypoglycaemia does not set in.
Our gel is designed to provide fast, readily available energy without unnecessary additives and to let athletes hold their pace even during long efforts.
Why is the 2:1 ratio crucial for endurance performance?
Glucose uptake in the gut is limited by the SGLT1 transporter, which can carry roughly 60 g of glucose per hour.
For most endurance athletes, however, that is not enough.
That is why fructose is added, as it uses a different transporter – GLUT5.
This combination of carbohydrates in a 2:1 ratio makes it possible to raise the intake to as much as 90 g of carbohydrates per hour.
Today this ratio is considered the most universal and most practical one for endurance performance.
Most gels are about marketing. We're about physiology.
There are three main types of energy gel on the market today:
- “Natural” gels based on rice syrup, honey or maple syrup. They may look clean label, but they often do not have a controlled ratio of glucose to fructose, which limits the amount of energy the body is able to absorb during exercise.
- Functional gels with the right carbohydrate ratio, which allow a high energy intake but often contain preservatives or stabilising additives.
- Gels built on slowly digestible carbohydrates, which promise “long-lasting energy” but increase the risk of digestive problems during racing and do not deliver energy at the moment the body needs it.
What makes hyve energy gel unique?
A nutritionally correct 2:1 glucose : fructose ratio for an intake of up to 90 g of carbohydrates per hour and at the same time a clean label composition with no artificial preservatives, flavourings or colourings.