2:1 CARBOHYDRATE RATIO ENERGY GEL During very prolonged exercise, ingestion of Glucose and Fructose, in a 2:1 ratio, results in greater carbohydrate oxidation rates than the ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of Glucose alone[2]. This is due to the fact that more than one transport mechanism is called into use, as Glucose is transported via the sodium glucose pathway, SGLT1, and Fructose is transported via a different pathway, GLUT5[3]. At our maximum capacity, we can transport Glucose via SGLT1 at a rate of 1gram per minute, resulting in 60grams per hour. However, when we co-ingest Glucose and Fructose, in a 2:1 ratio, we are able to transport 1.5grams per minute, resulting in 90grams per hour. The total lactate oxidation increases when we consume Glucose and Fructose, in a 2:1 ratio. This corresponds to lactate oxidation in our active muscle fibres, while part of the lactate oxidation may also take place in our heart muscles as lactate is efficiently used as an energy fuel in cardiomyocytes during exercise. Hepatic lactate update and conversion into glucose contributes substantially to total lactate disappearance. When multiple transportable carbohydrates (Glucose and Fructose, in a 2:1 ratio) are ingested during exercise, both hepatic lactate and glucose availability increase significantly when compared to ingestion of glucose alone. The total carbohydrate oxidation increases, essentially due to an enhanced oxidation of lactate. Because lactate is essentially oxidized by working skeletal muscles during exercise, co-ingestion of Glucose and Fructose not only allows an increase in total carbohydrate oxidation beyond what may be obtained with ingestion of Glucose alone, but it also provides additional oxidative fuel to active skeletal muscles during exercise[4]. Consumption of 90grams of carbohydrate per hour, from a co-ingestion of Glucose and Fructose in a 2:1 ratio, has the potential to spare muscle glycogen oxidation relative to lower doses of single carbohydrate ingestion, or even higher multiple carbohydrate ingestion. Ingesting higher amounts of either single or multiple transportable carbohydrates, can create an ‘over-dose’ effect, whereby effective and beneficial muscle glycogen oxidation and exercise performance and diminished[5]. Therefore, it is important to remember that you should not exceed the maximum ingestion of the products, which stands at 90gram per hour of Glucose and Fructose in a 2:1 ratio – this means either two Unived Elite Gels, or two Unived Drink Mixes, or one Unived Gel and one Unived Drink Mix, per hour. There is also evidence that co-ingestion of Glucose and Fructose, in a 2:1 ratio, increases intestinal water absorption by 65% as compared with ingestion of Glucose alone[6]. Unived’s Elite Energy Gel & Elite Drink Mix have been formulated to deliver multiple transportable carbohydrates in the optimal 2:1 ratio of simple to complex carbohydrates. It is clinically proven that when we combine Glucose, which is oxidized via the SGLT1 pathway at a rate of 1g/min or 60g/hr, with Fructose, which is oxidized via the GLUT5 pathway, in a 2:1 ratio, the rate of ingested carbohydrate can exceed 1.5g/min or 90g/hr. The 2:1 ratio ensures a happy gut as it reduces abdominal cramps and improves gastrointestinal distress, due to a faster intestinal absorption of carbohydrates, and increases intestinal water absorption by 65% as compared with glucose alone[7]. In addition, we’ve included Beta-Alanine which helps improve performance by buffering the acidity in active muscles during high-intensity exercise [9, 10, 11]. Endurance activities are always challenging and as the hours roll on, our body begins to respond to ongoing stress, external conditions, and various internal reactions, often leading our pallet and stomach to frequently change their flavour and substrate requirements. Now, with the choice of a gel or a drink mix, various flavours, non-caffeine and different caffeinated options, you have the ability to plan your hourly caloric and caffeine intake in a manner that ensures optimal peak performance.