Clif SHOT Bloks Comparison
Clif BLOKS Energy Chews are one of the leading “chew” products on the market, and many athletes prefer chews over energy gels because they would rather eat their nutrition instead of using gels. Unfortunately, while chew products are more like eating candy, they have many of the same nutritional characteristics as candy. Namely high sugar and not much else in terms of nutritional value. Unlike BLOKS, e-Gel is loaded with complex carbs instead of sugars for maximum and sustained energy uptake. e-Gel also provides complete electrolyte replacement to maintain hydration and avoid cramping and injuries. And e-Gel has a complete profile of amino acids and antioxidants to reduce tissue damage, lactic acid build up and soreness, and to speed recovery. None of these things are in Clif BLOKS. Read on for the complete comparison:
complex carbs
e-Gel
30 g
Clif BLOKS
12 g
e-Gel has more complex carbs than any other energy gel or energy chew product, including Clif BLOKS. This is critical because your body can uptake more energy when you use complex carbs instead of simple sugars.
How is this possible?
Read on (or watch this video)
The carbs/energy in an energy gel are transported into your cellular system through osmosis. If you recall learning about osmosis in science class, it’s the way a fluid crosses a membrane. In order for the fluid to cross, it has to be an equal or lower concentration than the fluid on the other side of the membrane. In this case you’re trying to get the gel across your cellular membrane so you can use the energy. Gels by themselves are extremely concentrated (hypertonic), that’s why you need to use water with gel so that you can lower the concentration until it becomes isotonic (the same concentration as your cellular fluids). When you do, the gel and water get absorbed – osmosis!!
What’s interesting is that the concentration of a fluid (also called the osmolality) is largely dependent on the NUMBER of particles in the fluid, and less dependent on the size of the particles. Complex carbs by definition have a larger molecular structure than simple sugars, basically they have more glucose molecules stuck together. But remember, it’s the number of particles, not the size that matters most. What that means is that at the point of absorption (isotonic), a fluid with complex carbs can transport nearly twice as much energy into the cellular system compared to one with simple sugars.
This isn’t something that we’ve invented here a Crank Sports, it’s proven science. Many energy gels (including e-Gel) use at least some maltodextrin for this reason. Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate with an extremely large molecular structure. Where e-Gel sets itself apart from other products is that we use much more complex carb and less sugar. This allows you to get more energy when you use e-Gel compared to our competitors. Why do other companies use so much sugar? Simple, because it’s sweet and inexpensive, and sweet things sell. So if you want to sell a lot of something you make it sweet. But if you want to make the best PERFORMING product you use complex carbs.
carb sources
e-Gel
Maltodextrin
Fructose
Clif BLOKS
Tapioca Syrup
Cane Sugar
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is the preferred complex carbohydrate for endurance athletes. Unfortunately, even though there is maltodextrin in Clif BLOKS, there is not much of it. Maltodextrin is the primary ingredient in e-Gel as well as our e-Fuel hydration drink product.
Fructose is e-Gel because it allows for additional energy uptake that you do not get from Clif BLOKS, read why
sugar
e-Gel
18%
Clif BLOKS
50%
By providing lower sugar and more complex carbs instead, e-Gel is able to provide significantly more total energy uptake. See our complex carb discussion for complete details.
sodium
e-Gel
230 mg
Clif BLOKS
50 mg
e-Gel is the only energy gel to provide complete electrolyte replacement in the gel – where it should be! The most important electrolyte that you need to replenish is sodium to help you maintain hydration and to avoid cramping and injuries.
e-Gel has nearly 5x the sodium compared to Clif BLOKS.
For a more detailed discussion of why it’s important to have this level of electrolytes in the gel instead of getting your electrolytes some other way:
potassium
e-Gel
85 mg
Clif BLOKS
18 mg
Potassium is the other electrolyte that is important to replace during your training and competition, along with sodium. The level of potassium in e-Gel is designed to meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommendation for replacement during athletic activity.
Compared to Clif BLOKS, e-Gel has nearly 5x the potassium.
See the sodium discussion for additional details.
amino acids
e-Gel
Histidine, Leucine, Valine, Isoleucine
Clif BLOKS
no amino acids
Amino acids help to reduce lactic acid build up, reduce soreness, maintain muscle protein and aid in quicker recovery.
Clif Bloks Energy Chews do not contain amino acids.
antioxidants
e-Gel
vitamin C 120%
vitamin E 120%
Clif BLOKS
none
Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness and aid in the recovery process.
Clif Bloks Energy Chews do not contain these antioxidants.
citrates
e-Gel
Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid
Clif BLOKS
Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid
Citrates assist in the carbohydrate to energy conversion process as well as slow the build up of lactic acid in your muscles.
carnauba wax
e-Gel
none
Clif BLOKS
yes
We ask the same question since that’s the same thing you wax your car with! The reality is that when you want to make something with a candy consistency you end up including ingredients that you would never use if your only objective was to make the best sports nutrition product.
It should go without saying, but e-Gel does NOT include carnauba wax.
ready to try e-Gel?
we guarantee you'll love it!
Keith Castleton
Jeff Rommel
David Ball
Shawn Smith
Vicki Griffin
Kathy Murgas
NOTE: All Clif Bloks Energy Chew nutrition values shown are for Strawberry flavor as of April 2021, other flavors may vary. e-Gel nutrition values are the same for all flavors, read why
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