Untapped Energy Gel
Untapped and e-Gel have several significant differences. The first being that e-Gel is made with complex carbs and Untapped is all sugar (maple syrup). Complex carbs allow you to uptake significantly more energy as explained below. Second, e-Gel provides all the electrolytes you need to help avoid cramping and injuries. Untapped has virtually no sodium at all, meaning you should use an electrolyte supplement if you use Untapped. With e-Gel everything you need is right in the gel! Read on for all the details:
calories
e-Gel
150
Untapped
100
Each pack of e-Gel provides 50% more energy than a pack of Untapped. This makes e-Gel more economical and you have fewer packs to carry and less trash to deal with, that’s a good thing!
complex carbs
e-Gel
30 g
Untapped
0 g
e-Gel has more complex carbs than any other energy gel and 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.
sugar
e-Gel
18%
Untapped
100%
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.
carb sources
e-Gel
Maltodextrin
Fructose
Untapped
Maple Syrup
Maltodextrin is the preferred complex carbohydrate for endurance athletes and fructose is in the product because it allows for additional energy uptake that you do not get from gels that don’t use it, read why
sodium
e-Gel
230 mg
Untapped
5 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.
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
Untapped
82 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. See the sodium discussion for additional details.
amino acids
e-Gel
Histidine, Leucine, Valine, Isoleucine
Untapped
no amino acids
Amino acids help to reduce lactic acid build up, reduce soreness, maintain muscle protein and aid in quicker recovery. Untapped does no contain amino acids.
antioxidants
e-Gel
vitamin C 120%
vitamin E 120%
Untapped
none
Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness and aid in the recovery process. Untapped does not contain these antioxidants.
citrates
e-Gel
Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid
Untapped
no citrates
Citrates assist in the carbohydrate to energy conversion process as well as slow the build up of lactic acid in your muscles.
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Keith Castleton
Jeff Rommel
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