High Performance Energy Sources

I've had several endurance athlete-clients lately looking for an appropriate energy source to use during competition that won't cause bloating and gas. During long events, a large FODMAPS load can be consumed, especially if the product used contains more fructose than glucose. Watching the Olympic games tonight, I was inspired to search for a product to recommend, and I found one: Raspberry PowerBar Gel Blasts energy chews. The web site for the product states that the ratio of glucose to fructose is 2:1--very favorable. Even so, each person has a maximum threshold for fructose absorption, so it's still possible to overdo--too much of a good thing. Do you have a favorite high-energy competition product that doesn't aggravate your IBS?

Comments

[Kristin M.]

I am an endurance athlete and have finally found something that works for me. PowerBar products do not work. But Clif products do. They have many products that use rice syrup. No fructose or glucose. The Clif Shots and Clif gu type products work great. They also have a powder drink with sugar that is okay. It all tastes great, and I have not had any trouble since I've switched to Clif. One other product is Sport Beans by Jelly Belly. Expensive, but again, no GI trouble.

[Patsy Catsos]

I appreciate your feedback on these products. Since I am not an endurance athletes, its great to have your comments. About rice syrup--although Im working on it, I havent been able to find out what the ratio of fructose to glucose is in this sweetener. Id love to hear from other people who are usually intolerant to excess fructose in foods like honey, fruit, or high fructose corn syrup about whether they find they can tolerate rice syrup, even in fairly large amounts.

[Mareserinitatis]

Hammer Perpetuem has some soy but uses maltodextrin as a sweetener. Their Heed product, however, has Xylitol. Their gel is full of apple juice, so that's a definite no-no.

If someone is just looking for electrolytes, their edurolyte capsules are completely safe.

[Joyce Wilkins]

During a bike century, I discovered Gleukos and was immediately hooked. Not only instant energy, but no GI symptoms for me. It's a powder to be mixed with water (easy to carry). Ingredients: glucose, citric acid, monopotassium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride and natural flavors. No gluten, fructose or sucrose. Fabulous.

[Patsy Catsos]

Thanks for the tip!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Elizabeth]

Thoughts: I love Clif bars, as well as Odwalla bars, but I know the latter (and I think Clif as well) contain Soy Protein Isolate to up their protein content. In your book, you state to stay away from Soy Protein isolate...I'm not sure I understand this, as it seems this would just be the proteins from the soy, not the sugars/fiber (?).

[Patsy Catsos]

It's a good line of reasoning, but the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard reference shows that soy protein isolate is still 5.6% fiber, which we have to assume is galactans. Maybe there are some brands of isolate that are used in the food industry that would be OK, but I am not aware of them. I know they aren't as filling as a meal replacement compared to Clif and Odwalla, but the best bars out there for restricted FODMAPs eating are Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars in the peanut butter, almond, pecan and cinnamon flavors.

[Elizabeth]

Yup, love those. Eat them a lot. Thanks for the response :)