Energy Drink issues

I know this has been discussed before, but it seems like all of a sudden, between last fall and now, my stomach has become very sensitive to Accelerade. I have a sensitive stomach to begin with, but I eat almost everything. I just started doing longer rides this season and have noticed pain/discomfort almost immediately after swallowing even a sip of Accelerade. Of course, I just bought a huge container of it.
I have always had this issue with Gatorade and don't go near it. Any other suggestions as to things to try? I like formulas that have protein, in addition to carbs. Could it be a particular flavor?
Any advice would be appreciated. I drink a huge amount and as the weather gets hotter, I really need the extra stuff in my bottles. I don't have any problems with shot blocks or Clif Bars.

Robyn

I use Sustained Energy. It's pretty flavorless.

V.

Hi,

I am interested in energy drinks. What I see, the most products have a lot of sugar or artificial sweetener or the cover up sugar alcohol. I don't want that. Is there a better product out a little bit healthier?

Thanks
Resi

I'm a fan of Gu2O. I buy the single-serving packets so I can carry them with me and refill on long rides. It's never upset my stomach even on very hot days/hard rides. (Which actually surprises me since I can't tolerate GU gel at all, at least when I run).

I like most of the flavors -- esp raspberry and mango -- but it doesn't include protein.

Doesn't Powerbar make a recovery drink with protein? I think it might even come in single-serve packets... But I haven't tried it so can't offer an opinion.

All The Hammer drinks (Heed, sustained Enegery, Perpetuem) use Maltodextrin as Fuels. Gu20 (cant remeber how to do a subscript) also does.
I like Perpetuem myslef, but I have a garbage gut. Granted find someone who stocks them can be challenge, but you can order direct (http://www.e-caps.com/) and they do sell sample packs.
PS. if you do decide to order direct, you get 15% off the first order if you are referred. (The existing customer also gets a cut). PM me if interested

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Originally Posted by Fredwina

All The Hammer drinks (Heed, sustained Enegery, Perpetuem) use Maltodextrin as Fuels. Gu20 (cant remeber how to do a subscript) also does.
I like Perpetuem myslef, but I have a garbage gut. Granted find someone who stocks them can be challenge, but you can order direct (http://www.e-caps.com/) and they do sell sample packs.
PS. if you do decide to order direct, you get 15% off the first order if you are referred. (The existing customer also gets a cut). PM me if interested

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I second the use of Hammer products. I use HEED for long rides, especially in the summer, and i use Recoverite after all rides.

Having recently recovered from a ruptured ulcer, i understand sensitive tummies.

And like you, on long rides its good to have the sugar and salt.

I have read that using diluted juices with a bit of salt can also work as an energy drink.

Eload works for me, i like the berry flavor.

I'm a member of the celiac club, and have plenty of things that upset my gut. Clif electrolyte actually soothes my tummy, and the Clif Bloks are nature's most perfect food!;)

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Originally Posted by Resi

Hi,

I am interested in energy drinks. What I see, the most products have a lot of sugar or artificial sweetener or the cover up sugar alcohol. I don't want that. Is there a better product out a little bit healthier?

Thanks
Resi

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I use fast twitch before my strength sessions. Seems to work well no stomach or heart palatation problems, i've had those with other drinks. It comes in packets too, and it does not have too much sugar by comparison.

I swear by InfinitNutrition. You can customize your sports drink: more or less calories, electrolytes, protein, flavor, etc. It sounds really foofy, but for me, it works better than any of the others.

When you go to the site you can buy an already set mixture or you can fill out a quick questionaire that helps set up a blend for you. You can then customize it from there. My mixture has less flavor than suggested with 1.5 grams of protein per 20 oz. bottle.

It runs about the same price as Hammer's products.

I recently discovered a sensitivity to maltodextrin. I kept trying to find "gentler" energy drinks only to discover that it wasn't necessarily the drink but the maltodextrin. Turns out my body doesn't digest it. I kind of liken it to olestra--it just gurgles, bubbles, and hits me upside the insides until it uh..errr....leaves the system.

The problem is that the vast majority of energy drinks and gels contain maltodextrin. I've recently converted to Clif's Shot (mmmm...salty cranberry) and blocks. My tummy is a much happier camper.

Anyway...my suggestion is to look the ingredients and see if there is a common ingredient in the drinks that upset your stomach vs. those that don't.

I use a combination of iced tea and PowerBar Endurance. This combo seems to agree pretty well with my stomach, and provides the calories and energy that I need. I tend NOT to be an eater - can't stomach any of the bars, GUs, etc., and am usually going os hard I can't take the time - so having the calories in my bottles is key.

SheFly

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Originally Posted by logdiva32

I use fast twitch before my strength sessions. Seems to work well no stomach or heart palatation problems, i've had those with other drinks. It comes in packets too, and it does not have too much sugar by comparison.

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Thanks, I checked it out...
It always sound's so great "no sugar" but also this product contents sucralose and maltodextrin...hmm I wonder, if I ever find a healthy product, maybe I have to come up with my own creation /homemade stuff...
I found a protein drink "Rainbow light Protein energizer", has anybody used this?

Resi

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Originally Posted by liza

I'm a fan of Gu2O.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I use Sustained Energy. It's pretty flavorless.

V.

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I combine the two. The Sustained is flavorless, so I mix it with Gu2O - raspberry or mango. Accelerade upset my stomach too, and I don't have problems with this. I used it at Sebring, and since I stopped eating after around midnight, this got me through the rest of the night.

I started using Cytomax Energy drink and haven't encountered the same problems that I did with Gatorade. I'm currently using the Fruit Punch flavor, isn't exactly yummy, but it isn't as sickenly sweet as some. Unfortunately, I think it's one of those things you have to play around with, which can be rather expensive I know. If you have friends who ride, maybe you can ask them for a sample of their particular brand.

I assume you're mixing your drink per the directions? The reason I ask is that some people think the stronger the better, but that can actually make the drink harder to digest.

I'm curious about the fact that it Accelerade didn't bother you until recently. I've gone through periods of time where my stomach just seems rather fussy. After a few rounds of it over the last several years, I realized that almost always coincided with taking antibiotics. While the drugs themselves didn't upset my stomach, they must have altered the contents of my stomach enough to make digesting certain things--sugar among them--harder. When I notice that now, I take some Acidophilus pills for a week or so, and my stomach usually goes back to normal. Just a thought.....

And I agree: Clif Blocks are a godsend.

Thanks, guys. Yes, I mix the Accelerade per instructions. I haven't been on any antibiotics in the last 6 weeks or so. I had a bad bought of bronchitis in February and was on 3 courses of various things on and off until the middle of March. I am careful to eat yogurt when i take antibiotics, so they usually don't bother me, but perhaps this might be it. I have had various "ulcer like" symptoms on and off since I was in my twenties, but usually it's stress related; once in awhile a certain food will set me off. I avoid things like broccoli, which is one of the few things that always does a number on me.

I think I might try the Clif electrolyte stuff first, before I start with the more expensive products. Single serving packets sound good, but i like buying the big tubs of the powder and mixing. For long rides of over 40 miles, I wear a Camelbak with water and put the energy drink in my bottles. I know it's "Fred," but on a 50 mile ride I have been known to drink the whole camelbak and 1.5 bottles of Accelerade. I am not the best with drinking from a bottle while riding, but I am trying...

http://www.cranksports.com/products/eFuel/
http://www.cranksports.com/products/eGel/

My husband and I had issues with Cytomax, tummy did not like. We both experienced diarrhea.

The eGel/ eFuel has given us more energy to ride further and not have any tummy issue. Been using it for 2 1/2 years now.

My issues with Accelerade seemed to have disappeared, just in time for the hotter weather and longer rides. I will keep all of the other products in mind if it starts up again.

Robyn