Emergen-C vs Ultima Replenisher

[itself]

I've been using emergen-C for a while, but have found it just didn't stop the cramping. I tried Ultima replenisher the other day, and it definitely helps. I spoke to a customer servcie person, and the comparison charts on the Ultima website are very confusing. Emergen-C does have baking soda in it, so although it looks like it has more potassium, it's not getting absorbed because of the baking soda.

The problem with Ultima replenisher....the Stevia leaves a really bad aftertaste. Real bummer for sure. I know Stevia is natural, but it has that aspartame like aftertaste. And yes, I know there are tablets for electrolytes, but I just so prefer to drink them!

Lisa

[zoom-zoom]

Lisa, I am super-prone to cramps (reason #1 I gave up on marathons after 3--I could not get beyond mile 16 before my calves would start spazzing) and started making my own sports drink...it is nearly identical to Gatorade Endurance formula and uses packets of Kool Aid, your choice of sweetener, salt, and light salt (has more potassium). Dirt cheap to make and in whatever flavor you like.

[OakLeaf]

Which variety of Emergen-C are you using? There are about 20 different formulas. I haven't gone through their whole website, but what I've looked at in the stores really doesn't have an acceptable electrolyte balance. Most of their formulas tend to be lacking in calcium and sodium, in particular.

More to the point, I don't like the idea of using Emergen-C as an electrolyte replacer just because it's not a good idea to get so much vitamin C (especially in ascorbic acid form) during exercise!

Carry some calcium-magnesium capsules (not tablets, too hard to digest during exercise) or mix a soluble supplement like Endurolytes.

If you prefer real food, I've been doing well on my long runs with blackstrap molasses and salt added to my rice syrup.

[Eden]

I'd agree Ultima is nasty tasting (I have the same reaction to anything sweetened with stevia).

Of course there are other options. From your choices I'd say you are looking for electrolytes without calories/sugar based sweeteners? I personally use NUUN and I love it - its a tablet, but you dissolve it in water to make a drink. Others here use Elete - it is tasteless - drops you can add it to any drink of your choice (or plain water for that matter). I think Luna may be making an electrolyte replacement now too.

[Becky]

Ditto to Eden. I find Ultima to be odd-tasting and bitter, but Nuun has been a palatable substitute.

[Eden]

Ditto to Eden. I find Ultima to be odd-tasting and bitter, but Nuun has been a palatable substitute.

I had it once on an organized ride - it was their drink sponsor. I thought it tasted like baby aspirin - chalky/bitter. NUUN otoh has cola flavor which I love, love, love (orange ginger is tasty too)

[itself]

Hmmm, pretty consistent feedback. This came from one of the folks at Ultima with a new flavor coming:

"We will introduce our new Grape flavor in March. We use the grape skin for color and grape skin is loaded with antioxidants. Also, grape will be our first flavor with real fruit derived vitamin C rather than the buffered C we have been using. These forms are both better than the acidic corn derived ascorbic acid found in Emergen-C."

I addressed the Stevia issue with him, yet he says he would have to use 8 grams of sugar to sweeten which he feels is too much. I don't think that is a lot of sugar considering soda has 29grams, but maybe it is in the sports world.

Thanks for the recipe, I may give that a try!

Lisa

[zoom-zoom]

Here's my drink of choice:

Faux Endurance Sports Drink

1/2 C. + 4 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. Morton Lite Salt
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 pkg. unsweetened "Kool-aid" mix (any flavor you like)

Mix with 2 Q. water to make 64 oz.

Each 8 oz serving has 56 Calories, 14 grams carbohydrate, 220 mg sodium and 85 mg potassium.

Gatorade Endurance Formula (8 oz) has 50 Calories, 14 grams carbohydrate, 200 mg sodium, and 90 mg potassium.