Fueling for a long ride or fun w/ diet restrictions

[dinabean]

I've never heard of acesulfame potassium, I had just assumed it was the delivery method for some of the potassium/electrolytes. Can you direct me to some info as to what the problem is with it? Thanks!

[aicabsolut]

Oops, missed that one. I think my brain just read "potassium" too. It's aspartame. That is better for my gut than the -itol sugar alcohols, though. The ZYM tablets aren't very sweet, so hopefully, they aren't using that much of the stuff. They don't have that diet soda aftertaste or anything. No artificial sweeteners would be better, of course.

[OakLeaf]

It's not aspartame, but it is an artificial sweetener with some safety concerns. One of the main differences with aspartame is that acesulfame K is a more stable molecule, so it can be stored for longer periods, or heated.

http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemc...tm#acesulfamek
http://www.cspinet.org/reports/asekquot.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acesulfame_potassium


ETA: and the polyethylene glycol in Nuun grosses me out at least as much as the acesulfame K.

[Chile Pepper]

dinabean, I generally avoid all artificial sweeteners on principle (including natural stevia extract). Not only are many of them suspected carcinogens, but they just don't work for weight loss. Here's a short explanation from Wikipedia:

Animal studies have indicated that artificial sweeteners can cause body weight gain. A sweet taste induces an insulin response,[citation needed] which causes blood sugar to be stored in tissues (including fat), but because blood sugar does not increase with artificial sugars, there is hypoglycemia and increased food intake the next time there is a meal.

A teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories. I just don't see the need for artificial sweeteners, and I prefer my food to be chemical free to the extent possible.

[aicabsolut]

Oh, my brief use of Google told me it was aspartame. Guess I should've read more than one site.

The point of these is not weight loss. It's how to make electrolytes not taste funny when you don't have added sugar. All of those "electrolyte enhanced" waters lack sodium, which is precisely what I need, considering that I'll be crusted in white at the end of a summer ride. So, when you add sodium to the formulation, you need to add some sort of other flavoring.

I wouldn't mind it if they did use a little bit of real sugar instead, but I guess that doesn't work for some reason.

[OakLeaf]

I think real sugar is just impractical for this application. All of these sweeteners, including stevia that Zenergize uses, are many times sweeter than sugar. You'd need a pretty substantial envelope of sugar to get the same sweetness you get in an electrolyte tablet. Plus, it would tend to take up moisture and get sticky.

[Triskeliongirl]

OP, I just responded to your query over here: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=14941&page=5

[dinabean]

THanks for sharing that re the sweetener. I had never heard of that one. (I am with you on avoiding artificial sweeteners for the reasons you point out re fooling your body in a bad way, and I've mostly cut them out). So then, what do you use for electrolytes?

[OakLeaf]

I don't have a problem with stevia in small amounts, so I'm fine with the Zenergize.

But other things I do are mix a hydration solution myself at home (doesn't taste that great, but when I need it, I need it) - on a longer ride I start with HEED (sugar alcohols don't bother me either, in small amounts) - and once my bottles are empty, I take Endurolytes capsules and eat salty foods on breaks. On long hot runs, I put Endurolytes powder into my water. My Nathan Synergy pack makes that really easy, because I can put plain water with lots of ice in the main bladder, and Endurolytes mixed extra strong in the other side, and get a constant dilution even while the ice melts. I carry nutrition separately and that way I don't have to worry about cleaning sticky moldy stuff out of my hydration bladder, drink tubes and bite valve.

It's pretty easy (too easy, most would say!) to find salty foods in a convenient store on a long ride. Magnesium and calcium are harder, which is why I've learned to keep some Endurolytes capsules in a little ziploc in my jersey pocket. (I actually learned that from a friend, who carries a *big* stash to give away to her riding buddies when we start getting cramps. Generous and a great idea and almost makes you wish Hammer was a MLM company. )