Hypotonic solutions such as water do a good job of hydrating your body. Unfortunately they bring very little, if any, energy and electrolyte replacement benefits into the cellular system.

Isotonic solutions can also provide rapid hydration, and they have the potential advantage of bringing significant energy and electrolyte replacement benefits into the cellular system. e-Fuel is an Isotonic solution.

Hypertonic solutions are absorbed at a slower rate than hypotonic or isotonic solutions, thus delaying the desired hydration and energy benefits. During training or competition, hypertonic solutions can also have a dehydrating effect as your body draws on it's available fluids to dilute the solution down to an isotonic level. 


OIsmolality is only one part of the equation. It is also important to look at the carbohydrate sources used in your sports drink. Simple sugars that are often found in sports drinks have the effect of raising the osmolality more rapidly compared to equal amounts of complex carbohydrates. For this reason, drinks made with maltodextrin (a complex carbohydrate) can provide significantly more energy benefits in an isotonic state.

e-Fuel derives 67% of it's carbohydrate energy from complex carbohydrates (maltodextrin), significantly more than the leading sports drinks (see chart below). Because of this, e-Fuel provides up to 50% more energy than other isotonic sports drinks containing glucose, sucrose and dextrose. Equally as important is the rate at which energy is delivered to your body,  and e-Fuel's sustained energy formula is designed to avoid blood sugar fluctuations that lead to the dreaded "bonk".

Complex carbohydrates as a percentage of
total carbohydrates in leading sports drinks


  

Gatorade is a registered trademark of Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. Cytomax is a trademark of Champion Performance Products, Inc. Accelerade and Endurox are registered trademarks of Pacifichealth Laboratories, Inc.