Choosing Gels That Won't Upset Your Stomach.

As endurance athletes, we’re always searching for the perfect fuel to keep us performing at our best. Yet, for many of us, finding something suitable can be a real pain—literally. According to a recent survey, a staggering 61% of respondents reported experiencing stomach issues from their fuelling products, so it’s unsurprising that 50% of these athletes rate digestibility as one of the most important factors when choosing their fuel.

If you've ever had your run interrupted by stomach cramps, digestive discomforts or the dreaded runner’s trot, you know just how crucial it is to find a fuel that agrees with your body. 

The Pitfalls of Traditional Energy Gels

Traditional energy gels often rely on ultra-processed ingredients to enhance taste, texture, and shelf-life, but these ingredients can come with significant downsides for athletes:

• Artificial Sweeteners: Often found in traditional gels, artificial sweeteners can be hard to digest and may lead to bloating, gas, gastrointestinal discomforts and even alter the gut microbiome.
• Maltodextrin: Commonly used as a cheap carbohydrate source, maltodextrin can potentially lead to stomach cramps and digestive distress and cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. This can lead to inconsistent energy levels, potentially impacting your performance.
• Chemical Additives: Preservatives, artificial flavours, and colours can irritate the stomach lining, potentially causing inflammation, threatening the healthy balance of the gut microbiome.

Choosing the Right Fuel

When purchasing your next energy gel, consider the following tips to ensure it aligns with your digestive health and performance goals:

1. Check the Ingredients List: Opt for gels that list whole foods as their primary ingredients. Look for simple, recognizable components like fruit. Natural ingredients are typically easier to digest so this reduces the risk of stomach cramps, bloating, and other gastrointestinal discomforts that can hinder your performance.
2. Avoid Artificial Additives: Steer clear of gels with long lists of ultra-processed ingredients. The fewer ingredients, the better. This reduces the risk of irritation, bloating, gas, and other digestive issues. Natural ingredients are generally easier for the body to process and less likely to cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
3. Test Before Race Day: Try new gels during your training runs to see how your body reacts. This will help you to find the best option without risking stomach issues on race day.

Say Hello to Real Food Fuelling

Our products are crafted from real, unprocessed plant-based ingredients, making them easy to digest and less likely to cause stomach cramps, bloating, or gastrointestinal discomfort during your training or race. 

Packed with natural electrolytes, antioxidants and enzymes, reeal supports effective hydration and digestion, optimising your performance, whilst reducing the likelihood of gastrointestinal issues during intense physical activity.

Whether you’re training for a marathon, cycling, or any endurance sport, reeal offers a natural, effective, and stomach-friendly solution to keep you going strong.

 

Stomach issues shouldn't stand between you and your personal best. By choosing energy gels made from clean-label, whole food ingredients, you can fuel your runs with confidence. Next time you’re gearing up for a long run or race, reach for a reeal—your stomach will thank you.

Fuel smart, run strong, and let your stomach be the last thing on your mind as you cross that finish line.

Sign up for our waitlist to be the first to experience the power of reeal fuel.