Energy Energy Energy! We are all screaming for it. Apparently there is a major shortage of energy in humans as all of the Marketing hype of energy drinks, supplements and secret magic potions have taken over the world. I remember when a good night’s sleep, healthy food and some exercise was enough, NOT ANYMORE!  With the list of demands that we put on ourselves on a day to day basis, it is a wonder we are all not walking around like zombies. Athletes, especially the weekend warrior’s, I myself included, have an enormous demand for energy and recovery on a daily basis, and therefore making sure that we have the energy to expend, when it counts, becomes much harder to achieve. Tyler Grahovec, one of our athletes, happens to juggle family, a full time job and is a Category 1 cyclist. For those of you who do not know what that is, basically, it is the highest level an amateur cyclist can achieve before turning professional. The lists of demands are high and we all want to be competitive at what we do, let alone achieve the unachievable. This got me thinking when it came time to design and electrolyte drink mix, a drink that also directly correlates to our energy levels during exercise, the concept of “The Energy Drink” really becomes an innovation to the athletic world if it is done the right way. Thwe problem is you don’t want have too much energy too soon, too fast with too much of drop. The demands we expect are to be mentally alert and have the energy we need to compete for an extended period of time. Now I am not speaking about the energy that gives you a buzz. The energy I am speaking about is that deep cellular energy you need in that critical moment when we need to push ourselves to do the impossible; after all no one wins at the start line. With that in mind, I went on to design a hydration, energy and electrolyte drink that can deliver energy fast and keep you rolling for a longer period of time. Rapidade, is the drink mix I am referring to and the concept has really been a hit with our athletes. I have to thank the TIME Pro cycling, GIANT Pro Mountain Bike teams plus all of the other unfortunate guinea pigs that I have used in my little experiment, especially Shane, my right hand man and the one that gets to try it first before anyone else. Unfortunately not everything we make her turns out a winner, especially the first time around. One of the driving forces of energy behind Rapidade is the Macro Nutrient - carbohydrate source, a mixture of glucose and a small amount of fructose, in which research shows to be the most efficient delivery system for glucose to the brain. Check out “Oxidation of Carbohydrates and The Affects on Performance”  The second driving force that enhances that dep cellular energy is the Micro Nutrient – Vitamin, Alkaloid and Amino acid sources used to achieve extended periods of energy are: NADH, Xanthinol Nicotinate, Theobromine and Taurine. NADH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in all living cells. NADH is synthesized through two metabolic pathways, has several essential roles in human metabolism and cellular energy. NADH is also one of the main components to increasing cellular respiration, inside each and every cell, which directly affects your energy and performance levels. Xanthinol Nicotinate is the most potent form of Niacin and passes easily through cell membranes Research has shown increase’s in brain glucose metabolism, improvements in brain ATP levels and brain blood flow (it acts as a vasodilator).

So what does this mean to you?

This means that by adding Xanthinol Nicotinate to the formula, we have been able to achieve an even higher oxidation of glucose to the brain, which means you get fuel to the brain faster than ever before and help increase energy levels for a longer period of time. You can read why this is so important in “Oxidation of Carbohydrates and The Affects on Performance”  Theobromine is an alkaloid of the cacao plant, found in chocolate. It has ten fold less the effects of caffiene, which means that it won’t make you jittery, and has a much longer half life, which means it helps you sustain energy for a longer period of time. Finally L-Taurine, found in many “Energy Drinks” has some potential benefits.

L-Taurine, is a building block for all the other amino acids. Taurine is a key component in the digestion of fats, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and the support of healthy cholesterol levels. Taurine has been shown to play a particular role in sparing of potassium from the heart muscle, thereby promoting a healthy heart. L-Taurine provides support for neurotransmitters and has a protective effect on the brain, aids in the clearing of free radicals.

This all boils down to the core issue in performance, ENERGY when it counts! What we are learning from innovative biotechnology is that we can continue to improve the outcome of performance and achieve the once thought "unachievable"  with advancements in sports nutrition. JG