The staple of any energy drink, bar, or gel is carbohydrate, and Hammer Gel stands alone in today’s glutted market of energy products.
Could you tell me where hammer gel falls in the glycemic index?
Hammer Gel contains 80% Maltodextrin vs. 20% Energy Smart by caloric volume. I estimate it to be between 95-135, though it appears not to be a health concern in a negative diabetic reaction.
Below follows an outline of GI measured in specific SUGARS: SUGARS Honey 83 Fructose 32 Glucose 137 Maltose 150 Sucrose 92 Lactose 65 High fructose corn syrup 89 [Prof. Brand Miller] Maltodextrin 137 [Wees Allen]
Since I do not have the instruments to measure HG’s GI, please consider my estimates as rough. GI is less problematic during or following exercise. The GI may be high while osmolality and electrolyte solution at body fluid levels are compensatory
Is the maltodextrin used in Hammer Gel and Sustained Energy made from milk products? If not, what is it made from?
The maltodextrin in both Sustained Energy and Hammer Gel are from corn. Energy Smart in Hammer Gel is from grain dextrins and fruit sourced sugars linked above simple sugar definition but below longer chain maltodextrins. Neither product or its ingredients contain bovine sourced milk derivatives
I use Hammergel for my training runs and races and was wondering if heat has any negative effects on it
Hammer Gel retrodegradation may be described as stable in the temperatures you describe for up to 8 months duration, unless you introduce by mouth or leaving the container open exogenous micro-organisms.
Is there a definite shelf life to HG, even when refrigerated?
As Brian Frank noted earlier in the introduction he provided when Hammer Gel first came out, “You can sit a jug of opened Hammer Gel on the hood of your car for 8-9 months before noting any growths or spoilage.” The actual shelf life of unopened HG is indefinite, but it will solidify in time, which may easily be resolved by adding water and mixing.
I have some of the original Chocolate Hammer Gel pouches, one of which I just opened(8:07 Pacific Standard Time-3-5-99); there is not a spec of growth within, but the Gel was like taffy. I chewed it with some effort, but the taste is excellent with no change noted. (A cyber-experiment just for you!)
I just started to use Hammer Gel in preparation for a triathlon. What are your suggestions for usage such as amount per dose, frequency, pre/post race comparison, etc?
A single serving of Hammer Gel is roughly 100 calories. (Without diluting it) For your run, you will spend between 110-120 calories per mile, but for your bike portion 650-700 calories per hour is typical for a fast flat cycling course. Since I do not know your size, nor the type of course you will encounter, these are rough estimates at best.
If you are fit (I assume you are), your body will pack in roughly 90 minutes worth of muscle glycogen, therefore knowing the Ironman time you hope to finish in will figure into the caloric replenishment needs using HG. EXAMPLE: Swim=1.0 hours, Bike=6.5 hours, Marathon=3.5 hours for an 11 hour finish or roughly a 7000-8000 calorie expenditure.
You may be faster or slower than the above but I think a 7000+ calorie intake with proper fluids should easily meet your caloric demand. Therefore, intake of roughly 3 to 3.5 bulk gel containers mixed with water or taken straight will meet your demands during this Ironman. Whether you use the individual flasks or a large 70, 90, or 110 fluid ounce camelback for intake is, of course, up to what you find works best for you.
Please try all this in training first to make sure what works best for your biochemistry response. If it is hot you may want to dilute it for additional fluid intake at HG:H2O=50-50% or 75%HG to 25%H2O, but… (please) try this in training first to make sure you have the ideal formula of fluids to HG.
I know this probably varies from person to person, but approximately how many servings of Hammer Gel should be required per hour of competetive cycling?
I prefer to mix-consume up to 3-4 servings HG per 16-20 ounces of distilled water, per hour. The larger cyclists with high lean muscle mass during “Hammertime” may consume as much as 5-6 servings per hour. If 4 servings Hammer Gel is diluted with 16-20 ounces of distilled water, it may empty gastric chambers slightly faster than in the straight gel format. (especially if it is hot, hilly or both) While the above are merely starting suggestions, I highly recommend a variety of trial vs. error in practice in order to create your own personal optimum delivery formulation.
Are your Sustained Energy or Hammer Gel products suitable to diabetics?
We have had no complaints from diabetics using our products such as “Sustained Energy” and “Hammer Gel”. The FDA in the USA classifies the carbohydrates found in both products as either “other carbohydrates” such as the sweetener used in Hammer Gel or “complex carbohydrates” such as the maltodextrins used in both “Sustained Energy” and “Hammer Gel”.
Energy Smart (“other carbohydrates”in Hammer Gel) has been tested on brittle diabetics with no adverse blood sugar reactions. I know of no adverse reports from diabetics using “Sustained Energy”.
Our product policy is to use no simple sugars, stimulants or any compounds that may be harmful to health. Allowing for any individual reaction, we advise to sample or give trial to all products in practice, before events, to insure that the product in question has a positive effect upon individual biochemistry.
I noticed that Hammer Gel lists no simple sugar on the ingredients label, yet all the other “energy gels” do. Why is that?
Hammer Gel is composed of a complex carbohydrate maltodextrin with a “sweetner” called Energy Smart-TM, which is made from a combination-process that mixes natural occurring fruit juice with grain dextrins in such a manner as to maintain the integrity of natural fruit or grain enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.
Hammer Gel’s Carbohydrate(CHO) Composite is label-classified as “Other” Carbohydrates in spite of the fact that the carbohydrate profile of Energy Smart actually forms long-links of the saccharides glucose-fructose-maltose as they occur naturally in tact. If these carbohydrates were processed or separated, then you would see a “sugar” category listed on the label.
This is how the government dictates the carbohydrate labeling standard for Energy Smart’s fruit-juice-dextrin content and why we do not have any actual “Sugar” on the label. Brittle diabetics were given Energy Smart(ES) in a hospital setting with no adverse reaction. ES behaves like a complex carbohydrate in the human digestive system.
The carbohydrate structure of both the maltodextrin and Energy Smart composite formulated in Hammer Gel(HG) also have a very low Glycemic Index, and remarkably low osmolality in solution, therefore they do not spike an insulin response similar to a complex carbohydrate. HG breaks down rapidly to access the metabolic mitochondrial reactions where energy is needed during for endurance demand.
