WHAT IS HYDROGEL?
Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymers with high water content that are biocompatible. We took this to our advantage when we discovered a highly effective way to build hydrogels with natural ingredients alginate (seaweed) and pectin (fruit fiber) that encapsulate the most efficient source of energy around – carbohydrates.
The two key components, Alginate and Pectin create a protective hydrogel structure that efficiently delivers salt and carbohydrates through the stomach to the intestine, where the hydrogel dissolves and the body can absorb the salt and carbohydrates.
Our patented Hydrogel technology enables us to increase the amount of carbohydrates available to the body as fuel.
Hydrogel technology reduces the risk of gastrointestinal problems that arise when loading the stomach with traditional sports fuels and unnecessary ingredients like colorants, preservatives and artificial flavors, that also do not aid your performance.
Product Specifics
Maurten Drink Mix 320 and Drink Mix 160: The pH-sensitive liquid converts to a hydrogel in the acidity of the stomach, protecting the salt and carbohydrate from breaking down in the stomach. The hydrogel then dissolves when it comes to interact with the intestinal fluid, releasing the carbohydrates.
Maurten Gel: Our gel is completely different from the other standard syrups. Firstly we do not use artificial ingredients and unnecessary colorants. Our GEL 100 and GEL 100 CAF 100 hydrogel is already formed in the sachet and utilizes built by combining alginate and calcium to create the hydrogel network.
WHY GELS, I LIKE YOUR DRINKS?
It's easier to carry energy with you on a run, ride, or other activity in a form of gels. In a race, most athletes do not get a bottle handed every 15 minutes – but can easily carry a bunch of gels while running. On the bike it is easier to bring a bottle with you, so it’s up to your liking what to use.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT MAURTEN GELS?
From a technical perspective, traditional "gels" are water and carbohydrates simply mixed into syrups, often containing added flavors and preservatives. The Maurten Gel’s are completely different. It’s a hydrogel – a biopolymer matrix, filled with a well thought through and unique blend of fructose and glucose which enables uptakes of up to 100 grams of carbohydrates per hour.
HOW DO MAURTEN GELS WORK (COMPARED TO THE DRINK MIX)?
By harnessing our Hydrogel Technology we’ve built a biopolymer matrix that is dense enough to encapsulate both the caffeine and the carbohydrate mixture. The gel consists of the same hydrogel technology concept as the Drink Mix’s and enables a smoother transportation of carbohydrates.
While the Drink Mix initially will be a liquid solution tach will change structure into the Hydrogel when it reacts with the acid in the stomach.
WHAT IS GEL 100 CAF 100?
GEL 100 CAF 100 is a new Hydrogel Sports fuel with Caffeine. It contains 100 mg of caffeine – that’s the equivalent of 1,5 espressos – or one cup of brew coffee. This is a lot compared to many of the traditional gels out there. It delivers 25 grams of carbohydrates through its unique blend of fructose and glucose and packs a high weight to energy ratio. Like all of our products, it doesn’t contain any added flavors, preservatives or colorants.
HOW TO USE CAFFEINE GELS?
Developing a nutritional strategy for races and key training sessions is complex. Caffeine absorption and metabolizing rate varies between individuals. There are two key factors that are important to take into account:
- Your body weight
- If you’re used to caffeine
Science suggests an intake of 3 mg of caffeine per kilogram body mass, to aid performance. But, this is highly individual. We’ve developed some general guidelines on how to use the GEL 100 CAF 100, based on our own findings and scientific literature.
SHOULD I DRINK WATER WITH THE GEL?
You don’t have to. Unlike other gels on the market, you don't need to drink water to wash down the product. However, hydration is important and drinking plain water won't affect the efficiency of the hydrogel.
Our advice is to drink to thirst.
CAN I COMBINE GELS WITH DRINK MIXES?
Yes.
You can use whatever combination of the gels and drink mix’s to ensure you have enough carbohydrates throughout your whole session.
WHY WOULD CAFFEINE HELP MY PERFORMANCE?
Caffeine has been shown to increase alertness and reduce perceived effort. These are properties that can be beneficial in sports performance. But it does not enhance performance, rather reduces fatigue and performance decline that occur during a race.
Caffeine effectiveness is dose-dependent and the response is highly individual, thereby an effective dose is individual where more is not always better.
Caffeine is rapidly absorbed in the blood within 5 –15min, and peaks within 45 –90 min (half-life 180–300min). Interacts with many tissues and organs and inhibits/blocks adenosine that promotes alertness.
There is a lot of research proving the benefits of using caffeine in combination with carbohydrates over carbohydrates alone.
HOW WILL MAURTEN IMPACT DENTAL HEALTH?
The majority of energy products on the market contains acids and flavourings. Excessive acid can be damaging to oral health. Bad oral health can induce inflammation which is a performance inhibitor.
All Maurten products are close to pH neutral and with natural ingredients and less impact on oral health.
Due to the Hydrogel technology in the gels, the carbohydrates are already encapsulated when consumed and therefore there is minimal interaction with the teeth.
CAN I PUT 2 DRINK MIX 160 SACHETS INTO 500ML OF WATER?
Yes.
The Drink Mixes are developed to be mixed with the ratio of one sachet and 500ml of water, that creates the intended strength of the hydrogel binding.
If you mix the Drink Mixes in more water than recommended you will dilute the gelling components and make the resulting hydrogel progressively weaker, his means that the hydrogel structure won’t be as strong as intended and could potentially make you more prone to gastrointestinal issues.
However, mixing more Maurten Drink Mix powder with 500ml does not have the same effect. Creating a higher concentrated Maurten drink will result in a sweeter and thicker drink (more viscous/dense and the resulting hydrogel will be stronger) - we strongly advise you to practice the tolerance of a drink like this before implementing it in a race.
CAN I COMBINE THE DRINK MIX 320 WITH THE DRINK MIX 160?
If Drink Mix 320 feels too heavy, but Drink Mix 160 too light, you can mix 1 x Drink Mix 160 and 1 x Drink Mix 320 separately. Then mix them together and distribute in your bottles.
You have now created a 60g of carbohydrate sports drink which is basically a concentration in between Drink Mix 160 and 320.
HOW WOULD YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN DRINK MIX 160 AND 320?
Drink Mix 320 and Drink Mix 160 are both built with our patented hydrogel technology and contain two different carbohydrate concentrations;
Drink Mix 320 contains 80g of carbohydrates, mixed with 500ml of water.
Drink Mix 160 contains 40g of carbohydrates, mixed with 500ml of water.
Drink Mix 320 can be used as a preload product as well as to be consumed during training and racing. This product could be beneficial when fluid requirements are low, as in cooler temperatures.
Drink Mix 160 can be used to preload shorter training and races. This would be our recommended option in hot and humid conditions, when you’d need more fluid.
There are no general strategies when it comes to hydration since the sweat rates varies considerably between individuals, seasons and climates. These factors must be considered when choosing your Maurten product.
WHICH TYPE OF WATER SHOULD I USE?
Due to the scientifically advanced Hydrogel and its structural components, the function rely on precise circumstances. We recommend you to not mix it with water with high levels of minerals (>40mg/L calcium). High calcium concentrations make the Drink Mix hard to dissolve and inhibits the hydrogel bindings to be created.
IS YOUR PRODUCT GLUTEN FREE?
Yes. All the Maurten products are made from ingredients that are certified as free from gluten and other common allergen.
Our production facility is regularly inspected by the FDA as well as by Fødevarestyrelsen (DK) and Livsmedelsverket (SWE).
ARE THE PRODUCTS SAFE TO USE?
Yes, samples from every batch is sent for screening by independent third-party laboratories. All Maurten suppliers are certified according to the international FSSC 22000 standard.
WHAT DOES MAURTEN TASTE LIKE?
Maurten products are designed to have little to no taste or flavor. Our goal is to be athlete first and we believe that artificial flavorings, and colorings are not athlete or performance first.
Often artificial flavorings and colorings are added to mask unpalatable products.
Athletes will be able to detect the sweetness of glucose and fructose in Maurten products.
If you want to add your own natural flavor, do not use a product with high acidity as that would compromise the structure of the Hydrogel, and therefore the intention of the product.
Remember, there is no benefits in performance by adding flavors.
DO I NEED TO ADD ELECTROLYTES?
No.
There is not strong enough scientific evidence to support that humans need to add electrolytes during specific activities.
Electrolytes can be used at athlete discretion during hard training, racing or in warm conditions.
If you want to add electrolytes, you can add these together with recovery, but they should not be used in immediate conjunction with Maurten.
Furthermore, many of the electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium) attract the alginate molecules, thus creating a competitive environment where less alginate molecules will be able to create cross-links with hydrogen ions in the stomach (i.e. the hydrogel strength will be influenced).
HOW DO I USE MAURTEN IF I AM DIABETIC?
Exercise is a potent stimulus for glucose uptake and utilization by muscles, these mechanisms are not different between those of an athlete with or without diabetes.
Based on research on exercising athletes with diabetes, blood glucose levels can remain relatively stable for up to 1–2h of continuous exercise without food intake. But, during moderate-to-high intensity exercise of more than 60–90min the blood glucose levels will fall since the liver glycogen becomes depleted. Therefore, there is substantial benefit from consuming carbohydrates during exercise to prevent declines in blood glucose levels. To clarify, carbohydrate recommendations are the same for athletes with or without diabetes, if not more important to follow.
Our carbohydrate intake needs to be adapted to our individual needs and be based on the demands of your activity. You should base this consumption on your response to activity, trial and error together with blood glucose monitoring.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR MAURTEN PRODUCTS TO BE EFFECTIVE?
The uptake of carbohydrates with the Hydrogel technology will noticeable take place within 15-20min after consuming the Drink mix or Gel. The peak maximum uptake (peak blood glucose concentration) will be reached around 30-45min, and most of the carbohydrates will be absorbed within 60-75min after ingestion.
The efficiency of Maurten Drink Mix relies on a chemical reaction that take place in the stomach between the pH sensitive Drink mix and the acidic environment in the stomach. Therefore, all factors that alter the pH in the stomach might have a negative effect (consumption of other products).
One factor we have seen in a sporting environment that can disrupt the possible hydrogel formation is the consumption of a large amount of water (pH 6 – 7) just prior to having Maurten. This means that too much water theoretically temporarily will dilute the gastric acid.
CAN I PREPARE THE DRINK MIX THE DAY BEFORE A RACE?
Maurten Drink Mix 320 and Drink Mix 160 do not contain artificial preservatives. We recommend consuming the drink within 24h after mixing with water.
As for any drink containing sugar (and no preservatives - as all Maurten products) the drinks will stay fresh for longer if kept cool (refrigerated).
Store in cooler temperatures for longer storage (48-72h). Do not heat the Maurten products to more than 60°C.
For long term storage, Maurten Gel 100 and GEL 100 CAF 100 should be kept at room temperature or slightly cooler.
IS MAURTEN APPROVED?
All Maurten products are tested to make sure no contaminants make their way in during production.
Each batch of Maurten products manufactured are tested before they are released.
Since Maurten develops new solutions with the best and most tested athletes in the world, even our prototypes are tested before use.
All products are manufactured in Denmark (except Solids – Netherlands).
Livraison gratuite : Irlande à partir de €50 | Royaume-Uni et Europe à partir de €100.
