How does Active Root ginger make you feel better during exercise?

The ginger in Active Root can help contribute towards a settled stomach and prevent bloating. Studies have shown that up to 90% of athletes experience some form of gastric discomfort during exercise, whether it’s pre-race nerves before, feeling sick during the event or bloating afterwards. (De Oliveira & Jeukendrup, 2013).

Active Root contains a compound called gingerol which is a relative of the compounds found in chilli peppers and turmeric. It has been suggested that gingerol can contribute to soothing the stomach by relaxing the muscles in the gut, so that stomach contents are released into the small intestine. It may also have a calming effect, so it helps get rid of excess gas, thus reducing bloating and stomach discomfort. The ginger that Active Root uses has been specially selected because of its high gingerol ratio.

How much ginger?

All Active Root drinks contain 204mg of ginger root extract per serving, the equivalent of 4g of raw ginger. Our Gel Mix contains 102mg (2g raw equivalent) per serving.

Many peer reviewed scientific studies have suggested this range of ginger dosage may help alleviate stomach discomfort and contribute to normal gut function.

Depending on exertion levels we recommend drinking one 500-750ml bottle of Active Root drink per hour and up to 3 servings of Gel Mix. Doing this will help keep your stomach balanced and allow you to perform your best.

How much fuel do you need?

The body needs 80-90g of carbohydrate per hour during high intensity exercise. The body’s ability to process this depends on the type of carbohydrate and how it is absorbed. For example, the small intestine can only absorb 60g of glucose per hour. So, if your fuel source only contains glucose, you will only process 66% of the recommended hourly amount. Sugars such as maltodextrin and glucose also have a high glycemic index and are more likely to cause spikes in blood sugar levels.

How is Active Root Fuel Better?

All Active Root products use high quality unbleached natural cane sugar as the main fuel source. Unbleached cane sugar is a natural disaccharide which is made up of two carbohydrate types - 50% fructose and 50% glucose. At a molecular level fructose and glucose are absorbed differently in the intestine - research has proven that by combining these two carbohydrates types together you can actually increase the amount of calories absorbed by your body by up to 40% compared to just glucose. This means you can provide your working muscles with extra fuel.

Unbleached cane sugar has a lower glycemic index than pure glucose or maltodextrin and is comparable to bananas and dates. This helps to provide steadier fuel delivery with fewer peaks and troughs in your blood sugar levels.

Regular Active Root Sports Drink contains 33g of cane sugar per 500ml drink. Active Root Electrolite contains 8g per 500ml drink and Gel Mix 24g per 37.5ml serving. By combining our sports drinks and gels together you can get 80-90g of carbs per hour giving you the energy your muscles need to function.

How does Active Root keep you optimally hydrated?

All Active Root hydration products contain natural sea salt which contributes to hydration and normal electrolyte balance.

It is generally agreed that athletes can use 400-
1100mg/l for 1 hour’s activity, confirmed by many studies [1]. In the Active Root core range, we use 400mg per serving.

How does dehydration occur?

When the body is dehydrated, electrolyte levels become unbalanced, leading to reduced performance. Dehydration not only means that you have a greater chance of being hampered by cramping, queasiness and heat stroke, but your physical performance will also deteriorate. This is because decreased blood volume can lead to reduced cardiac output and muscle contraction. It's actually far more common for performance to become hindered by dehydration than a lack of fuel.

Salt attracts fluid, so the more salt that's in your bloodstream (within the usage range above), the higher your blood volume. A higher blood volume decreases the amount of effort your heart has to do. As a result, it doesn’t have to beat as fast to move the same amount of blood through your body. The result is that exercise feels easier [2]

[1] Nutrition for Sport and Exercise (Dunford and Doyle, 2015)
[2] Quote for Dr Evan Johnson (Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at the University of Arkansas) – Bicycling.com