We are dedicated to developing nutrition that helps you in three key ways - balancing your stomach and keeping you fuelled and hydrated.

BALANCE

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

The ginger in Active Root can help contribute towards a normally functioning 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, 2014).

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 (Nikkhah Bodagh, M., Maleki, I., & Hekmatdoost, A., 2018).

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?

Research states that it's safe to consume up to 5g (5,000mg) of powdered ginger per day (Anh et al., 2020).

All Active Root Sports Drink Mixes contain 239mg per serving, Gel Mix contains 102mg per serving, Electrolite Drink Mix contains 203mg per serving and the Recovery Drink Mix contains 199mg.

Energy Chews contain 1,452mg of raw ginger per 5 chews, that's around 340mg of powdered ginger. The general conversion factor is that 1 tablespoon of fresh, grated ginger root is equivalent to about 1 teaspoon of ground, dried ginger powder.

Many peer reviewed scientific studies have suggested up to 5,000mg of daily ginger dosage may help alleviate stomach discomfort and contribute to normal gut function.

Depending on exertion levels we recommend drinking any of the following per hour:

• 1 x 500-750ml bottle of Sports Drink Mix
• 3 x Gel Mix Servings
• 6 x Energy Chews
• 1 x 500-750ml bottle of Electrolite Drink Mix

Doing this will help keep your stomach balanced and allow you to perform your best.

FUEL

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 (Jeukendrup A., 2014).

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.

The Science Behind Unbleached Cane Sugar

Unbleached cane sugar provides a unique 50/50 combination of glucose and fructose that may offer distinct advantages as an exercise fuel source. Glucose is absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the sodium-glucose transporter, rapidly elevating blood sugar levels (Ferraris RP, 2001). Fructose, on the other hand, is primarily metabolized by the liver at a slower rate (Tappy L & Lê KA, 2010).

Consuming this balanced glucose-fructose mix has been shown to improve overall exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates during exercise compared to ingesting either sugar alone (Jentjens RL & Jeukendrup AE, 2005). The differing absorption kinetics allow for a steadier supply of energizing blood glucose.

Unbleached cane sugar has a relatively low glycemic index of around 65, compared to 100 for pure glucose (Mendosa C). This results in a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels when consumed. The blunted glycemic response may help sustain carbohydrate delivery to working muscles with fewer peaks and drops (Wolever TM et al., 1991).

Additionally, the combination of glucose and fructose heightens carbohydrate malabsorption limits compared to single-source carbohydrates (Jentjens R & Jeukendrup A, 2004). This expands the maximum rate that exogenous carbohydrates can be oxidized during intense endurance events.

By utilizing unbleached cane sugar, athletes can ingest 60-90g of this balanced carbohydrate source per hour to meet high fuel demands during prolonged exercise (Jeukendrup AE, 2004). The glucose-fructose mix is optimally absorbed and oxidized to enhance endurance performance.

HYDRATE

How do Active Root drinks help keep you optimally hydrated?

Our Electrolite Drinks are an isotonic solution that is formulated to help enhance your hydration levels. All of our hydration drinks contain 800mg of sea salt per 500ml serving. Sea salt delivers essential sodium to the bloodstream and trace minerals that aid electrolyte balance.

Hydration plays an important role in our products. Taking on fuel in liquid form aids effective absorption of glucose and fructose, helping deliver vital energy to the body.

Drinking balancing ginger in a liquid form ensures it reaches the gut and is more easily absorbed.

Why is it important to avoid dehydration during exercise?

Athletes undertaking activity sweat 400mg of salt per hour and up to 1100mg/l in extreme heat and exertion (Dunford and Doyle, 2014).

In our products, we use 800mg per Electrolite serving, 560mg per Sports Drink Mix serving and 100mg per two Gel Mix servings. Combining these two nutrition sources together ensures you get enough salt per hour of exercise.

When the body is dehydrated, electrolyte levels become unbalanced, leading to reduced performance (Shirreffs & Sawka, 2011). 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.

The sea salt in Active Root comes from the Black Sea. Mainly containing sodium and chloride, it also contains trace minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc. These trace minerals provide elements of the electrolytes in their natural form, aiding hydration, stopping muscle weakness, and reducing cramp.

References

de Oliveira, E. P., Burini, R. C., & Jeukendrup, A. (2014). Gastrointestinal complaints during exercise: prevalence, etiology, and nutritional recommendations. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 44 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S79–S85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0153-2

Nikkhah Bodagh, M., Maleki, I., & Hekmatdoost, A. (2018). Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials. Food science & nutrition, 7(1), 96–108. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.807

Anh, N. H., Kim, S. J., Long, N. P., Min, J. E., Yoon, Y. C., Lee, E. G., Kim, M., Kim, T. J., Yang, Y. Y., Son, E. Y., Yoon, S. J., Diem, N. C., Kim, H. M., & Kwon, S. W. (2020). Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 12(1), 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010157

Ferraris, R. P. (2001). Dietary and developmental regulation of intestinal sugar transport. Biochemical Journal, 360(2), 265-276.

Tappy, L., & Lê, K. A. (2010). Metabolic effects of fructose and the worldwide increase in obesity. Physiological Reviews, 90(1), 23-46.

Jentjens, R. L., & Jeukendrup, A. E. (2005). High rates of exogenous carbohydrate oxidation from a mixture of glucose and fructose ingested during prolonged cycling exercise. British Journal of Nutrition, 93(4), 485-492.

Mendosa, C. (n.d.). The glycemic index of unbleached cane sugar. Retrieved from https://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

Wolever, T. M., Jenkins, D. J., Jenkins, A. L., & Josse, R. G. (1991). The glycemic index: methodology and clinical implications. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 54(5), 846-854.

Jentjens, R., & Jeukendrup, A. E. (2004). Oxidation of combined ingestion of glucose and sucrose during exercise. Metabolism, 53(4), 457-463.

Jeukendrup, A. E. (2004). Carbohydrate intake during exercise and performance. Nutrition, 20(7-8), 669-677.

Dunford, M., & Doyle, J. A. (2014). Nutrition for sport and exercise (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning.

Shirreffs, S. M., & Sawka, M. N. (2011). Fluid and electrolyte needs for training, competition, and recovery. Journal of sports sciences, 29 Suppl 1, S39–S46. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.614269