Honey alternative sports gel

During the past few years a research team based in Memphis have been investigating the effects of various types of carbohydrate gels on performance. One of their most recent studies focused on honey, which has been found to have a carbohydrate profile and glycaemic index response almost identical to those of a popular sports gel. The study compared the effects of ingesting honey, dextrose or placebo (in gel form) on blood glucose, insulin and endurance cycling performance. The participants were nine cyclists, who performed three 40-mile time trials after ingesting each of the three supplements.

When the results of the three time trials were compared, it was clear that the cyclists were significantly faster, with higher power outputs, after consuming a dextrose or honey gel than after placebo. The bottom line? If you don’t have money to burn, the Memphis team suggests using honey as a cheap and effective alternative to a carbohydrate gel.