Meb and Other Pro Runners Share Fueling Tips to Avoid the Sugar Crash (Sponsored)
by: Generation UCAN (Sponsored Post)
October 22, 2014
Sugary sports drinks and energy gels have long been the go-to fuel of runners, but the sugar high often leaves runners feeling low during their workouts and races. The spike and crash effect of sugars forces frequent re-fueling and can cause GI distress.
New research is emphasizing the importance of keeping blood sugar stable as a way to avoid the highs and lows of sugar and maintain steady, long-lasting energy levels. Boston Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi is one of a number of elite runners embracing this more efficient method of fueling.
“I’ve been using Generation UCAN nutrition since 2009 and it’s my secret weapon,” says Meb, who ran a PR in Boston (2:08:36) just weeks shy of his 39th birthday. “Before getting to the starting line in Boston, I had my breakfast and a Generation UCAN shake an hour before the race. It gives me 2 to 3 hours of sustained energy without any stomach problems.”
What’s So Special About UCAN?
Generation UCAN's uniqueness comes from its one-of-a-kind energy source called SuperStarch. This revolutionary carbohydrate was originally created for Jonah, a child with a rare blood sugar disease resulting in frequent episodes of life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This condition required Jonah to be fed 10-12 times a day in order to maintain stable blood sugar and steady energy.
Top researches spent years looking at all types of carbohydrates in an effort to find something that would give Jonah the steady energy he needed. This led to the discovery of SuperStarch, which proved to be the best carb for maintaining stable blood sugar levels in Jonah and finally allowed him to get a full night of uninterrupted sleep.
SuperStarch is non-GMO corn that goes through a patented, natural cooking process, causing it to break down slowly and give little bits of energy over time. As the founders of UCAN ran further tests, they realized SuperStarch offered a significant benefit for runners, who also have to manage their sugar levels in order to maintain steady energy.
The graph above shows how SuperStarch differs from a sugar like maltodextrin, which is found in most popular sports drinks and energy gels. Maltodextrin causes a spike and crash blood sugar, resulting in highs and lows in energy.
UCAN Delivers Steady Energy for Workouts, Races, and Recovery
10,000m Women’s National Champion Kim Conley previously struggled to avoid the highs and lows of sugar after a workout.
“I had always used chocolate milk to recover from runs, but couldn't go long before I needed to get a meal in me or else I would begin to crash from all of the sugar,” says Kim, who first heard about UCAN from her 5000m Olympic teammate Julie Culley.
“Now I use the Chocolate Protein UCAN after a run and my energy is much more steady,” says Kim. “My coach noticed the difference too. Apparently I'm a lot nicer to be around after a long run when I'm not bonking!”
3000m Women’s National Champion Gabriele Grunewald also finds her energy is much more consistent when fueling with UCAN.
“All runners want to finish our workouts strong because that’s how we want to finish our races,” says Gabriele, who started training with UCAN in 2011. “I feel a huge difference and so much stronger at the end of a workout when I’ve taken UCAN before it.”
For runners like Kim and Gabriele, UCAN is an energy source that allows them to be more efficient and do more with less.
“So many people go out for their run and they’re consuming lots of calories just to maintain blood sugar,” says Dr. Cathy Yeckel, who researches the human metabolism at Yale University. “It’s really the ability to maintain stable blood sugar that is key to feeling steady energy. UCAN does that without needing to take in so many calories throughout the run.”
An Energy Source without the Belly Aches
Runners who’ve relied on sugary drinks and gels to fuel them are all too familiar with the uncomfortable feeling having too much sugar sitting in their gut.
“I had tried a lot of different products, but they always bothered my stomach during or after my run, so I was looking to solve that,” says Meb. “One of the first things I noticed with UCAN was how it settled in my system really well without any stomach problems.”
The unique properties of UCAN’s SuperStarch carbohydrate make it much gentler on the stomach than sugar and maltodextrin.
“Products that have a lot of small sugar molecules per until volume will tend to cause GI distress because they sit in the stomach,” says Dr. Jeff Volek, a top carbohydrate researcher at Ohio State University. “With UCAN and the SuperStarch carbohydrate, we have a very large molecule that gets out of the stomach rapidly compared to sugar or maltodextrin based products.”
"UCAN takes the worries out of running,” says elite running coach Greg McMillan. “My athletes and I no longer think about when to fuel, how much to fuel, or our stomachs. I finally feel like I’ve solved the fueling puzzle."
So what are you waiting for? Are you looking for an energy source to keep you steady without the sugar crash? Looking to get lean while training? Tired of the GI distress from all the sugar? It’s time to give UCAN a try!
*Save 15% on UCAN with the code LETSRUN2014 at generationucan.com/store
*Learn more about UCAN at generationucan.com/ucanrun