Maltodextrin is used as the main ‘energy source’ in leading energy gels & energy drink powders. It's a cheap bioengineered white powder, introduced in the 70s as a food thickener in processed foods. Like instant puds and sauces.[33]And much of it is made using GMO Corn.[34]Regulators might have considered it as safe in the past, but in the context of it being used in 'low moderation'.

But our exposure to Maltodextrin today, is higher than it has ever been. Especially with its high inlcusion in sports nutrition and drinks, which we now consume in greater quantities, and more often.

The problem is that Maltodextrin makes our stomachs more susceptible to disease, owing to changing the balance of gut bacteria. Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.[1][2][3]

To make synthetic or ultra-processed ingredients look and taste better, many producers use artificial colours, flavours & sweeteners. Aspartame is the sweetener that is used by most sports drink and soft drink companies, which the World Health Organisation recently declared as ‘potentially carcinogenic.’[21]Aspartame is made by modifying acids from plants, but with the chemical - methyl esther - a biodiesel, typically used in industrial, household cleaners, & as power generation.[22][23][24]

To make synthetic of ultra-processed ingredients taste better, many producers use artificial flavours. You'll find them in leading sports drinks, and some energy gels and drink powders, but did you know they're made from petroleum.[25] [26]

Caffeine comes from coffee beans, cacao beans, tea leaves, and gaurana berry, to make it sound more exotic. But it isn’t real energy. It heightens nervous systems giving us a fake or artificial rush of energy. While this can help to drive more effort in exercise, it maxes out at one tall starbucks coffee (a 200mg dose) and can’t be sustained. One cup in the morning will last throughout the day and maximize any performance benefits. Then, to supplement at excess doses won’t necessarily give you any added benefit, and you run the risk of side effects. Such as irritability, tremor, heart-rate increases, headaches and fatigue.[8] [9] [10]

There is still a suggestion by some that Green Tea extracts will improve your metabolism and help you to release more energy. Yet, it is important to know that current research shows that green tea supplements are of little help to healthy athletic individuals.[19][20]

There is no doubt among researchers that prolonged and intense exercise causes oxidative stress. Which in turn can result in increased muscle fatigue. Therefore, some promote anti-oxidant supplementation during exercise, to overcome these effects. Yet, after a thorough review of the scientific literature, there is little evidence to conclude that this approach helps.[11][12] In fact, we find strong evidence that supplementation can actually inhibit the body’s natural biological defences to oxidative stress. What this means is that natural adaptive responses by your muscles can be lessened, and your capacity for endurance reduced.[13][14][15] If you’re consuming well-balanced daily meals, you should be receiving adequate supplies of these anti-oxidants.

There is sound scientific evidence to conclude that B-Vitamins play an important role in energy metabolism. Then, it seems reasonable that any deficiencies might lessen exercise performance. But, if you’re getting everything you need from your normal diet, excess doses above recommended upper limits, could be harmful. For instance, excess B2 can cause diarrhoea and polyuria, B3 liver problems, gout and irregular heartbeat, and B6 nerve damage.[16][17][18] When it comes to vitamins, we believe you should only supplement for known deficiencies. Otherwise toxic doses can result in serious health problems.

1. Arnold AR, Chassaing B. Maltodextrin, Modern Stressor of the Intestinal Environment. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;7(2):475-476.
2. Nickerson KP, McDonald C. Crohn’s disease-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli adhesion is enhanced by exposure to the ubiquitous dietary polysaccharide maltodextrin. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52132.
3. Laudisi F, Di Fusco D, Dinallo V, Stolfi C, Di Grazia A, Marafini I, Colantoni A, Ortenzi A, Alteri C, Guerrieri F, Mavilio M, Ceccherini-Silberstein F, Federici M, MacDonald TT, Monteleone I, Monteleone G. The Food Additive Maltodextrin Promotes Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Driven Mucus Depletion and Exacerbates Intestinal Inflammation. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;7(2):457-473.
4. Asker E. Jeukendrup (2008) Carbohydrate feeding during exercise, European Journal of Sport Science, 8:2, 77-86.
5. Fritzsche RG, Switzer TW, Hodgkinson BJ, Lee SH, Martin JC, Coyle EF. Water and carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged exercise increase maximal neuromuscular power. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Feb;88(2):730-7.
6. Boschmann M, Steiniger J, Hille U, Tank J, Adams F, Sharma AM, Klaus S, Luft FC, Jordan J. Water-induced thermogenesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):6015-9.
7. T. D. Noakes (2007) Drinking guidelines for exercise: What evidence is there that athletes should drink “as much as tolerable”, “to replace the weight lost during exercise” or “ad libitum”?, Journal of Sports Sciences, 25:7, 781-796.
8. Bell DG, McLellan TM. Effect of repeated caffeine ingestion on repeated exhaustive exercise endurance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1348-54.
9. Graham TE, Spriet LL. Metabolic, catecholamine, and exercise performance responses to various doses of caffeine. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1995 Mar;78(3):867-74.
10. Kovacs EM, Stegen JHCH, Brouns F. Effect of caffeinated drinks on substrate metabolism, caffeine excretion, and performance. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1998 Aug;85(2):709-15.
11. Theodorou AA, Nikolaidis MG, Paschalis V, Koutsias S, Panayiotou G, Fatouros IG, Koutedakis Y, Jamurtas AZ. No effect of antioxidant supplementation on muscle performance and blood redox status adaptations to eccentric training. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun;93(6):1373-83.
12. Gomes EC, Allgrove JE, Florida-James G, Stone V. Effect of vitamin supplementation on lung injury and running performance in a hot, humid, and ozone-polluted environment. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011 Dec;21(6):e452-60.
13. Braakhuis AJ. Effect of vitamin C supplements on physical performance. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):180-4.
14. McGinley C, Shafat A, Donnelly AE. Does antioxidant vitamin supplementation protect against muscle damage? Sports Med. 2009;39(12):1011-32.
15. Paulsen G, Cumming KT, Holden G, Hallén J, Rønnestad BR, Sveen O, Skaug A, Paur I, Bastani NE, Østgaard HN, Buer C, Midttun M, Freuchen F, Wiig H, Ulseth ET, Garthe I, Blomhoff R, Benestad HB, Raastad T. Vitamin C and E supplementation hampers cellular adaptation to endurance training in humans: a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. J Physiol. 2014 Apr 15;592(8):1887-901.
16. Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Statement on Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Toxicity.
17. Habibe MN, Kellar JZ. Niacin Toxicity. 2021 Aug 1. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan–.
18. Lheureux P, Penaloza A, Gris M. Pyridoxine in clinical toxicology: a review. Eur J Emerg Med. 2005 Apr;12(2):78-85.
19. Martin BJ, Tan RB, Gillen JB, Percival ME, Gibala MJ. No effect of short-term green tea extract supplementation on metabolism at rest or during exercise in the fed state. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014 Dec;24(6):656-64.
20. Randell RK, Hodgson AB, Lotito SB, Jacobs DM, Rowson M, Mela DJ, Jeukendrup AE. Variable duration of decaffeinated green tea extract ingestion on exercise metabolism. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Jun;46(6):1185-93.
21. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/who-declares-aspartame-carcinogen
22. https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/glossary-item/methyl-esters_en
23. https://www.etipbioenergy.eu/fact-sheets/fatty-acid-methyl-esters-fame-fact-sheet
24. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444521149500256
25. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128115183000016
26. https://dspace.nuft.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/6687a2a2-07a1-4db4-a956-583459128b71/content
27. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000034
28. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X2200003X
29. https://www.cspinet.org/article/artificial-colorings-synthetic-food-dyes
30. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/toluene.htm#:~:text=Toluene%20is%20found%20naturally%20in,glues%2C%20inks%20and%20stain%20removers
31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9003278/
32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9003278/
33. https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/20/4/article-p322.xml
34. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/asbid/issue/78116/1239679

They can make you feel sick, give you an upset stomach and can contribute to longer-term stomach diseases. If not taken alongside the rights amount of water, then they can also dehydrate you. The energy they give is also short-lived, meaning you’ll suffer repeated blook sugar spikes and crashes. Finally, they don’t offer complete nutritional needs. Whereas Perple Endurance mixes do. Our recipes include all the active nutrients that independent scientists tell us work, taken from real foods, without any of the side effects or longer-term health issues that can come with repeated use of energy gels. Our liquid concentrate endurance mixes are designed to integrate with your water needs, to give you complete and sustained energy & hydration.

You are likely to experience some form of gastrointestinal distress, like bloating, cramping, sickness and diarrhea. What’s more is that you’ll become severely dehydrated if you take them without the appropriate amounts of water. What’s more is that if the energy gel does not contain adequate and balanced electrolytes, your body and muscles will not function as well, owing to the loss of these nutrients in your sweat. Some energy gels also include caffeine, and excess repetitive intake can therefore lead to irritability, tremor, heart rate increases, headaches and fatigue. Rather give Perple Endurance Mixes a go, which integrate with your water needs, to give you everything you need for maximum endurance in your activities.

Not if they are taken without the right amounts of water, or if they don’t contain the right carbs. If you get this balance wrong, you’ll end up having gastrointestinal problems that will interrupt your run, ride or competition. 

The ingredients in energy gels simply aren’t good for us. Lab-made ingredients like Maltodextrin can spike your blood sugar levels followed by rapid crashes, and can make us more susceptible to stomach diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. 

That is why Perple was born – as a replacement to energy gels, which simply are not good enough to keep us well-energised and hydrated. Perple has everything you need, from natural foods, completely integrated with your water needs, to maximise your endurance.