When you look to purchase an energy gel for intra-workout nutrition, post-workout recovery, or just nutrition in general, many of these energy gels contain caffeine, a well-known stimulant. While caffeine can be used beneficially, it is often superfluous, and the side effects almost always significantly outweigh the potential benefits. Since caffeine is common in many peoples’ diets, the side effects are often overlooked, and many of us are totally unaware that they exist. Reload Energy Gel does not contain caffeine, so the side effects are not present. You might assume that Reload Energy Gel is not as effective as other gels since it does not contain caffeine. However, Reload has something completely different to offer. It is the only energy gel on the market that provides you with a direct source of energy for your cells: ATP.
ATP, also known as adenosine-5’-triphosphate, is a molecule used by your cells which allows them to create energy, which, without any doubt, is essential for performing well during physical activity. ATP is depleted by both exercise and the natural process of aging. While it does regenerate, it is inevitable that it will be depleted, so if you are able to provide your body with a direct source of ATP, it will help negate the depletion over time or bring your ATP levels back up to par during or after activity.
If an energy gel contains caffeine, along with it come a plethora of side effects. One of the most common side effects of caffeine consumption is increased blood pressure, which is something that many aging individuals are trying to avoid, and in some cases, can be quite dangerous – it is often associated with stroke. Another negative aspect of caffeine is that it is a diuretic (1), dehydrating you much faster as the need to urinate is increased. Hydration is essential for good health and athletic performance and staying hydrated is challenging enough without introducing a diuretic like caffeine.
By eliminating caffeine, and instead including a direct source of ATP, Reload Energy Gel provides greater health benefits than can be achieved by an energy gel with caffeine in it. Caffeine is merely a stimulant, and does not increase extracellular ATP like Reload Energy Gel does. Reload Energy Gel helps improve your energy on a cellular level during exercise, resulting in peak performance, strength, agility, recovery, overall muscular function, and glucose delivery. (2)
Direct sources of adenosine-5’-triphosphate, such as Reload Energy Gel, have been shown to effectively raise the extracellular level of ATP in your body, (3) so it is a legitimate ingredient, and you are not merely riding the placebo effect that is common with many supplements these days. This increased level of extracellular ATP has also been shown to help remove waste products such as lactic acid, which can be detrimental to athletic performance.
So while caffeine does have some benefits, there are many negative side effects that far outweigh them. The energy gels that contain caffeine simply are not worth the risk when you can consume a non-caffeinated gel such as Reload Energy Gel, which has none of the negative side effects of caffeine and has all the benefits of ATP. This makes Reload Energy Gel the sensible choice for anyone wishing to enhance their athletic performance, or just improve overall health as they age.
References:
1) Maughan, R. J.; Griffin, J. (2003). “Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review”.Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 16 (6): 411–20
2) Gonzalez-Alonso J et al. Erythrocyte and the Regulation of Human Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow and Oxygen Delivery: Role of Circulating ATP. Circulation Research. 2002; 91:1046-1055.
3) Rapaport E et al. J. Anticancer Activities of Adenine Nucleotides in Mice Are Mediated Through Expansion of Erythrocyte ATP Pools. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1989; 86:1662-1666.
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