FAQ Topics

How to use your custom mix

Q

Do I need more than one formula for short and long distance?

A

Most of our clients, especially those who race the endurance events, prefer choose to use two different formulas—an endurance mix and a sprint mix. This system is very successful for the majority of our clients’ racing and training needs. First, the endurance blend. This should be high in calories with a little protein. It will get you though long training and races of more than 3 or 4 hours. If formulated correctly your custom-blended nutrition solution should be the only thing you need—the protein will keep you from getting hungry, and will allow you to avoid bars and gels. You can add caffeine to if you wish. This formula is the "go to" mix that you’ll use for most of your long training sessions and for racing. Second, the sprint blend. Reduce the calories from your endurance blend by 10–15% and bring the carbohydrates down to the short distance end of the slider to increase the glucose content. Keep the electrolyte level as it is, and remove the protein altogether. The idea is to have a formula for high heart rate conditions without causing gut issues. You can use this formula for any sprint-type racing, running races and also the run of a long distance triathlon. If you need further assistance or want to chat with an INFINIT Nutrition specialist to help you set up your formulas, just click on the "Need Help" link on the Homepage.

Q	How do I mix up my custom-blended mix?
A	2 scoops in 600-750ml water. Basically two scoops in one bottle. All the hard work is done for you – we even give you the scoop!!

Q	Can I really eliminate all the gels and bars?
A	Yes. Our formulas are designed to fuel an athlete all day long. Our custom blends are created based on your needs and what your body requires. We also take into account the type of racing you do, your training regime and your training and race environments. Our electrolyte levels are higher than other products and the addition of protein will keep you from getting hungry.

Q

How do I concentrate (my nutrition) for race day?

A

Concentrating your Infinit mix is a matter of personal preference in most cases. Generally in training and for shorter distance racing, there is no need to concentrate your mix at all. Extra serves can be carried with you in a zip-lock bag, and mixed when you stop to fill up with water. For sprint racing, two bottles is ample nutrition. Don’t make the mistake of taking too much nutrition and upsetting your gut. Keep it simple. For road racing or mountain bike races, it is also best to keep your nutrition simple. Carry those extra zip-lock bags with you and replenish your bottles at aid stations along the route. For half iron distance triathlons, again concentrating your nutrition is not recommended. Most athletes can carry three bottles on the bike and if you are cycling for less than three hours, there is no need to be taking more than one bottle per hour. Topping up with water at aid stations is recommended to assist with hydration. For Iron distance races, the choices are endless, and ultimately up to the individual athlete. Normally, 3 bottles will see you through 3 hours of racing. Logically doubling this, i.e. 4 scoops per bottle will fuel 6 hours of racing. We don’t suggest concentrating bottles any more than having 3 serves of Infinit per bottle, i.e. 6 scoops. We do have athletes that put 5 hours worth of Nutrition into 1 bottle but the chances of taking to much or not enough is hard to get right with a concentration so thick. It is imperative though that any concentrations are taken with water and diluted to lessen the osmolality in the gut, negating any stomach distress. Alternately to this, extra Infinit can be also be carried by the rider, or pre-mixed bottles can be left at special needs should they be required. As suggested earlier, the options for longer distance racing are endless. Foremost though, is to always supplement with water, and perhaps consider dialing down the flavour for concentrates to avoid your mix being too sweet.

Q

Why is liquid nutrition better than a system of food, gels and salt pills?

A

The bottom line is...calories are calories. Your body does not care if it’s in a liquid or solid form. The "food in your pocket and hydration in your bottle" makes consistency with your nutrition virtually impossible to maintain. Simplicity leads to performance. The key issue is that the solution in your stomach must be isotonic in order to process with the least stress. With an all-in-one liquid nutrition you can ensure that what is in your gut is isotonic and you are getting the exact amount of calories, electrolyte and protein that you require. Juggling gels, drinks, salt pills, bars or rice cakes is a difficult proposition when you are racing or training. Too much or too little can lead to bloating, dehydration or bonking.

Q	What is the single biggest mistake that you see athletes make on race day?
A	Too much nutrition!! Overdoing it when it comes to fueling your tank can lead to bloating, gastric issues and even nausea. It is much easier to fix ‘bonking’ than a bad case of bloating. Infinit’s simplified nutrition plan is hard to mess up.

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General INFINIT FAQ's

Q

What is the real cost of INFINIT compared to other products?

A

I spend a great deal of my time talking to customers. I like staying in touch with what is going on in the sports we support, and also getting feedback from people. Occasionally I get the comment “INFINIT is kinda on the expensive side, but well worth it!” That got me thinking (a dangerous thing), how does INFINIT compare on a cost basis when looking at other companies? Let’s break it down in a simple way, a 180km ride that takes 6 hours: Method #1: “The old-school pocket full of stuff method” 6 bottles of a sports drink @ $1.25 = $7.50. A total of 120grams of Carbohydrate, 1056mg sodium and no protein 4 gels @ $2.75 = $11. A total of 100grams of Carbohydrate, 240mg of sodium and no protein 1 bar @ $2.95.  A total of 42grams of Carbohydrate, 240mg of sodium and 10g of protein. TOTALS: $21.45 262g of Carbohydrate 1536mg of sodium 10g of protein While this “system” can certainly work, it is very difficult to keep you gut consistent throughout the day. Many times age-groupers will do too much and your gut will shut down. Other times they may not do enough and have the dreaded bonk. Then there is that “trying to get down an energy bar in 30 degree heat after 4+ hours in the saddle”. There’s nothing quite like the enjoyment of chewing on the same bite for 20 minutes, and we’ve all been there. In any case, not only will you have to keep track of all of these various components, but alsoYOU MUST CARRY WATER to wash all of this stuff down. Remember, if you drink your sports drink on top of a gel or a bar, you are going to end up with a thick sludge of goo in your gut that will NOT process. Your body then has to go into digestive mode, pull water out from where it should be used (to keep your body cool and muscles working properly) to dilute the sludge in order to get it to pass. This digestive process will cause you to dehydrate and loose performance. Method #2: 6 bottles of INFINIT’s Go Far custom blend @ $2.60 = $15.60 Totals: $15.60 396grams of Carbohydrate 2400mg of sodium 24gms of protein Isotonic solutions. Drink your stuff…ride your bike. Brainless. So next time that you think that INFINIT is more expensive, remember this. INFINIT delivers an all-in-one delivery system that custom-blended to taste how YOU want. More calories in an Isotonic form that is guaranteed to give you zero problems. Enough protein to keep you from getting hungry all day long. All of this at a lower price than other products.

Q

Why 3 carbohydrate sources ? & are simple sugars "bad" ?

A

Why do we use multiple carbohydrates in INFINIT? Why do we use a component of simple sugars? Why does INFINIT allow you to absorb 25-30% more calories that some other products in the marketplace? This is the SCIENCE that started it all. Not marketing hyperbole that simple sugars are bad. The truth is that blending a combination of simpla and complex carbohydrates allows INFINIT to pack in MORE calories while still keeping the solution isotonic. Isotonic solutions are key to keeping your gut happy during a long or strenuous training session or athletic event. Want to absorb more calories and really "feel great", read on... Roy L. P. G. Jentjens, Michelle C. Venables, and Asker E. Jeukendrup Human Performance Laboratory, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom. Submitted 23 September 2003; accepted in final form Nov. 3, 2003. Journal of Applied Physiology 96: 1285-1291, 2004. First published Dec. 2, 2003. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether combined ingestion of two carbohydrates (CHO) that are absorbed by different intestinal transport mechanisms would lead to exogenous CHO oxidation rates of >1.0 g/min. Nine trained male cyclists (maximal O2 consumption: 64 ± 2 ml•kg body wt-1•min-1) performed four exercise trials, which were randomly assigned and separated by at least 1 wk. Each trial consisted of 150 min of cycling at 50% of maximal power output (60 ± 1% maximal O2 consumption), while subjects received a solution providing either 1.8 g/min of glucose (Glu), 1.2 g/min of glucose + 0.6 g/min of sucrose (Glu+Suc), 1.2 g/min of glucose + 0.6 g/min of maltose (Glu+Mal), or water. Peak exogenous CHO oxidation rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Glu+Suc trial (1.25 ± 0.07 g/min) compared with the Glu and Glu+Mal trials (1.06 ± 0.08 and 1.06 ± 0.06 g/min, respectively). No difference was found in (peak) exogenous CHO oxidation rates between Glu and Glu+Mal. These results demonstrate that, when a mixture of glucose and sucrose is ingested at high rates (1.8 g/min) during cycling exercise, exogenous CHO oxidation rates reach peak values of ~1.25 g/min. carbohydrate absorption; stable isotopes; substrate utilization; metabolism; sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1; cyclists The oxidation of ingested carbohydrate (CHO) has been intensively investigated by using stable and radioactive isotope techniques (for reviews, see Refs. 13, 17). Several authors have examined exogenous CHO oxidation rates during cycling exercise and have reported peak values approaching 1.0 g/min for exercise durations of up to 180 min (13, 18, 19). Although there are studies that have reported slightly higher values (6, 30, 32), it is generally believed that the maximal oxidation rate of ingested CHO is ~1.0 g/min. Suggestions have been made that the rate of exogenous CHO oxidation is limited by the rate of absorption of CHO by the intestine (14, 16) and subsequent transport of glucose into the bloodstream regulated by the liver (17, 19). Interestingly, our laboratory has recently shown that, when a mixture of glucose and fructose is ingested at high rates (1.8 g/min) during cycling exercise, exogenous CHO oxidation rates can reach peak values of ~1.3 g/min (16). The ingestion of fructose in combination with glucose resulted in ~55% higher exogenous CHO oxidation rates compared with ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of glucose only. Of note, in a study by Shi et al. (31), it was demonstrated that a beverage containing glucose and fructose resulted in ~65% higher CHO absorption rates compared with an isoenergetic glucose solution. This finding was attributed to the fact that glucose and fructose are absorbed by different intestinal transport mechanisms, and hence there may be less competition for absorption. A faster rate of intestinal CHO absorption might increase the availability of exogenous CHO in the bloodstream, and this could explain the higher exogenous CHO oxidation rates observed when glucose and fructose are ingested simultaneously (1, 16). There have been suggestions that glucose, in combination with sucrose, also results in high rates of CHO (and water) absorption (31). Sucrose is hydrolyzed at the brush border of the intestinal epithelium to glucose and fructose. It has been postulated that monosaccharides from the hydrolysis of disaccharides are directly transported through the brush-border membrane without being released in the luminal space, a process often referred to as disaccharidase-related transport (20, 25). However, several studies have failed to find evidence for a disaccharidase-related transport system to be involved in the absorption of sucrose (9, 29) or maltose (12, 28). It is more likely that fructose and glucose released from sucrose are absorbed by conventional monosaccharide transport mechanisms (9, 29). Fructose is absorbed from the intestine by GLUT-5 transporters (4, 10), and intestinal glucose transport occurs via a sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) 1 (10). This suggests that intestinal transport of sucrose is at least, in part, different from that of glucose. It is possible that, when a mixture of glucose and sucrose is ingested, the rate of intestinal CHO absorption is higher compared with the ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of glucose (or sucrose) (31), and this might increase the availability and oxidation of exogenous CHO. Ingested sucrose is oxidized at a peak oxidation rate of ~0.9 g/min (32), and this is fairly similar to the peak exogenous oxidation rate reported for glucose (17). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether combined ingestion of a large amount of glucose and sucrose (270 g) during 2.5 h of exercise would lead to exogenous CHO oxidation rates of >1.0 g/min. The second aim of the study was to examine the rate of exogenous CHO oxidation of a mixture of glucose and maltose compared with an isoenergetic amount of glucose. Maltose is a disaccharide consisting of two glucose molecules linked by an α-1,4 glycosidic bond. Orally ingested maltose is hydrolyzed to glucose at the brush border of the intestinal epithelium. The absorption of glucose released from maltose seems to occur via the same intestinal CHO transporters as free glucose (SLGT1) (12, 28). It is likely that, when maltose and glucose are ingested simultaneously, the glucose released from maltose and free glucose will compete for intestinal CHO transport, and hence the rate of CHO absorption may not be different compared with the ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of glucose. Therefore, we hypothesized that combined ingestion of glucose and maltose during prolonged cycling exercise would result in similar exogenous CHO oxidation rates as the ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of glucose. Methods Subjects. Nine trained male cyclists or triathletes, aged 27.3 ± 2.5 yr and with a body mass of 74.1 ± 1.9 kg, took part in this study. Subjects trained at least three times a week for >2 h/day and had been involved in endurance training for at least 2–4 yr. Before participation, each of the subjects was fully informed of the purpose and risks associated with the procedures, and a written, informed consent was obtained. All subjects were healthy, as assessed by a general health questionnaire. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Preliminary testing. At least 1 wk before the start of the experimental trials, an incremental cycle exercise test to volitional exhaustion was performed to determine the individual maximum power output (W' max) and maximal oxygen consumption (V' O2 max). This test was performed on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Groningen, The Netherlands), modified to the configuration of a racing bicycle with adjustable saddle height and handlebar position. After the subjects reported to the laboratory, body mass (Seca Alpha, Hamburg, Germany) and height were recorded. Subjects then started cycling at 95 W for 3 min, followed by incremental steps of 35 W every 3 min until exhaustion. Heart rate (HR) was recorded continuously by a radiotelemetry HR monitor (Polar Vantage NV, Kempele, Finland). W' max was calculated from the last completed work rate, plus the fraction of time spent in the final noncompleted work rate multiplied by the work rate increment. The results were used to determine the work rate corresponding to 50% W' max, which was later employed in the experimental exercise trials. Breath-by-breath measurements were performed throughout exercise by using an online automated gas-analysis system (Oxycon Pro, Jaeger, Wuerzberg, Germany). The volume sensor was calibrated by using a 3-liter calibration syringe, and the gas analyzers were calibrated by using a 5.03% CO2-94.97% N2 gas mixture. Oxygen consumption (V' O2) was considered to be maximal (V' O2 max) when at least two of the three following criteria were met: 1) a leveling off of V' O2 with increasing workload (increase of no more than 2 ml•kg-1•min-1), 2) a HR within 10 beats/min of predicted maximum (HR 220 minus age), and 3) a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of >1.05.V' O2 max was calculated as the average oxygen uptake over the last 60 s of the test. The V' O2 max and W' max achieved during the incremental exercise test were 64 ± 2 ml•kg body wt-1•min-1 and 364 ± 5 W, respectively. Experimental design. Each subject performed four exercise trials, which consisted of 150 min of cycling at 50%W' max while ingesting a glucose drink (Glu), an isoenergetic glucose+sucrose drink (Glu+Suc) (the ingested glucose-to-sucrose ratio was 2:1), an isoenergetic glucose+maltose drink (Glu+Mal) (the ingested glucose-tomaltose ratio was 2:1), or plain water (Wat). To quantify exogenous glucose oxidation (EGO), corn-derived glucose monohydrate and maltose and sugar cane-derived sucrose were used, which have a high natural abundance of 13C [-10.8, -10.6, and -11.2 d‰ change (d) vs. Pee Dee Bellemnitella (PDB), respectively]. The 13C enrichment of the ingested glucose, maltose, and sucrose was determined by elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (Europa Scientific GEO 20–20, Crewe, UK). To all drinks, 20 mmol/l of sodium chloride were added. The order of the experimental drinks was randomly assigned in a crossover design. Experimental trials were separated by at least 7 days. Diet and activity before testing. Subjects were asked to record their food intake and activity pattern 2 days before the first exercise trial and were then instructed to follow the same diet and exercise activities before the other three trials. In addition, 5–7 days before each experimental testing day, they were asked to perform an intense training session (“glycogen-depleting” exercise bout) in an attempt to empty any 13C-enriched glycogen stores. Subjects were further instructed not to consume any food products with a high natural abundance of13C (CHO derived from C4 plants: maize, sugar cane) at least 1 wk before and during the entire experimental period to reduce the background shift (change in 13CO2) from endogenous substrate stores. Protocol. Subjects reported to the Human Performance Laboratory in the morning (between 7:00–9:00 AM) after an overnight fast (10–12 h) and having refrained from any strenuous activity or drinking any alcohol in the previous 24 h. For a given subject, all trials were conducted at the same time of the day to avoid any influence of circadian variance. On arrival in the laboratory, a flexible 21-gauge Teflon catheter (Quickcath, Baxter BV, Norfolk, UK) was inserted in an antecubital vein of an arm and attached to a three-way stopcock (Sims Portex, Kingsmead, UK) to allow for repeated blood sampling during exercise. The catheter was kept patent by flushing with 1.0–1.5 ml of isotonic saline (0.9%; Baxter) after each blood sample collection. The subjects then mounted a cycle ergometer, and a resting breath sample was collected in 10-ml Exetainer tubes (Labco Brow Works, High Wycombe, UK), which were filled directly from a mixing chamber in duplicate to determine the 13C-to-12C ratio (13C/12C) in the expired air. Next, a resting blood sample (10 ml) was taken and stored on ice and later centrifuged. Subjects then started a 150-min exercise bout at a work rate equivalent to 50%W' max (60 ± 1%V' O2 max). Additional blood samples were drawn at 15-min intervals during exercise. Expiratory breath samples were collected every 15 min until the end of exercise. V' O2, carbon dioxide production (V' CO2), and RER were measured every 15 min for periods of 4 min by using an online automated gas-analysis system, as previously described. During the first 3 min of exercise, subjects drank an initial bolus (600 ml) of one of the four experimental drinks: Glu, Glu+Suc, Glu+Mal, or Wat. Thereafter, every 15 min, a beverage volume of 150 ml was provided. The total fluid provided during the 150-min exercise bout was 1.95 liters. The average rate of glucose intake in the Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal trial was 1.8, 1.2, and 1.2 g/min, respectively. Furthermore, subjects ingested, on average, 0.6 g/min of sucrose in the Glu+Suc trial and 0.6 g/min of maltose in the Glu+Mal trial, which brought the total CHO intake rate in each condition to 1.8 g/min. Subjects were asked to rate their perceived exertion (RPE) for whole body and legs every 15 min on a scale from 6 to 20, using the Borg category scale (2). In addition, subjects were asked every 30 min to fill in a questionnaire to rate possible gastrointestinal (GI) problems (15). All exercise tests were performed under normal and standard environmental conditions (19–22°C dry bulb temperature and 50–60% relative humidity). During the exercise trials, subjects were cooled with standing floor fans to minimize thermal stress. Questionnaires. Subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire every 30 min during the exercise trials. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the presence of GI problems at that moment and addressed the following complaints: stomach problems, GI cramping, bloated feeling, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, headache, belching, vomiting, and urge to urinate and defecate. While subjects were on the bike and continued their exercise, each question was answered by simply ticking a box on the questionnaire that corresponded to the severity of the GI problem addressed. The items were scored on a 10-point scale (1 not at all, 10 very, very much). The severity of the GI symptoms was divided into two categories, severe and nonsevere symptoms, as was previously described by Jentjens et al. (15). Severe complaints included nausea, stomach problems, bloated feeling, diarrhea, urge to vomit, and stomach and intestinal cramps, because these are symptoms that commonly impair performance and may bring with them health risks. The above symptoms were only registered as severe symptoms when a score of ≥5 out of 10 was reported. When a score of < 5 was given, they were registered as nonsevere. All other symptoms were registered as nonsevere, regardless of the score reported. Calculations. From V' CO2 and V' O2 (l/min), total CHO and fat oxidation rates (g/min) were calculated by using the stoichiometric equations of Frayn (11), with the assumption that protein oxidation during exercise was negligible CHO oxidation = 4.55V' CO2 - 3.21V' O2 (1) Fat oxidation = 1.67V' O2 - 1.67V' CO2 (2) The isotopic enrichment was expressed as d‰ difference between the 13C/12C of the sample and a known laboratory reference standard, according to the formula of Craig (8) d13C = [(13C/12C sample / 13C/12C standard) – 1] • 103‰ (3) The d 13C was then related to an international standard (PDB). In the CHO trials, the rate of EGO was calculated by using the following formula (24) Exogenous glucose oxidation V' CO2 • (d Exp - dExpbkg / d Ing - dExpbkg)(1 / k)(4) where d Exp is the 13C enrichment of expired air during exercise at different time points, d Ing is the 13C enrichment of the ingested CHO solution, d Expbkg is the 13C enrichment of expired air in the Wat trial (background) at different time points, and k is the amount of CO2(in liters) produced by the oxidation of 1 g of glucose (k 0.7467 liter of CO2 per gram of glucose). Endogenous CHO oxidation was calculated by subtracting exogenous CHO oxidation from total CHO oxidation. A methodological consideration when 13CO2 is used in expired air to calculate exogenous substrate oxidation is the trapping of 13CO2 in the bicarbonate pool, in which an amount of CO2 arising from decarboxylation of energy substrates is temporarily trapped (27). However, during exercise, the V' CO2 increases severalfold, so that a physiological steady-state condition will occur relatively rapidly, and 13CO2 in the expired air will be equilibrated with the13CO2/H13CO3- pool, respectively. Recovery of 13CO2 from oxidation will approach 100% after 60 min of exercise when dilution in the bicarbonate pool becomes negligible (23, 27). As a consequence of this, all calculations on substrate oxidation were performed over the last 90 min of exercise (60–150 min). Statistical analyses. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare differences in substrate utilization and in bloodrelated parameters over time between the trials. A Tukey post hoc test was applied in the event of a significant F ratio. Data evaluation was performed by using SPSS for Windows version 10.0 software package (Chicago, IL). All data are reported as means ± SE. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Stable isotope measurements. The mean 13CO2 enrichment of the resting breath samples was -26.01 ± 0.22 δ‰vs. PDB. Changes in isotopic composition of expired CO2 in response to exercise with ingestion of Wat, Glu, Glu+Suc, or Glu+Mal are shown in Fig. 1A. In the three CHO trials, there was a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the 13CO2 enrichment of expired breath, reaching an enrichment difference of ~5–6 δ‰ vs. PDB toward the end of the 150-min exercise (compared with corresponding resting breath sample). From the 60-min point onward, breath 13CO2 enrichment in Glu+Suc was significantly (P < 0.01) higher compared with that in the other two CHO trials. During the Wat trial, there was a small but significant increase in 13CO2 enrichment of the expired air (P < 0.01). The changes in background13CO2 enrichment during the Wat trial were < 7% compared with the rise in breath 13CO2enrichment provoked by the exogenous CHO in the Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal trials. Although the background shift was relatively small in the present study, a background correction was made for the calculation of EGO in the three CHO trials by using the data from the Wat trial. V' O2, RER, total CHO, and fat oxidation. Data for V' O2, RER, total CHO, and fat oxidation over the 60- to 150-min exercise period are shown in Table 1. No significant differences were observed in V' O2 among the four experimental trials. RER in the Wat trial was significantly lower (P < 0.01) compared with that in the three CHO trials (Table 1). CHO oxidation was significantly higher (P < 0.01) after CHO ingestion compared with Wat ingestion. During the last 90 min of exercise (60–150 min), the average CHO oxidation rates were 1.43 ± 0.14, 1.94 ± 0.14, 2.21 ± 0.13, and 2.00 ± 0.11 g/min for Wat, Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal, respectively. No significant differences in total CHO oxidation were found among CHO trials. However, there was a trend (P 0.07) for a higher total CHO oxidation in Glu+Suc compared with that in the other two CHO trials. Total fat oxidation was markedly suppressed with CHO ingestion (P < 0.01). The average fat oxidation rates over the 60- to 150-min exercise period were 0.88 ± 0.05, 0.67 ± 0.07, 0.58 ± 0.03, and 0.66 ± 0.03 g/min for Wat, Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal, respectively. The relative contribution of substrates to total energy expenditure during the 60- to 150-min period is depicted in Fig. 2. Exogenous and endogenous CHO oxidation. Exogenous CHO oxidation rates gradually increased during the first 120 min of exercise and leveled off during the final 30 min of exercise (Fig. 1B). The average oxidation rates over the final 30-min exercise period were 1.05 ± 0.08, 1.22 ± 0.07, and 1.03 ± 0.06 g/min for Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal, respectively (Table 1). Peak exogenous CHO oxidation rates were reached at the end of exercise (150 min) and were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Glu+Suc trial (1.25 ± 0.07 g/min) compared with the Glu and Glu+Mal trials (1.06 ± 0.08 and 1.06 ± 0.06 g/min, respectively) (Fig. 1B). Exogenous CHO oxidation in the Glu+Suc trial was ~18% higher (P < 0.05) compared with that in the isoenergetic Glu and Glu+Mal trials (Table 1 and Fig. 1B). No difference was found in (peak) exogenous CHO oxidation rates between Glu and Glu+Mal. Fig. 1. Breath 13CO2 enrichment (A) and exogenous carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation (B) during exercise without ingestion of carbohydrate [water (Wat)] or with ingestion of glucose (Glu), glucose and sucrose (Glu+Suc), or glucose and maltose (Glu+Mal). Values are means ± SE; n = 9; PDB, Pee Dee Bellemnitella. Significant differences: aGlu+Suc vs. Glu+Mal, bGlu+Suc vs. Glu, and cWat vs. CHO trials: P < 0.05. Table 1. Oxygen uptake (V'O2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), total carbohydrate oxidation (CHOtot), total fat oxidation (FATtot), endogenous carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation, and exogenous glucose oxidation during cycling exercise with ingestion of WAT, GLU, GLU + SUC, or GLU + MAL   Time V'O2, 1/min RER, g/min CHO tot, g/min FAT tot, g/min Endogenous CHO oxidation, g/min Exogenous Glucose WAT 60–90 2.84±0.06 0.82±0.01 1.51±0.15 0.84±0.06 1.51±0.15     90–120 2.84±0.05 0.81±0.01 1.41±0.15 0.88±0.05 1.41±0.15     120–150 2.89±0.05 0.81±0.01 1.36±0.16 0.92±0.05 1.36±0.16   GLU 60–90 2.81±0.08 0.86±0.01† 1.96±0.13† 0.66±0.06* 1.10±0.10* 0.86±0.05   90–120 2.82±0.08 0.86±0.01† 1.95±0.13† 0.67±0.07† 0.97±0.09* 0.98±0.07   120–150 2.82±0.08 0.86±0.01† 1.93±0.15† 0.68±0.07† 0.88±0.10* 1.05±0.08 GLU+SUC 60–90 2.82±0.06 0.88±0.01† 2.24±0.13† 0.56±0.03† 1.23±0.12 1.00±0.05‡,§   90–120 2.83±0.06 0.88±0.01† 2.22±0.13† 0.58±0.03† 1.08±0.12* 1.15±0.06‡,§   120–150 2.85±0.06 0.87±0.01† 2.20±0.13† 0.60±0.03† 0.97±0.13* 1.22±0.07‡,§ GLU+MAL 60–90 2.84±0.06 0.86±0.01† 2.02±0.11† 0.66±0.03* 1.19±0.10 0.83±0.06   90–120 2.83±0.06 0.86±0.01† 2.01±0.11† 0.66±0.03† 1.05±0.10* 0.96±0.04   120–150 2.85±0.06 0.86±0.01† 1.99±0.11† 0.67±0.03† 0.96±0.10* 1.03±0.06 Values are means ± SE; n = 9. WAT, ingestion of water only; GLU, ingestion of glucose; GLU+SUC, ingestion of glucose and sucrose; GLU+MAL, ingestion of glucose and maltose. *Significantly different from WAT (P < 0.05). †Significantly different from WAT (P < 0.01). ‡Significantly different from GLU (P < 0.05). §Significantly different from GLU+MAL (P < 0.01). During the 60- to 150-min period of exercise, endogenous CHO oxidation was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the CHO trials compared with the Wat trial, although Glu+Suc and Glu+Mal just failed to reach statistical significance between time 60 and 90 min (P 0.079) (Table 1 and Fig. 2). Furthermore, the contribution of endogenous CHO oxidation to total energy expenditure was significantly lower in the three CHO trials compared with Wat (Fig. 2). No differences were found in endogenous CHO oxidation among the three CHO trials. Plasma metabolites. Plasma glucose and lactate concentrations at rest and during exercise are shown in Fig. 3, A and B, respectively. The fasting plasma glucose concentrations for the four experimental trials averaged between 4.5 and 4.7 mmol/l. Plasma glucose concentrations in the Wat trial remained relatively constant during exercise (values ranging from 4.1 to 4.7 mmol/l). With the ingestion of CHO at the start of exercise, plasma glucose concentrations peaked within the first 15 min of exercise at values ranging from 5.6 to 6.0 mmol/l. Plasma glucose concentrations then fell and were maintained at values of 4.7–5.0 mmol/l for the entire duration of exercise. During the final 45 min of exercise, plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the CHO trials compared with the Wat trial. In addition, plasma glucose at time 75 and 90 min was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Glu+Mal trial compared with the Wat trial. Fig. 2. Relative contributions of substrates to total energy expenditure calculated for the 60- to 150-min period of exercise without ingestion of Wat or with ingestion of Glu, Glu+Suc, or Glu+Mal. Values are means ± SE; n = 9. Significantly different from Wat (dP < 0.05 and eP < 0.01), fGlu (P < 0.05), and gGlu+Mal (P < 0.01). Fasting plasma lactate concentrations were similar in the four trials (on average 0.9 ± 0.1 mmol/l). Plasma lactate concentrations increased (P < 0.05) during the first 15 min of exercise in all four trials. Thereafter, plasma lactate concentrations remained relatively constant until the end of exercise. No significant differences were observed in plasma lactate concentrations among the four experimental trials. GI discomfort and RPEs. GI and related complaints were registered by a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaires obtained during the CHO trials are presented in Table 2. The most frequently reported complaints were stomach problems, nausea, flatulence, urge to urinate, belching, and bloated feeling. More subjects reported severe GI discomfort (stomach problems, bloated feeling, and urge to vomit) in the Glu and Glu+Mal trials compared with the Glu+Suc trial. None of the subjects vomited or suffered from diarrhea during the exercise trails. No significant differences in RPE overall or RPE in legs were observed among the four experimental trials. The mean values for RPE overall and RPE in legs during 150 min of exercise were 10.3 ± 0.6 and 10.5 ± 0.7, respectively. Fig. 3. Plasma glucose (A) and lactate (B) during exercise without ingestion of Wat or with ingestion of Glu, Glu+Suc, or Glu+Mal. Values are means ± SE; n = 9. Significant difference: Wat vs. cCHO trials andhGlu+Mal: P < 0.05. Discussion Numerous studies have shown that, during prolonged cycling exercise, exogenous CHO oxidation does not exceed 1.0 g/min (3, 14, 19, 30, 32). However, it should be noted that, in the above-mentioned studies, the oxidation rate of only one type of exogenous CHO was examined at the time. Recently, our laboratory has shown that, when a mixture of glucose and fructose was ingested during cycling exercise, exogenous CHO oxidation rates reached peak values of almost 1.3 g/min (16). The present study investigated whether combined ingestion of Glu+Suc would result in exogenous CHO oxidation rates of >1.0 g/min. In addition, the effect of a Glu+Mal mixture on exogenous CHO oxidation was examined. The main finding of the present study was that a mixture of Glu+Suc, when ingested at a high rate (1.8 g/min), resulted in peak oxidation rates of ~1.25 g/min (Fig. 1B) and resulted in almost 20% higher exogenous CHO oxidation rates compared with the ingestion of an isocaloric amount of Glu (Fig. 1B and Table 1). Previous studies have shown that, when the rate of glucose or maltodextrin ingestion is increased from 1.2 to 1.8 g/min, exogenous CHO oxidation rates do not increase, and oxidation rates seem to level off at ~1.0 g/min (16, 32). It has been suggested that intestinal glucose transporters (SGLT1) may become saturated when large amounts of glucose or glucose polymers are ingested (>1.2 g/min), and hence intestinal CHO absorption may be a limiting factor for exogenous CHO oxidation (16). Interestingly, in the present study, the average CHO ingestion rate was 1.8 g/min, and exogenous CHO oxidation rates in the Glu+Suc trial reached peak values of 1.25 ± 0.07 g/min. The present findings are in agreement with the results of a previous study from our laboratory, in which combined ingestion of glucose and fructose (average ingestion rate of 1.8 g/min) resulted in peak exogenous CHO oxidation rates of ~1.26 g/min (16). It should be noted that free fructose and most probably fructose released from sucrose use a different intestinal transporter (GLUT-5) than glucose (SGLT1). Shi et al. (31) demonstrated, with an intestinal perfusion study, that a beverage containing glucose and fructose leads to higher CHO absorption rates compared with a beverage containing an isoenergetic amount of glucose. This effect was attributed to the separate intestinal transport mechanisms for glucose and fructose. The absorption of glucose and fructose released from sucrose most likely occurs via the same intestinal CHO transporters as free glucose (SLGT1) and free fructose (GLUT-5) (9, 29). However, it cannot be excluded that sucrose is absorbed by a disaccharidase-related transport mechanism, which provides a direct transfer of glucose and fructose (released from sucrose) across the brush border membrane (20, 25). Although speculative, the higher oxidation rates in the Glu+Suc trial compared with the Glu trial may have been due to an increased intestinal CHO absorption rate, which may have increased the availability of exogenous CHO for oxidation. It is interesting to note that fewer subjects reported (severe) GI discomfort when a mixture of glucose and sucrose (or fructose, see Ref. 16) was ingested compared with ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of glucose. Suggestions have been made that incomplete absorption of CHO increases the risk of GI complications (26). The lower prevalence of (severe) GI complications when mixtures of glucose and sucrose or fructose are ingested seems to suggest that less CHO is accumulating in the GI tract, possibly because of a faster CHO absorption rate. Although the mechanism remains speculative, the present data and previous observations from our laboratory (16) clearly show that ingestion of glucose in combination with sucrose or fructose increases the rate of exogenous CHO oxidation by 20–50% and results in peak oxidation rates of ~1.25 g/min. Table 2. Gastrointestinal and related complaints during 150 min of exercise (n = 9) Complaint GLU, n GLU+SUC, n GLU+MAL, n Nonsevere Stomach problems 2 0 1 Nausea 1 0 2 Dizziness 0 0 0 Headache 1 0 0 Flatulence 2 2 2 Urge to urinate 3 4 5 Urge to defecate 0 0 1 Urge to vomit 0 0 0 Belching 5 3 4 Stomach burn 2 0 1 Bloated feeling 5 4 5 Stomach cramps 0 0 0 Intestinal cramps 0 0 0 Side aches left 0 0 0 Side aches right 0 0 0 Reflux 0 0 0 Severe Stomach problems 1 0 1 Nausea 1 0 0 Urge to vomit 1 0 1 Bloated feeling 0 0 0 Stomach cramps 0 0 0 Stomach cramps, urge to vomit, nausea, bloated feeling,and stomach problems were registered as “severe” when a score of 5 or higher (out of 10) was given. Exogenous CHO oxidation rates were similar when a mixture of Glu+Mal was ingested compared with the ingestion of an isoenergetic amount of Glu (Table 1 and Fig. 1B). As mentioned earlier, when large amounts of CHOs are ingested during exercise, the rate of intestinal CHO absorption may be a limiting factor for exogenous CHO oxidation. Maltose is hydrolyzed by a specific brush-border enzyme to two glucose molecules, and suggestions have been made that these glucoses are then rapidly absorbed by SLGT1 (12, 28). Because free glucose and glucose released from maltose appear to be absorbed via the same intestinal CHO transporter (SLGT1) (12, 28), glucose and maltose will compete for CHO transport when ingested in the same beverage. It is, therefore, likely that CHO absorption rates in Glu and Glu+Mal were the same, and hence this could explain the similar exogenous CHO oxidation rates. Interestingly, human duodenal perfusion studies have shown that glucose absorption from hydrolysis of maltose is faster than from ingested glucose (5, 28). However, it should be noted that, in these studies, CHO perfusion rates were relatively low (<0.75>1.2 g/min), SGLT1 transports may become saturated, and hence intestinal CHO absorption rates of glucose and maltose may be similar. To our knowledge, only one study has investigated the oxidation of ingested maltose during exercise. In a study by Hawley et al. (14), six trained cyclists ingested 180 g of maltose or glucose during 90 min of cycling exercise at 70% V' O2 max. It was shown that maltose and glucose are oxidized at similar rates, and peak oxidation rates for maltose and glucose were 0.9 and 1.0 g/min, respectively. The findings of Hawley et al. and those of the present study suggest that maltose and glucose are equally effective for exogenous CHO oxidation. In the present study, ingestion of CHO resulted in lower endogenous CHO oxidation rates compared with the ingestion of Wat (Table 1). The contribution of endogenous CHO oxidation to total energy expenditure was 41 ± 4, 28 ± 3, 31 ± 3, and 29 ± 3% for Wat, Glu, Glu+Suc, and Glu+Mal, respectively (P < >Acknowledgments The authors thank Cerestar (Manchester, UK) for donating glucose monohydrate, SPI Pharma Group (Lewes, DE) for donating maltose, and Tate and Lyle Europe (London, UK) for donating sucrose. Grants This study was supported by a grant of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, UK. References Adopo E, Peronnet F, Massicotte D, Brisson GR, and Hillaire-Marcel C. Respective oxidation of exogenous glucose and fructose given in the same drink during exercise. J Appl Physiol 76: 1014–1019, 1994. Borg G. Ratings of perceived exertion and heart rates during short-term cycle exercise and their use in a new cycling strength test. Int J Sports Med 3: 153–158, 1982. Bosch AN, Dennis SC, and Noakes TD. Influence of carbohydrate ingestion on fuel substrate turnover and oxidation during prolonged exercise. J Appl Physiol 76: 2364–2372, 1994. Burant CF, Takeda J, Brot-Laroche E, Bell GL, and Davidson NO. Fructose transporter in human spermatozoa and small intestine is GLUT5. J Biol Chem 267: 14523–14526, 1992. Cook GC. Comparison of absorption rates of glucose and maltose in man in vivo. Clin Sci 44: 425–428, 1973. Couture S, Massicotte D, Lavoie C, Hillaire-MC, and Pe´ronnet F. Oral [13C]glucose and endogenous energy substrate oxidation during prolonged treadmill running. J Appl Physiol 92: 1255–1260, 2002. Coyle EF, Coggan AR, Hemmert MK, and Ivy JL. Muscle glycogen utilization during prolonged strenuous exercise when fed carbohydrate. J Appl Physiol 61: 165–172, 1986. Craig H. Isotopic standards for carbon and oxygen and correction factors. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 12: 133–149, 1957. Davidson RE and Leese HJ. Sucrose absorption by the rat small intestine in vivo and in vitro. J Physiol 267: 237–248, 1977. Ferraris RP and Diamond J. Regulation of intestinal sugar transport. Physiol Rev 77: 257–302, 1997. Frayn KN. Calculation of substrate oxidation rates in vivo from gaseous exchange. J Appl Physiol 55: 628–634, 1983. Gromova LV and Gruzdkov AA. Hydrolysis-dependent absorption of disaccharides in the rat small intestine (chronic experiments and mathematical modeling). Gen Physiol Biophys 18: 209–224, 1999. Hawley JA, Dennis SC, and Noakes TD. Oxidation of carbohydrate ingested during prolonged endurance exercise. Sports Med 14: 27–42, 1992. Hawley JA, Dennis SC, Nowitz A, Brouns F, and Noakes TD. Exogenous carbohydrate oxidation from maltose and glucose ingested during prolonged exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 64: 523–527, 1992. Jentjens RL, Wagenmakers AJ, and Jeukendrup AE. Heat stress increases muscle glycogen use but reduces the oxidation of ingested carbohydrates during exercise. J Appl Physiol 92: 1562–1572, 2002. Jentjens RLPG, Moseley L, Waring RH, Harding LK, and Jeukendrup AE. Oxidation of combined ingestion of glucose and fructose during exercise. J Appl Physiol 96: 1277-1284, 2004. Jeukendrup AE and Jentjens R. Oxidation of carbohydrate feedings during prolonged exercise: current thoughts, guidelines and directions for future research. Sports Med 29: 407–424, 2000. Jeukendrup AE, Saris WHM, Brouns F, Halliday D, and Wagenmakers AJM. Effects of carbohydrate (CHO) and fat supplementation on CHO metabolism during prolonged exercise. Metabolism 45: 915–921, 1996. Jeukendrup AE, Wagenmakers AJM, Stegen JHCH, Gijsen AP, Brouns F, and Saris WHM. Carbohydrate ingestion can completely suppress endogenous glucose production during exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 276: E672–E683, 1999. Malathi P, Ramaswamy K, Caspary WF, and Crane RK. Studies on the transport of glucose from disaccharides by hamster small intestine in vitro. I. Evidence for a disaccharidase-related transport system. Biochim Biophys Acta 307: 613–626, 1973. Massicotte D, Peronnet F, Brisson G, Bakkouch K, and Hillaire-Marcel C. Oxidation of a glucose polymer during exercise: comparison with glucose and fructose. J Appl Physiol 66: 179–183, 1989. Massicotte D, Peronnet F, Brisson G, Boivin L, and Hillaire-Marcel C. Oxidation of exogenous carbohydrate during prolonged exercise in fed and fasted conditions. Int J Sports Med 11: 253–258, 1990. Pallikarakis N, Sphiris N, and Lefebvre P. Influence of the bicarbonate pool and on the occurrence of 13CO2 in exhaled air. Eur J Appl Physiol 63: 179–183, 1991. Pirnay F, Lacroix M, Mosora F, Luyckx A, and Lefe`bvre PJ. Glucose oxidation during prolonged exercise evaluated with naturally labeled [13C]glucose. J Appl Physiol 43: 258–261, 1977. Ramaswamy K, Malathi P, Caspary WF, and Crane RK. Studies on the transport of glucose from disaccharides by hamster small intestine in vitro. II. Characteristics of the disaccharidase-related transport system. Biochim Biophys Acta 345: 39–48, 1974. Rehrer N, van Kemenade M, Meester W, Brouns F, and Saris WHM. Gastrointestinal complaints in relation to dietary intake in triathletes. Int J Sport Nutr 2: 48–59, 1992. Robert JJ, Koziet J, Chauvet D, Darmaun D, Desjeux JF, and Young VR. Use of 13C-labeled glucose for estimating glucose oxidation: some design considerations. J Appl Physiol 63: 1725–1732, 1987. Sandle GI, Lobley RW, and Holmes R. Maltose hydrolysis and absorption in the human jejunum. Digestion 24: 137–145, 1982. Sandle GI, Lobley RW, Warwick R, and Holmes R. Monosaccharide absorption and water secretion during disaccharide perfusion of the human jejunum. Digestion 26: 53–60, 1983. Saris WH, Goodpaster BH, Jeukendrup AE, Brouns F, Halliday D, and Wagenmakers AJ. Exogenous carbohydrate oxidation from different carbohydrate sources during exercise. J Appl Physiol 75: 2168–2172, 1993. Shi X, Summers RW, Schedl HP, Flanagan SW, Chang R, and Gisolfi CV. Effects of carbohydrate type and concentration and solution osmolality on water absorption. Med Sci Sports Exerc 27: 1607–1615, 1995. Wagenmakers AJM, Brouns F, Saris WHM, and Halliday D. Oxidation rates of orally ingested carbohydrates during prolonged exercise in man. J Appl Physiol 75: 2774–2780, 1993.

Q	What’s the deal with different scoop sizes?
A	Make sure that you use the Scoop that comes with your order.  Scoop sizes change depend on the weight of your custom mix or if the maltodextrin density changes. Each order of custom INFINIT is made with care, by hand. We guarantee that with your scoop size you are getting nutrients in the amounts that are right for you.

Q

How can I find the exact nutritional information for my formula?

A

When creating your own formula just click on the "nutritional info" link right next to the sliders. That will pull up the formula information with all the detail of calories, carbohydrates, protein, etc. based on where you have set the sliders. You can be extremely precise with exactly how much electrolytes, simple sugars, proteins and flavour. You end up with the perfect nutrition-solution made just for you and your unique needs.

Q

What’s the shelf life on my custom mix?

A

If kept in a dry cool place your custom formula powder should be fine for 12 months. Because we use ONLY all-natural flavours you may notice that flavour is the first thing that will degrade and may make your formula taste weaker than normal. If product is already mixed in a bottle, treat it like any dairy product. Throw away unused product if it gets warm. If it has been kept cold it should last as long as milk would in the fridge. We use a very stable whey protein isolate that is more stable in the heat.

Q

I am a coach, does INFINIT have programs that will allow me to work custom formulas with my clients?

A

The easiest way to sign up as an affiliate is to go the coaches and trainers link on the home page. There you will find information about the program as well as an application to become a registered affiliate.  Once your account is approved, you will be able to log into a dedicated area of our store where you can obtain special links to use on your website to refer customers to our store. Your clients will receive a discount, and you will receive a percentage of all sales in cash or to purchase your personal custom product. From here, you will also be able to track sales and earned commissions.

Q

Can I get a sample of my custom-blended nutrition to try out before ordering?

A

No, we actually will do better than that. At INFINIT we back everything we do with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. In other words, you don’t like it for any reason we will work with you to come up with the perfect mix and send along a brand new bag. Still not satisfied? We will give you your money back for the product. You have nothing to loose except all of the gels, bars and salt pills.  We have been customising for athletes for almost 10 years and our return rate is less than 1%. We are HIGHLY confident in our system of putting the perfect mix just for you and your training and racing needs.

Q	What if I want to eat, take a salt pill or a gel. Is that bad?
A	Of course you can take something if you really want to. Just remember that anytime you take something that isn’t isotonic you MUST WASH IT DOWN WITH WATER, NOT YOUR CUSTOM MIX. You want what’s in your gut to be the correct osmolality. Adding solids, gels and extra into the mix can cause bloating, dehydration and other “issues”.

Q

Why does my mix foam?

A

If a bottle is shaken vigerously foaming can be an issue. It is caused by adding protein to your custom formula. Most companies use artificial chemical de-foamers. We choose to keep INFINIT 100% natural. Maintaining an all natural product is paramount to us. Your mix will foam more just after you prepare your bottles. Formula will foam less after it has been mixed for a realitivly short period of time.  Here are a couple of suggestions that will minimize foaming: Powder first then add water down the side of the bottle like you are pouring a beer. Then cap and shake. The foam calms down after it has been in solution for a little time. You can make you bottles the night before and let them sit in the fridge. Again, the product does not foam as much when it has been in solution for a while. If you use for running, many of our customers have a second formula that contains no protein. This is a benefit in a couple of ways. First, no foaming and for runners that may lead to some gas and some bloating. Second, protein can be harder to digest under the high stress of running.  Many times a second formula with no protein (and some caffeine can be added)  is best for runners

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Nutritional Information

Q	Is INFINIT Gluten free?
A	Yes! All of INFINITs products are gluten free. We make everything in our own manufacturing facilities in order to eliminate the chance of cross contamination with gluten or other wheat products.

Q	Is INFINIT an all-natural product?
A	INFINIT contains no artificial flavours or sweeteners and adds no colours to any of our products. We believe that simplicity is a key to effective performance and drinks don’t have to be purple to be grape.

Q

About INFINIT's blend of electrolytes...

A

Infinit’s exclusive blend of electrolytes is made up of four electrolytes (salts) that match your sweat rate. This is primarily sodium, with potassium, calcium and magnesium. Our electrolytes are the most readily absorbable forms and are pharmaceutical grade. Developed by staff nutritionist Kim Brown MS, RD., this blend of these essential salts gives you everything you need for racing or training. Generally, there is no need to supplement with salt tablets or to juggle pills while running or riding your bike. Salts are an important part of transporting fluid out of your gut and into your system. Electrolytes have an effect on flavour, and seem to help people who sweat lots or have problems with cramping, but be warned, the middle setting for Electrolytes on our sliders is not average, it’s actually quite high. Unless you really do crave salt, keep the sodium level around 450 or below on your first custom mix. You can see this level change at the bottom of the chart as you move the slider. That said, as the race gets longer, salty tastes become more enjoyable. This is why so many other sports drinks taste too sweet and become more palatable. For most male athletes, 350 mg to 375 mg of sodium is an excellent starting point. Women should try 325 mg to 350. (Note: women are more salt sensitive than men and generally don’t like a more salty drink.) This is the case for even the athletes that tend to have issues with cramping. To check the levels on each of the electrolytes, click the “nutrition information” button next the sliders.  That will give you the full amounts of electrolytes.

Q

About Carbohydrates...

A

Infinit's carbohydrate blend is a combination of sucrose, dextrose and maltodextrin. Dextrose and sucrose are slightly faster burning molecules and are broken down more quickly by the body for optimal absorption. The short distance end of the slider has a higher percentage of faster burning dextrose for quick energy. Maltodextrin is slower burning, and therefore is more conducive for long distance endurance events. The long distance end of the slider uses primarily maltodextrin for its endurance qualities. Adjusting the slider will change the percentage of dextrose to maltodextrin. There are substantive (Multi carb study link) studies that show that multiple carbohydrate sources are more efficient than a singular carbohydrate in sports nutrition products. Infinit's combination of dextrose, sucrose and maltodextrin increase your body's ability to absorb calories by up to 10%. That will tremendously affect your performance for both racing and training. INFINIT's exclusive Maltodextrine are glucose polymers with a chain of glucose molecules of short to medium length. They are more expensive to produce, and are created by taking starch (long chains of glucose molecules) and chemically breaking them by hydrolysis into shorter chains of glucose. Glucose polymers are sized between a small glucose molecule (a simple carbohydrate) and a large starch molecule (a complex carbohydrate). Maltodextrin has a much lower affect on osmolality than glucose and fructose, and therefore can be mixed in much higher concentrations and calorie levels without causing stomach issues. Molecules of maltodextrin are larger than glucose molecules, so drinks with maltodextrin will have a few large particles compared to a drink with glucose, which has many smaller particles. The number of particles determines how much water the drink contains. The more smaller-sized glucose molecules in the drink, the more water will be pulled into the intestine. Since maltodextrin based products don't pull as much water into the intestine, they are absorbed faster into the bloodstream. Your blood has an osmolality of around 280-320. Keeping your drink around or below 280 makes it easier to digest. You can check the osmolality of your formula by looking at the figure below the chart as you move the slider.

Q

About Protein...

A

For endurance athletes, protein is useful as an appetite suppressant. INFINIT research has found it virtually impossible to train or race longer periods (from 3-24 hours) on a straight carbohydrate drink alone. After a couple of hours athletes gets too hungry and are forced to eat solid food, leading to potential stomach issues. Remember, food is far harder to manage and process than liquids. Protein is the thing that keeps the athlete from getting hungry for extended periods of time. We know of many 24 hour racers (and longer) that are using their INFINIT mix with protein with minimal added solid food. For endurance athletes we generally recommend 4 grams of protein for men (per 600ml serving) and 2-3 grams per-serving for woman. One of two protein types found in milk, INFINIT Nutrition's brand of whey protein contains all the essential amino acids and has a 25% higher BCAA (branch chain amino acids) composition as compared to other protein sources. Because of its quick absorption rate, whey is also well tolerated by athletes.  Proteins in Greek translates into "to take first place," a feat many of us in the endurance world would like to accomplish. Scientifically speaking, proteins are large, complex molecules that make up 20% of our body weight in the form of muscle, bone, cartilage, skin, as well as other tissues and body fluids. During digestion, protein is broken down into at least 100 individual chemical building blocks known as amino acids that form a little pool within our liver and are used to build muscle, skin, hair, nails, eyes, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and nerve chemicals. Inadequate protein intake leads to a dehydrated amino acid pool and consequent breakdown of healthy cells without repair, ultimately leading to elevated injury risk, slowed recovery time, increased feelings of lethargy, and poor athletic performance. Consequently, scientists have been evaluating the effectiveness of protein and amino acid supplementation for improved muscle performance and enhanced muscle recovery in endurance athletes. While INFINIT uses protein predominantly an appetite suppressant, a recent study conducted at James Madison University by Saunders and colleagues discovered the addition of whey protein (1.8% concentration) to carbohydrate post workout reduced post-exercise creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, a common indicator of muscular damage, by 83% (p < .05) as compared to athletes only consuming carbohydrate, which indicates whey protein has a potential ergogenic effect for endurance athletes engaged in intense training.

Q

About caffeine...

A

ALWAYS consult with a medical professional about the use of caffeine before adding it to your custom mix. The INFINIT caffeine slider allows you to adjust the amount of caffeine from NONE (far left) all the way to 200mg (far right) per 600ml serving. 200mg is the equivalent to 2-3 cups of strong coffee, so be careful not to overdue caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, which also helps to release free fatty acids from body fat stores into the blood to provide additional fuel for muscles over and above the sugar that is stored in your liver. There is substantive research that shows that caffeine spares the limited supply of muscle glycogen. It seems to be a performance enhancer, as many athletes after ingesting caffeine feel less fatigue while performing at higher levels of work for longer periods of time. The known diuretic effect of caffeine is unlikely to cause significant dehydration in shorter duration races due to the obvious simultaneous hydration protocol. Caution should always be used when using caffeine in long distance endurance events like Ironman distance Triathlon, Ultra-running or Adventure racing.

Q

How do I know where to set my flavour?

A

Flavour is a major component of the overall performance and usability of any sports nutrition product. Most products are made to taste good in a taste testing lab, we all know that the lab…is not real world conditions. INFINIT Nutrition is the first and only company to let you adjust the strength of your flavour to make it taste how you want all day long. The real test of any product is how does it taste long into a workout and after it gets warm? If the athlete does not want to drink the product because it does not taste good warm, they will not get the calories and electrolytes needed to perform. The flavour slider lets you customize to your unique personal needs. If you want a stronger flavour simply move the flavour slider to the right (stronger). If you do not tolerate much flavour during your workout move it to the left (weaker). As a point of reference, most other drinks flavor intensity are 80-90% of the way to the stronger side of the slider. The INFINIT Flavour blend is sucrose (a fast acting easily absorbed carbohydrate source) and 100% all natural flavours. No artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners are used. Some citric is used for our citrus blends. Helpful hint: Most of our taste testing athletes did not like as much flavour during a long and strenuous workout. Our research also shows that your perception of taste becomes more acute as your workout duration increases. In other words the perception of the strength of flavour increases as your workout/race goes longer. Lower flavours in the beginning taste stronger towards the end. Our suggestion is to keep the flavour in the medium-low to medium ranges to start.

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