Why 5 All-Natural Ingredients?
We are a group of simple people. We work hard and we play hard. We pay attention to what we eat. We seek out all-natural fruit or items with all-natural ingredients for fuel but food meeting these qualifications are not always convenient. Basically, eating simple can be very difficult in the world today because food has become very complicated--a frustrating situation for a simple lot like us.
On a hard ride in the mountains one of our own turned some shades of inhumane colors when he hit a nutritional BONK! We fed him an energy bar with all-natural ingredients to no avail. With a purple/pink hue he continued to sweat all the way out of the woods. Inspired by the need to not BONK again, the purple, sweaty biker consulted a nutritionist. Following the advice of this expert a baggie was filled with molasses, honey and salt for the next ride. Simple, right?
Those peanut butter idea wheels that had grown some cobwebs began to spin again. We needed to simplify what we are eating. What are ‘they’ doing with the energy gels for runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes that we can do with food? According to the consultant expert (a nutritionist), simple can be effective.
We put three principles into effect to further our journey:
1. We don’t need to eat a lot if we are eating right.
With the right all-natural ingredients mixed together in a gel form, we do not need a large quantity for a large affect. Our pouch is 2.5 oz. We provide two servings in one pouch so it will sustain a grueling work out. The pouch is re-sealable. Keep it simple.
2. If we cannot pronounce it, we are not going to eat it.
When we looked at the ingredients of the energy gels available on the market, many of the words were unrecognizable. Why, if we can say banana, know what a banana looks like and tastes like, would we choose potassium citrate? You cannot only pronounce each of our ingredients, but you can find them in the grocery store, not the pharmacy or the chemist’s lab.
3. Make it meaningful.
What is an energy gel supposed to do for an athlete? That is truly the question that is most important in our journey. We need fast-absorbing carbohydrates to provide immediate energy in a minimum effective dose. How can we replace what we need with what we want? Nature. That is how. We put together all-natural all-natural ingredients in a combination that replaces what some have created in a lab.
Each of our flavors provide fast absorbing carbohydrates for energy, are gluten free, have antioxidants and potassium but the each has its individual benefits as well. Our honey, molasses, maple, raspberry and chia seed flavor (the Blue) also has omega fatty acids and our honey, maple, pomegranate, coconut (the Red) has vitamin C and Manganese (see our ‘What’s Inside’ page for the nutritional benefits of all of our ingredients).
As it was mentioned, we are simple people. We took the most complicated idea of energy, simplified it with, frankly, what we like, added texture to make you chew your food and to aid in digestion, and created something different. Something good. Something that you can eat, that gives you energy, but will not give you guilt.
So, why 5 ingredients? Because if we can’t do it in five simple, pronounceable, meaningful ingredients, then we should not be doing it at all.