Sports Science
Learn how our natural ingredients interact with your digestive system to deliver clean, highly concentrated endurance fuel.
Why Carbohydrates Matter
When running or exercising at high intensities, carbohydrates are your body's preferred and most efficient fuel source. Your body converts them to glucose, which feeds your contracting muscles and brain.
However, the human body can only store a limited amount of glycogen (roughly 2,000 calories, or enough for about 90 minutes of running). Once these glycogen stores are depleted, runners hit "the wall"—experiencing sudden, severe physical and mental fatigue. EnerThai energy gels prevent this crash by providing a steady stream of easily absorbable carbohydrates.
Muscle Glycogen Depletion Timeline
Gut Absorption Channels
(Saturates at 60g/hr)
(Handles 30g+/hr)
The 1:0.8 Carbohydrate Ratio
Why do runners suffer from stomach cramps when taking energy gels? The answer lies in gut gate limits. Glucose and Fructose travel through different transporter pathways in the small intestine.
Glucose uses the SGLT1 transporter. If you ingest more than 60 grams of glucose per hour, this channel becomes fully saturated. Any excess glucose pools in the stomach, fermenting and drawing water, which causes bloating, cramps, and nausea.
Fructose uses the independent GLUT5 transporter. By combining Maltodextrin (glucose) and Fructose in a precise 1:0.8 ratio, we unlock both pathways simultaneously. This dual-source channel allows you to comfortably digest up to 90g+ of carbohydrates per hour without any gastric distress.
Natural Hydrogel cleared by pH
Most energy gels use artificial gums (xanthan, gellan) to create a thick gel texture. These gums remain gelled in the acidic environment of the stomach, delaying absorption and irritating the digestive tract.
EnerThai utilizes the natural properties of starch molecules found in high-grade Thai Jasmine Rice and organic pectins. When our gel meets the highly acidic environment of the stomach, it forms a fluid, low-osmotic structure. This allows it to bypass the stomach quickly, passing into the small intestine where the carbohydrates are instantly absorbed. This mimics premium synthetic hydrogels, but using entirely natural, organic Thai plant foods.
Gastric Emptying Times
Timing Guidelines for Endurance
To optimize performance, match the product's formulation with the metabolic demands of the time.
Prior to running, the target is priming liver glycogen. Our mango and banana purees provide easy-to-digest glucose, raising blood glucose smoothly without insulin spikes that cause early hypoglycemia.
During exercise, muscles actively burn glycogen. The target is fast carb replacement. STRIKE delivers 30g carbs every 30-45 minutes. Electrolytes match sweat loss, and its caffeine-free guava flavor ensures stomach comfort.
Post-run, the body is highly catabolic. We deliver natural tropical fruit purees (pineapple, orange, passion fruit) to replenish liver glycogen immediately, plus 9g organic pea protein isolate to rebuild muscle tissue.