Fueling High-Performance Triathletes: A Personal Review of Fastfood Energy Gels and Hydration

I was fortunate enough to receive a large supply of Fastfood energy gels and hydrators recently, and I've been testing them out in preparation for Ironman Geelong. Given that I train for about 20 hours per week, I need a lot of fuel, so I'm always experimenting with different nutrition and recovery methods.

To be honest, I had never heard of Fastfood sports nutrition before. Fastfood's goal is to revolutionise performance fuel for all types of athletes who deserve better. Their key advantage is combining multiple energy sources.

Glucose provides an immediate source of energy, while galactose provides a more gradual glucose oxidation response over time and helps to preserve existing liver glycogen stores from depletion. Finally, fructose increases the efficiency of simultaneous energy absorption, resulting in their Optimal Energy Release System.

So, what does this mean in real life? Let's find out.

Galacto Gels

These gels come in a handy 100-calorie, 25g sachet that is easy to consume, and they provide consistent energy across a variety of runs and run types. It's difficult to tell the difference between gel brands beyond taste, digestibility, and the feeling of energy availability.

The gels were effective and delicious, with strawberry and cherry being my favorite flavors and mango and passion fruit being a close second. The original flavor tasted like porridge to me, so it wasn't at the top of my list. I didn't notice any significant energy dropouts, so they did their job well.

Galacto Gels Yuzu, Guarana, and Caffeine vs. Sis Beta Fuel with Nootropics

This gel deserves a special mention. I have to admit that one of my secrets to a fast race is SiS Nootropics gels, which are loaded with secret ingredients (Guarana and a lot of caffeine – 200mg per gel). I love them in moderation because too many can land you in the ER. So I was curious to see how Fastfood's equivalent compared, and I was very impressed.

Galacto Yuzu fuel is delicious, with 25g of carbs and 100 calories per serving, and it contains 50mg of caffeine per serving, as well as Guarana for an extra kick. In comparison, Beta Fuel gel has 40g of carbs, 200mg of caffeine, and 158 calories per serving. So, a single Beta Fuel gel contains roughly twice the amount of a Galacto Gel.

Galacto comes in a cost-effective "bulk pack" containing ten servings that you can put into a gel flask for $46 per ten ($4.60 per serving). In comparison, SiS gels come in a bulk pack of thirty for $149.95, making them approximately the same cost per serving. SiS gels also contain far more stimulants.

So, it depends on what you're using the fuel for. Personally, I can fuel an entire session with Galacto Yuzu gels since the caffeine is absorbed slowly and the balanced nutrition formula prevents energy or stimulation spikes.

On the other hand, Beta Fuel feels like you're about to embark on your second day of a 24-hour rave. It hits you like a ton of bricks, but you crash just as hard. It's tough to give you definitive advice, but I would certainly use Galacto as my go-to fuel and save the hard stuff for race day.

Hydrator

I personally utilise them as fuel during bike rides, appreciating their balanced composition of 25g of fuel within 100 calories. Typically, liquid bike calories come in high-calorie mixtures to obtain the necessary carbs, but for me, I only need three servings to provide an hour's worth of fuel at 300 calories, compared to High 5's 400 calories. Often, these mixes have high sugar content and an overly sweet taste.

However, the Hydrators have a pleasantly neutral flavor that doesn't become overpowering when combined in larger quantities. As a result, I'm seriously considering switching to these Hydrators for my upcoming race. Plus, they're reasonably priced at $2.3 per serving ($69 AUD for 30 servings).

Conclusion

A fresh contender in the market, bringing a novel approach to athletic fueling, what truly impressed me were the hydration options and the delectable yuzu guarana blend – certainly worth a try for any athlete.