Maurten : Hydrogel Endurance Sports Nutrition

At 700 we are all about the right products. Products that offer genuine solutions or advantages; those that rely on innovation and often those treading their own path rather than simply following the easier route of imitating industry accepted norms.

The nutrition market is a noisy one. Quite regularly a new nutrition brand rears its head claiming to be the latest and greatest and, while there are undoubtedly some good products on the market, many are simply joining the party with similar formulas in different packaging. Indeed, for the most part nutrition products are manufactured by confectioners.

Maurten are a Swedish Nutrition company founded in 2015 by Mårten Fryknäs. Fryknäs has spent much of his career working in the field of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine and it is from his research in combination with consultation with the food industry that the basis for Maurten’s unique formula was developed. Maurten is at the same time incredibly simple and highly complex!

Why should you pay attention to Maurten when so many other options are available?

While there are plenty of companies selling nutrition gels and powders, there is no other product in the field comparable to Maurten. Maurten’s product range is exceptionally concise - they have 1 product delivered in 2 forms: a drink mix and a hydrogel. Maurten has everything you need for your fuelling and nothing you don’t; there are no added flavours, preservatives, colours or acids.

Maurten contains just 5 ingredients : Maltodextrin, Fructose (your carbs), Sodium Chloride (the only salt you need to replace during exercise to avoid muscle cramp), Pectin and Sodium Alginate. These last 2 natural ingredients from apples/berries and brown algae respectively, are the key to the products efficacy.

As a general rule, the maximum amount of carbohydrate our bodies can absorb in the course of 1 hour is around 80g and a higher carbohydrate intake likely results in better performance. However - and most of us will at some point have experienced this - pouring high amounts of carbs into the stomach can cause nasty gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting or worse!) as well as a slower rate of nutrient uptake. In addition, the rush of blood to the stomach lining to deal with the influx of these carbs, also draws blood away from the muscles resulting in that ‘heavy’ feeling and earlier fatigue.

Maurten’s Hydrogel technology helps to deliver more carbohydrates per hour, more efficiently than traditional sports drinks, while entirely avoiding any stomach issues. This is achieved in the formation of a Hydrogel when the Pectin and Alginate encapsulate the carbohydrates and salt when the mix comes into contact with stomach acid. This allows the all important nutrients to pass through the stomach into the intestine where it can be better utilised by the body and this delivery method can increase carbohydrate uptake to 100g per hour : more energy with less stress on your body for a double win!

Like so many of the best things, Maurten’s range is simple to understand. With just 3 products, Maurten comes as a dry mix in two strengths: Drink Mix 160, with 40 grams of carbs per 500ml; or Drink Mix 320, which contains 80 grams of carbs per 500ml - that’s twice the amount of energy previously thought possible in a sports drink, thanks to Hydrogel technology. Since 1g of carbohydrates provides 4 calories, the 160 and 320 refer to the calories in each mix.

Their latest product is the extremely popular GEL 100 - a biopolymer matrix that holds carbohydrates - it delivers 25g of carbs per sachet. The only true Gel on the market (all the rest are actually syrup - and when you read it put like that you’ll probably not fancy another), the Hydrogel is inoffensive. With no added flavour the hydrogel is easy on the palate and leaves no horrible cloying mess in your mouth - you don’t even need to wash it down with water. Furthermore, it won’t launch itself all over you, your kit or your bike. You can happily take 4 in the course of an hour (or all at once if needs be) with no risk of stomach upset. It is in essence a pre-prepared version of the Drink Mix, formed in production under exact conditions.

Both the Drink Mix and the Gel contain no acids either and as such are far kinder on your teeth and gums, so even the dedicated gel user will suffer no adverse dental effects.

While they are not sponsored by Maurten, the product is the choice of the likes of Mo Farrah and the EF-Education First Pro Cycling Team - indeed Rigoberto Uran fuelled his entire 2017 Tour de France with just Maurten and bananas while on the bike.

Maurten’s extremely effective product and simple range makes it easy for any cyclist, runner or triathlete to fuel their adventures, races, sportive or training with no need for great swathes of pocket-filling food and with no risk of stomach upset or cramp.

100% natural, vegetarian and Vegan friendly, we love Maurten because - like all the best things - it is simple but effective.