Baking soda is added to energy gels. Could this be the future of nutrition during races?

One of the supplements whose effectiveness in improving performance is proven is baking soda, a common product in many kitchens for use in baking or to relieve stomach acidity. Although there were already some nutritional products that included baking soda, its consumption in competition was not widespread due to the gastrointestinal discomfort that accompanies its consumption, now this could change with the first gel from the Mnstry brand that includes baking soda in its composition.

Nutrition brands are researching how to include baking soda in the composition of their products

The use of baking soda in cycling is not something new. In fact, in the pre-nutrition products era, a teaspoon of baking soda was a fundamental ingredient in the homemade isotonic drink that was usually prepared with a mixture of lemon juice, water, sugar, and baking soda.

However, such a small amount of baking soda had little effect on performance. Recent studies have shown that the consumption of baking soda is a regulator of muscle acidity during effort, which would allow the cyclist to maintain intense efforts for a longer period.

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The problem with consuming baking soda in certain amounts is the gastrointestinal discomfort in the form of gas that it generates. What can provide relief when we have a heavy digestion at home, on the bike becomes a problem that can be very limiting during intense effort.

This has meant that, until now, few brands have dared to launch products that provide baking soda despite the benefits they offer. One of them is Maurten, which has a baking soda gel mainly intended for pre-competition consumption as a kind of jelly. In fact, it was curious to see the image of Michael Woods consuming a tupperware of this baking soda gel during the Zurich World Championships a few months ago.

Now, the nutrition products brand Mnstry, which sponsors Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe or Canyon//SRAM, seems to have found the key to include baking soda in its composition without affecting digestion and has just launched its new Bicarb Gel 40 Lemon 1:0.8 gels.

In its composition, the classic maltodextrin-fructose carbohydrate mix is included in a 1:0.8 ratio, providing the 40 grams indicated in its name, the maximum amount we can find in a gel unit among those currently on the market. The most common are 20 grams. 5 grams of baking soda are added to the mix, but this is encapsulated so that it passes through the stomach without causing any effect and reaches the intestine intact where it will be absorbed.

These gels have been launched on the market at a price of €3.29 per unit, a fairly affordable figure for what is customary in nutrition products, which has caused them to sell out just a week after their release. In any case, it is still to be seen how they perform in a large number of athletes and to verify if they do indeed provide the advantages of consuming baking soda without the side effects of its use.