Glucose

What are glucose supplements used for?

During physical activity, carbohydrates play a key role in energy availability, especially when exercise is intense or prolonged. Glucose is rapidly absorbed and can therefore be useful when readily available carbohydrates are needed.

For this reason, it is mainly used in endurance sports, long workouts and disciplines where energy expenditure is high. It belongs to the same family of products as other carbohydrate supplements, including maltodextrin, dextrose, cyclodextrins and Vitargo.

When should you take glucose for sports?

Glucose can be used at different times, depending on the workout and the day's diet:

• before training, when it is necessary to supplement carbohydrate intake before physical activity;
• during training, especially during long and demanding activities when it is necessary to continue consuming carbohydrates;
• after training, when the goal is to contribute to restoring normal muscle glycogen stores after intense exercise.

During longer sessions, glucose can also be combined with other intra-workout supplements or mineral salts, depending on the needs of the sport being practised.

Glucose, dextrose or maltodextrin?

When choosing carbohydrates for sports, it is easy to come across different names. Glucose and dextrose essentially refer to the same sugar: dextrose is the name commonly used for D-glucose found in many sports products.

Maltodextrins, on the other hand, consist of chains of glucose molecules and are very often used in workout drinks. Cyclodextrins and Vitargo are also alternatives used in sports supplementation.

The choice depends on the amount of carbohydrates needed, the duration of the activity, the timing of intake and individual tolerance.

How to choose a glucose supplement?

Before choosing the best glucose supplement, it is worth checking the amount of carbohydrates per serving, format and composition, especially if the product also contains mineral salts, amino acids or other carbohydrate sources.

The choice should then be adapted to the intended use. For a short workout, it may not be necessary to consume carbohydrates during the session, whereas during longer activities, energy management becomes much more important. In the Tsunami Nutrition glucose supplements section, a very wide selection of products is available to help you find the most practical format for your workout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are glucose and dextrose the same thing?

Yes, in the context of food supplementation, the term dextrose is commonly used to refer to D-glucose. This is why the two names may appear on very similar products or be used as synonyms.

Should glucose be taken before or after training?

It can be used both before and after training and, during longer activities, also during the workout. Timing mainly depends on carbohydrate requirements, the duration of the exercise and what has been eaten during the rest of the day.

Is glucose useful during training?

It can be useful especially when the activity is long or intense enough to require carbohydrate intake during exercise. For short sessions, however, consuming carbohydrates while training is not always necessary.

Do glucose supplements cause weight gain?

Glucose provides calories like any other carbohydrate. Weight gain depends on the overall balance between calories consumed and calories expended, so glucose supplements should also be included in the daily energy intake.

How do you take glucose powder?

It is generally dissolved in water or added to a workout drink. The amount and concentration depend on the product and its intended use, so it is always best to follow the directions provided on the packaging.