It’s that time of year again. Another spring, another saga. Same old saga, actually. The one that entails a lot of back-and-forth wrangling between mind and body over sports nutrition. How much processed product am I willing to consume for training this year? I used to give a broad range a free pass, putting up the blinders just because I liked how much they tasted like candy. Too bad my favorites were often really just that, with a few buzz words and electrolytes thrown in for three times the price. But lately, we’ve been flirting more and more with the idea of trying out some ultra running, reading blogs and listening to podcasts; particularly with British runners, fueling seems to rely on real food (imagine that!), similar to long days on the bike, or big hikes. Of course, I’m not an anti-product girl by any means, especially when it comes to racing, but the idea of a few small strides toward more natural and thereby less processed is highly appealing. That’s why, after coming across a new all-natural-as-it-possibly-gets product, I felt optimistic and eager to risk potential distress on this weekend’s long run.
Go Honey! is produced by The Honey Company, run by husband and wife team Stan and Alicia Moulton in Provo, Utah. Their honey is raw and unfiltered, and Go Honey! is their answer for all those seeking the perfect all-natural energy gel. The cheerfully attractive packaging is durable, re-closable, ultra portable, and capable of withstanding over 150 pounds of external pressure. Of course, we all know looks are nothing compared to contents. Honey, which contains a mix of complex sugars allowing for a less sharp insulin response and more sustained energy for athletes, has potential to shine as an energy source for numerous reasons, including as many anti-oxidants as spinach, apples, oranges, and strawberries,according to a study by Gheldof and Engeseth (2003). Researcher Gross and his team (2004) found that consuming honey increased the level of antioxidants in the blood. (For more info, check out The Honey Company’s informative website).