These energy shots are great for when you’re going hard for a long time. At some point, you’re gonna hit a wall. Rather than waiting for your blood surgery to take a nose dive, try one of these economical fruity energy shots instead of a messy packaged gel. The natural sugars in dried fruit will give you that much needed quick blast of energy, particularly if you are struggling to chew and swallow solids as the pace increases. The combination of glucose and fructose in dried fruit also increases carb absorption rates during exercise and can lead to fewer gastrointestinal issue. Keep in mind, however, that taking in highly concentrated carbohydrates during activity can force water from your blood into your digestive tract to help dilute the solution to better match body fluid osmolality, an outcome that may lead to stomach woes and heightened risk for dehydration. These energy shots are best chased with water (about 4 oz) to encourage absorption and hydration.
Berry Maple:
⅓ cup dried blueberries
2/3 cup boiling water
2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
Honey of an Apricot:
⅓ cup dried apricot
¾ cup boiling water
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon salt
Perky Raisin:
⅓ cup raisins
¾ cup boiling water
2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
PB&J:
⅓ cup dried cherries
¾ cup boiling water
1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
2 teaspoons honey
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1. Place dried fruit and boiling water in a blender container and let soak for 30 minutes.
2. Add reminding ingredients and blend until as smooth as possible.
3. Let cool and then transfer to one large gel flask or two smaller ones. These can be made a day in advance and kept chilled until use.
Credit: Rocket Fuel
