Red fruit endurance drink - Unidose

It all depends on your situation; here’s how to decide.
Milk protein allergy: proceed with caution. The recipe itself does not contain milk, but the label indicates that the product may contain traces of milk protein. We do not recommend it, unless your allergist advises otherwise.
Other allergies: The list of ingredients (whole cane sugar, cassava maltodextrin, natural flavor, unrefined sea salt, acerola powder) does not include any of the 14 regulated allergens. The product is also gluten-free.
Lactose intolerance: The formula contains no lactose. Any traces are minimal, well below the 12 g per serving that most people with lactose intolerance can digest without noticeable symptoms, according to the EFSA. If you have a particular sensitivity, consult a healthcare professional.
Vegetarian or vegan: yes. All ingredients are of plant or mineral origin; the “may contain traces” statement only indicates a risk of cross-contamination.

Both are made from the same base ingredient: organic cassava maltodextrin. But they have different uses.
The “Neutral” version is the raw product: cassava maltodextrin (DE 10) and acerola powder for natural vitamin C—nothing else, no added flavorings or vitamin C. It’s used to prepare for exercise, providing a carbohydrate load before a race, or as a base for a homemade sports drink.
The “Red Berries” flavor is a ready-to-use endurance sports drink: cassava maltodextrin and unrefined whole sugar to provide a variety of carbohydrate sources, plus vitamin C and electrolytes. It’s ideal for activities lasting more than 60 to 90 minutes: trail running, road running, cycling, triathlon…

The recommended option: red berries, with vitamin C and electrolytes.
For exercise lasting more than one hour, aim for at least 50 g of carbohydrates per hour, from all sources combined (bars, glucose-rich gels, drinks, etc.). This guideline can be adjusted based on the athlete, their training, the race profile, and what their digestive system can tolerate.
What about protein? During exercise, protein is generally not recommended, except in ultra-endurance events lasting more than 5 to 6 hours, where a solid or liquid protein intake is advised. In other cases, the benefits of consuming protein during exercise have not been proven, even though the idea persists.
The right time for protein is after exercise: a whey protein supplement—which is quickly absorbed—combined with a good source of carbohydrates is beneficial for endurance athletes. Protein helps maintain muscle mass, and without strength training, there’s no particular risk of gaining excess muscle mass.

No BCAA fortification is included in Protéalpes endurance drinks: the nutrition facts panel lists 0 g of protein, and the formula contains no isolated amino acids. It combines two sources of carbohydrates—cassava maltodextrin and whole cane sugar—along with unrefined sea salt, acerola powder, and a natural flavoring.
This approach is tailored to the needs of endurance athletes: during exercise, carbohydrates and hydration take priority over everything else. Protein intake during exercise is only justified for sessions lasting more than five to six hours (ultra-endurance); for shorter durations, its benefits are not firmly established. Taken on their own, BCAAs also offer limited benefits, falling far short of those provided by complete proteins consumed in sufficient quantities—approximately 25 g per serving.
Amino acids are therefore more relevant during the post-workout period: whey protein, each serving of which naturally provides 5 to 6 g of BCAAs, combined with a source of carbohydrates, is a better choice for this purpose.

The right tool: neutral cassava maltodextrin.
The principle: for an effort lasting more than 60 minutes, a few days of a high-carbohydrate diet help maintain performance. For a marathon or a comparable long-distance event, aim for 8 to 9 g of carbohydrates per kilogram per day—from all sources—for the 3 days leading up to the race, which is enough to replenish glycogen stores. For an ultra-distance event (Ironman, ultra-trail, etc.), the maximum intake can be set at 12 g/kg per day over those three days: anything more offers no additional benefit. In team sports (handball, soccer, hockey, rugby, etc.), 6 to 8 g/kg over the 24 hours before the game is sufficient.
In practice, meals provide most of these carbohydrates—preferably from foods with a relatively low glycemic index—and maltodextrin, a white, flavorless powder, supplements the intake. Adding more or less water changes its texture.

It comes from organically grown acerola powder: this small fruit is naturally rich in vitamin C, and we do not add any additional vitamin C. The vitamin C in a food product can come from synthetic sources, natural sources, or a combination of both; we have chosen the natural route, out of a commitment to quality, as we do with all of our ingredients.