Honey is a popular energy gel alternative. Runivore has extensively reviewed organic honey and other popular sports nutrition brands, such as Honey Stinger and Pure, that use it as a primary ingredient. We take pride in introducing our Western audiences to products from different parts of the world, and today we bring you Japan-based HoneyAction.
What are the ingredients and nutrition facts of HoneyAction?
Source: company website
At 35 g per pack, HoneyAction delivers 80 calories, 20 g of carbohydrates, and 0.35 g of sodium chloride (table salt) equivalent or 138 mg of sodium.
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Side note: I wonder why some countries and brands use sodium chloride equivalent instead of simply stating the sodium content. Regardless, here’s how you convert between sodium and sodium chloride equivalent.
Sodium (mg) x 2.54 / 1,000 = sodium chloride equivalent (g)
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The ingredient list is quite interesting. It’s not just honey; HoneyAction also incorporated other “bee-made goodies,” such as royal jelly extract, propolis extract, and burnt honey.
- Royal jelly is a milky secretion produced by worker honeybees. It’s packed with carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, and other micronutrients.
- Propolis, aka “bee glue,” is rich in the antioxidant polyphenols, vitamins A, C, E, and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Bees combine tree sap, their discharges, and beeswax to create this substance for hive construction.
The company also called out the gel’s 1000 mg of citric acid and 50 mg of magnesium per gel.
- Citric acid’s possible benefits include enhancing nutrient bioavailability, energy metabolism and providing a tart flavor as a food additive. While many energy gels contain this naturally occurring compound, Japanese sports nutrition makers like to shine a spotlight on their citric acid content. (Here’s a Japanese gel with 2000 mg of citric acid per gel.)
- Magnesium is responsible for hundreds of bodily functions, including food-to-energy conversion, protein synthesis, DNA and RNA repair, muscle contraction, bone health, cardiovascular functions, and nervous system regulation, to name a few. The daily recommended intake is 400-420 mg for men and 310-320 mg for women. (Here’s another gel that provides 50 mg of magnesium per pack.)
Honey is 80% sugar (mainly glucose and fructose), about 18% water, and 2% micronutrients such as vitamin B-complex. HoneyAction uses three kinds of honey: raw, refined, and burnt.
Ingredients:
Honey (domestic), maltodextrin, refined honey, royal jelly extract powder, burnt honey, propolis extract/citric acid, sodium citrate, magnesium chloride, flavoring, vitamin C, niacin, vitamin E, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B2, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12.
Source: company website