FAQs

Yes, green tea is a powerful antioxidant, but there are different compounds which can be sourced as “green tea extract”. (This is why you need to be very careful in choosing pill/liquid extract forms of green tea instead of just drinking it). We’ve  source a 5:1 green tea that is higher in the alkaloids (caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline) and has just residual catechins– it is more akin to black tea with regards to the antioxidant properties vs caffeine. – i.e.well below the least effective antioxidant dose.

Here are some great recipes for making “on the go” food for your pocket!

Food In the Pocket Recipes

The body is not linear and doesn’t follow an algorithmic method of digestion. Our bodies are inherently lazy- in this vein, pulling water into the stomach to help digest solids is a no-go, There are mechanism in place to deal with the solids in the stomach- first of course, you have stomach acids/bile that breakdown the fat, protein. carbohydrates into smaller parts, but, because each of these macronutrients are different lengths, they breakdown at different rates (oxidation rates). Once into the smaller parts, these molecules signal rate limiting feedback mechanisms to allow a certain amount of energy (in the form of fat, pro, carb) to titrate out per hour.
A straight dump of carb (aka a gel or concentrated drink) doesn’t work in the same fashion as mixed macronutrient- (the macronutrients in a sense help breakdown each other through the feedback mechanisms)- the straight dump of carb overloads the signalling and the body “freaks out” saying- holy crap, I don’t know what to do with this sudden change in osmotic pressure and this concentration of carbohydrate- thus the response is to “dilute dilute dilute!” until it can slowly release the carb via rate limiting response above.
Because it is a chemistry equation and the whole is more effective at causing “panic” than the sum of the parts, fluid with the physiological components to maximize fluid movement across the intestines is not mitigated by this same feedback mechanism.

The recipes for all Osmo products are based on published scientific research conducted by leading nutrition scientists, including our Chief Research Officer, Stacy Sims MSc, PhD, Exercise Physiologist-Nutrition Scientist. These findings have been published in leading scientific journals and have been reviewed and vetted by peers in the scientific community prior to publication. Osmo relies on this established, cutting-edge research to advance the performance of athletes in the fields of hydration and recovery. Key published articles that underpin Osmo products can be found in the archive section on the science page of this website.

This rigorous use of established science is rare; most sports nutrition products were developed by emulating others, or simply based on hunches.

It’s true, you will pay a small premium for Osmo products. This is largely due to our high-quality ingredients and the cost of conducting the scientific research that shapes our product line. But you are what you eat, and Osmo products will perform as promised.

Ingredients in Osmo are the highest quality money can buy, and better than other sports drinks—better for your performance and your body. Osmo uses only natural and organic ingredients. In fact, organic and wildcrafted fruit give Osmo drinks their flavor and color; there are no so-called “natural” colors (which are actually often completely artificial) in our products. To make Osmo drink mixes, we source the highest-grade ingredients because we don’t want fillers or questionable substances going into your body. For example, we use exclusively imported whey and casein because there is no domestic source for these ingredients that guarantees that they are rBGH (hormone free) and non-GMO. This means that we can guarantee that our whey and casein are organic, non-GMO, and hormone-free— something we couldn’t source from domestic sources.

The shortest answer to this question is that Osmo products are better because they work better; Osmo products enable athletes to feel and perform their best. They also don’t cause common side effects of other sports drinks, including bloating, diarrhea, thirst, and cramping, among other issues.

Osmo Active Hydration is a great example of superior performance. Osmo Active uses a combination of sucrose, glucose and electrolytes, in a specific ratio that has been shown to result in the fastest rate of fluid absorption. For Osmo Active, we also use a lower concentration of sugars (3.5% rather than the typical 6–8%) so you don’t get residual “slosh” in the stomach from delayed gastric emptying. We chose specific electrolytes needed to maximize fluid absorption, delay fatigue, reduce the rate of core temperature rise, and help maintain the water in your blood (your plasma volume). We also chose a sodium compound that doesn’t contribute to leaky gut and boosted the overall sodium and potassium content to maximize fluid absorption and help with electrolyte losses through sweat. Each of our products is based on peer-reviewed science to ensure that we deliver improved performance and an ideal experience for athletes.

We recommend starting with Osmo Active Hydration. This is the product we developed for use during exercise and it is a great way to experience the Osmo difference.

The key difference between Osmo Active Hydration and other products you may find on the market is that Osmo Active truly promotes hydration, and in turn boosts performance. When you try Osmo Active during a workout or in a race, you will quickly see an improvement in your performance, as fluid will go where it is needed to help with thermoregulation, metabolism, and circulation. This also reduces gastrointestinal distress and “sloshing” in the stomach. By contrast, when you start exercising with low body water, you are already compromising your performance, and as you exercise and lose body water, your performance drops off further. In fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already ~2% below optimal body water, which can translate to as much as an 11% reduction in max power. Osmo Active maximizes fluid absorption, delaying power decline and fatigue.

We believe you will see a change in your performance the first time you use any Osmo product, but you will certainly experience the benefit by the time you reach the bottom of the bag. There is no need to experience Osmo products over a long period of time to see how they change your performance. For some, change comes quickly because they no longer experience cramps on long rides or runs. Others who normally exercise in a continually hypo-hydrated state will find that Osmo Active Hydration consumed during exercise allows them to perform better. For those who never use recovery products, Osmo Acute Recovery will help them recover from exercise more quickly.

Yes. Optimizing hydration before and during exercise has a direct correlation to performance, Osmo takes the guesswork out of what you should be drinking. Being just 2% below optimal body water can result in as much as an 11% reduction in max power. The most important factor in optimizing your hydration regimen is drinking enough of the right thing to slow the effects of dehydration. Drinking plain water isn’t ideal because you need a small amount of sodium to help the water reach the fluid compartments of the body. The specific ratio and concentration of glucose, sucrose and electrolytes in Osmo Active results in the fastest fluid absorption possible. Traditional sports drinks contain too high a carbohydrate concentration to maximize fluid absorption, as they are geared towards supplying carbohydrate as a fuel, not for hydration. Remember, “hydration in the bottle, food in the pocket”.

Baseline needs: Unfortunately a specific recommendation isn’t appropriate, as fitness status, environment, training history and plan, as well as sex differences all influence how much fluid you need. Generally, if your urine first thing in the morning is relatively pale yellow, you are off to a good start. Throughout the day, eating watery fruits and veggies, drinking tea, water, low carbohydrate electrolyte drinks will help keep you hydrated. The afternoon (~3pm) tiredness often is due to low body water and a drop in core temperature, thus drinking a warm drink (tea, coffee) will help hydrate and bring up the core temperature, reducing the fatigue.

Before training: in the 90 minutes leading up to your training session, you need to drink as much as comfortable (~2 cups) of low-carbohydrate fluid. This is a good place for using Osmo PreLoad and to sip on Osmo Active Hydration to maximize body fluid and sodium stores.

During training: Similar to baseline needs, what you drink during your ride depends on several factors: temperature/environment, time of day, intensity of training, sex differences. It is important to go into a race or training situation hydrated; it is much easier to come back from a low sugar ‘bonk’ (a few minutes after a bit of food) than it is to come back from dehydration (several hours for the kidneys and hormones to kick in for fluid balance)! Your fluid intake during training should allow you to maintain power towards the end of your ride! We recommend drinking Osmo Active and basing your minimum fluid needs on body weight and temperature. Scientific guidelines recommend 0.154 ounces per pound of body weight for lower intensity and cooler weather; scoping upwards to 0.185 ounces per pound of body weight for hotter and/or more intense rides (View Chart). Remember this is based on generalized guidelines; the best way to tap into what you specially need is to objectively measure your hydration status using the Whiz Wands.

After Training: For maximizing recovery, you have a 30 minute window to ingest protein with a bit of carbohydrate, followed up with a real meal within 2 hours of finishing your ride. After you exercise, as a general rule, you need to drink the equivalent of 1.5 times the amount of body weight you have lost to restore fluid balance; here a combination of Acute and Active will maximize rehydration and recovery.

A good way to gauge whether you’re properly hydrated is to examine the color of your urine FIRST THING IN THE MORNING and to monitor the level of your thirst before, during, and after you exercise. When gauging urine color, the rule is generally the clearer the better. Dark yellow urine is a telltale sign of dehydration. When you are thirsty, this indicates that you are already below optimal body water and you need fluids. While optimal fluid consumption rates vary from individual to individual, monitoring and tracking your urine color and perceived thirst in conjunction with exercise intensity, exercise duration and weather conditions will enable you to gauge your optimal rate of fluid consumption in different situations.

Osmo hydration products are specifically developed to optimize hydration. Though it may seem simple, the sugars in a sports drink have a big impact on how fluid is absorbed. Two sugars are better than one, and the combination of glucose and sucrose in the proprietary ratio found in Osmo Active is shown to be the best for maximizing fluid absorption.

The rate of fluid absorption into the bloodstream is determined by two things: the combined rates of gastric emptying and intestinal absorption. These responses are directly influenced by the composition of the drink ingested. Of key interest from a formulation standpoint is that too much carbohydrate in a drink will delay gastric emptying. Also, the combination of glucose with sucrose has been shown to stimulate sodium and fluid absorption in the intestinal cells. Studies have shown that glucose-only solutions slow the rate of gastric emptying; whereas maltodextrin promotes the most carbohydrate absorption, with low fluid absorption. So, with the goal of rapid gastric emptying and intestinal fluid absorption, we developed the ideal ratio of the best sugars to promote fluid absorption and subsequent plasma volume increase.

To start, Osmo Active works. All Osmo products are based on leading, established, and published science and use natural and organic ingredients, which is unique in the sports drink arena.

Another difference is that unlike other sports drinks, Osmo Active Hydration is optimized to maximize the rate of fluid and electrolyte absorption into the body. The rate of fluid absorption into the body is determined by two things: the combined rates of gastric emptying and intestinal absorption. These responses are directly influenced by the composition of the drink ingested. Of key interest from a formulation standpoint is that too much carbohydrate in a drink will delay gastric emptying.

Most powdered drink mixes that people put in their bottles are designed to be a source of significant calories, which results in slow gastric emptying, thus slowing hydration.

Our goal is to educate athletes about “hydration in the bottle, food in the pocket.” It is a paradigm shift to separate the fueling and hydration needs.

This focus on optimized hydration is why we use sucrose and glucose with sodium. This sugar and sodium combination has been shown to maximize fluid absorption. We also have a lower carbohydrate percentage (3.5% compared to most drinks at 6–8%), which keeps the osmolality low for faster emptying of the gut and greater fluid absorption. Having fluid that actually reaches the blood allows for a slower core temperature rise, and the ability to maintain blood-flow to the muscles. It is important to remember that when you feel thirsty, you are already 2% dehydrated, which equates to a decline of 6–11% max power. Osmo products also have higher sodium content per serving; this is to improve the balance between water, sodium and other electrolytes across all vascular spaces during exercise, thus helping to reduce hypo- or hypernatremia.

This phrase is a key part the Osmo Nutrition project and the specific blueprint for developing Osmo Active Hydration. What we mean is that an athlete should not rely on liquid calories for their fuel source. Calories should be eaten and one should drink for hydration.

Even though this is common sense and proven effective by science, “hydration in the bottle, food in the pocket” is a revolutionary concept. The fitness/athletic/performance industry has a reference framework that liquid calories are the best way to hydrate and fuel for a race. Our goal, in contrast, is to educate and implement “hydration in the bottle, food in the pocket.” It is a paradigm shift to separate the two.

By relying on solid food for energy and liquids for hydration, both blood sugar and hydration can be optimized and uncomfortable side effects like bloating, sloshing and GI distress can be avoided.

Basically, drinking Osmo Active Hydration and eating real food is the ideal way to hydrate and get the calories required for endurance sports. Although you can come back from low blood sugar in a few minutes by eating, it takes hours to recover from dehydration.

Real food is just that—stuff your grandma can pronounce and identify! We like to recommend starting with solid foods and working your way to semisolid options. By this we mean, start by eating something like salted potato cubes, sandwich bites, pretzels, lowfat muffins, and/or mini cookie bites. If you need to have “engineered nutrition,” we suggest protein-oriented bars, such as Clif MOJO, uncoated Luna, or MacroBar. Semisolid foods are your favorite childhood gummy-type candy, such as jelly beans, Swedish Fish or Mike and Ike. They may not be “real food” per se, but they are mighty tasty. Click here for a schematic of fluid and good intake recommendations for up to 6 hours of riding.

No. Gels are not a good thing to consume during exercise because they are part of the “liquid calorie” camp; they are a concentrated carbohydrate that goes into a dehydrated gut.

When you eat a gel, you change the osmotic pressure in your digestive track, which in turn stimulates the body to shift fluid out of the plasma and other spaces to dilute the gel in order for it to be absorbed. This is a process that leads to effective dehydration.

A follow up to the gel question is usually, “What about chomps, blocs, and jelly beans? These are all straight carbohydrates, too.” True, but blocs, chomps, and jelly beans are all okay because they are consumed at a slower rate than gel and they deliver a smaller amount of carbohydrate per bite (e.g., one sleeve of blocs has less than 200 calories, which is about the same as two gels. It takes little time to gulp down two gels and more time to eat blocs, so you get a continuous input and a smaller dose of carbohydrate than when you swallow a gel).

After-exercise recovery is a key part of getting stronger and more efficient; however, introducing antioxidants right after exercise has been shown to inhibit adaptation.

One critical step in exercise stress is the oxidation process. The body has its own feedback system for overcoming oxidation within the muscle cells. If we introduce antioxidants close to the conclusion of exercise, however, we inhibit this feedback system and significantly reduce the adaptations that athletes train for. Basically, when you ingest antioxidants close to the conclusion of exercise, your muscle cells (specifically mitochondria) don’t change or adapt as much in response to the exercise stress.

Osmo PreLoad Hydration is best used the night and morning before hot-weather efforts or intense workout conditions.

Osmo PreLoad Hydration is a specific pre-exercise hyper hydrator and buffer. It has been formulated with two different sodium compounds, citrate and bicarbonate, to do two things: expand your plasma volume (the watery part of your blood that is essential for thermoregulation) and provide buffer agents to the anaerobic and aerobic metabolic pathways. It is beneficial to use Osmo PreLoad Hydration before hot races or training, as well as before high-intensity events such as time trials, track events, cyclo-cross races, criteriums or circuit races, and sprint-distance triathlons.