#generation ucan

RunBlogRun Events Series: Generation UCAN

(@GenUCAN) Generation UCAN is a company that loves SuperStarch. Its basically a sports drink made with corn starch, yes corn starch. Now before you start thinking that it sounds odd, they are not the first to create a carbohydrate drink with corn as the carbs.

Cytosport has a product called Monster Maize that has about the same idea behind it. My brother, (@newnation) has tried Monster Maize and had the same consistency issues as I had with the sports drink.

- Protein

I'm going to start with the Protein. Now, that taste is not bad because most protein you already think are going to be a bit thick. Their protein is no different. They only have chocolate and vanilla flavors and both taste pretty much like a protein.

I would actually put their protein more in the boat with a Hammer Nutrition Recoverite or First Endurance Ultragen versus a post weight workout protein; because, per serving it only contains 13g of protein and 33g of carbs.

Also, they only use whey protein isolate which would make this a great protein drink immediately following a hard run or ride but I prefer a mixture of Whey, Casein, and egg protein.

One thing I do like about their product is that there is not much to it, only 9 ingredients with Modified Corn Starch, Whey Protein Isolate, Natural Flavor, and Cocoa Powder heading it up. It mixed pretty well and I have put it in smoothies as well. I would recommend their protein as a post-endurance protein.

- Sports Drink

Now for the Sports Drink. Honestly, I couldn't recommend any of the flavors. Generally I think of a sports drink like Gatorade. Even for those that don't like the sugar content I really like Hammer Heed, which has a much more mundane and almost bitter taste. The GenUCAN drink doesn't match up to either.

I've had one friend that has tried it and had the same experience. Maybe it's an acquired taste. First it is thick, as you can expect with mixing corn starch and water the drink is much more like a protein drink.

The taste is a real bummer to me because all the carbs in GenUCAN's drink are complex. No simple sugars at all. The drink does sit well and I have no stomach issues, its just hard to get down.

They have four flavors of sports drinks: Cran-Raz, Lemonade, Pom-Blue, and plain. I wouldn't suggest the plain because it has made every thing I put it in have that plain chalk like taste.

Overall I do like their protein and would consider buying it as a post-endurance event recovery protein. But for their sports drink I will continue to stick with Hammer Heed.

Check out their website, generationucan.com, for more information. Also, they have a very good presence on twitter (@GenUCAN).

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