Frequently Asked Questions

1
Which Etixx products could potentially cause an allergic reaction?
Productname Gluten Lactose Soy Vegetarians Vegans
CHONDRO GLUCO        - - YES NO
MAGNESIUM 2000 AA         - - - YES YES
MAGNESIUM INSTANT STICK - - - YES YES
MAGNESIUM 100% BISGLYCINATE PRO LINE - - - YES YES
MULTIMAX         - - - YES YES
MAX D-EFENSE - - - YES YES
OMEGA 3 - - - NO NO
COLLAGEN COMPLEX - - - NO NO
HIGH PROTEIN SHAKE   - YES NO
PROTEIN SPORT BAR COCO&VANILLA      - YES NO
FULL TRAINING COMPLEX SHAKE  YES NO
CREATINE 3000 & CREATINE CREAPURE - - - YES YES
HMB 1000                              - - YES NO
ISOTONIC - - - YES YES
SPORT HYDRO TAB - - YES NO
IRON AA 125  - - - YES YES
CARNITINE 1000 - - - YES YES
BETA ALANINE SLOW RELEASE   - - - YES YES
ARGININE 1000 - - - YES YES
ENERGY GELS - - - YES YES 
ENERGY NOUGAT SPORT BAR - - - YES NO
ENERGY SPORT BAR YES YES
NATURAL OAT BAR YES NO
ENERGY MARZIPAN SPORT BAR - - - YES YES
SPORT GUMMIES - - - NO NO
CAFFEINE SPORT GUMMIES  - - - NO NO
CAFFEINE ENERGY SHOT  - - - YES YES
CARBO-GY                              - - - YES YES
ENERGY BOOST               - - - YES YES
MANPOWER - - NO NO
RECOVERY SHAKE YES NO
RECOVERY SHAKE PRO LINE -
(Except banana)
YES NO
RECOVERY SPORT BAR                              - YES NO
BCAA - - YES YES
2
Are all Etixx products tested for banned substances?

ABSOLUTELY! We guarantee the quality and purity of our products by apply quality requirements of the sector. Every batch from every production of the full Etixx range undergoes analysis by an independent LABORATORY to test on banned substances.

Every product bears the internationally-recognised ‘Informed Sport’ quality label on the packaging. We keep the reference samples of every production batch for up to two years after its expiry date.
 

3
Are Etixx products suitable for children and young people?

Firstly, all Etixx products are developed for adult sports enthusiasts. The recommended daily doses and portion sizes are therefore also tailored to adult athletes. Young people (16+) who do very frequent and intensive exercise, may consider using Etixx products. The products they use and the frequency always depends on how intensively and how frequently a person trains, the performance level he/she is aiming for and the type of sport. For children, however, the use of products containing caffeine and specific food supplements is not recommended.  

The following Etixx products contain caffeine and are not recommended for children (under 16 years old): Ginseng & Guarana Energy Gel, Caffeine Sport Gummies, Caffeine Energy Shots, Energy Boost.

The following specific food supplements are not recommended for children (under 16 years old): Creatine 3000, Creatine Creapure, HMB 1000, Iron 125 AA, Carnitine 1000, Arginine 1000, Beta Alanine Slow Release, Energy Boost, Manpower, BCAA, Chondro Gluco 1500, and Collagen Complex.

4
Can pregnant women also use Etixx products?

Women should always consult their gynaecologist about whether or not to use Etixx products during pregnancy.

5
Are the Etixx products suitable for diabetics (type 1 and 2)?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide this information, because this is a medical condition and you must consult your doctor about it. If you are diabetic and you want to use Etixx products for the first time, we advise you to consult yout doctor before doing so.

1
What are the shipping costs for my Etixx order?

Shipping costs are free for orders with a purchase price of over €75 (including discounts). You will pay shipping costs of €8.95 on orders below €75.

2
When will I receive my Etixx order?

Orders placed before 11 a.m. from Monday to Thursday are usually delivered on the next working day in Belgium. As soon as your order has been processed, you will receive a track & trace code so you can track your order.

1
What can I do to prevent or delay muscle acidification?

A muscle can only function optimally when its pH value is around 7. But during intensive exercise, lactic acid forms in the muscle, which splits into lactate and H+ ions. These H+ ions cause the pH value in the muscle to drop, which has a negative effect on performance. It goes without saying that the more intensively we train, the more H+ ions are formed and the faster the pH value in the muscle will drop. If the pH value drops below 6.5, then the muscle will quickly lose the ability to contract, and thus its power, and the symptoms of acidification may appear, including stiffness, a feeling of tension in the muscles,... The body has pH buffers in the muscles in order to combat this acidification. Simply put, these buffers neutralise the H+ ions, thus preventing the drop in pH in the muscle. Carnosine is a muscular buffer that, in addition to beta-alanine, also contains histidine. Histidine is in plentiful supply in our bodies, but beta-alanine can be used up in certain circumstances. For this reason, it is important to consume enough beta-alanine, because it is beta-alanine that will determine how much carnosine will be synthesised.

Beta-Alanine Slow Release is a product from Etixx that provides the body with sufficient beta-alanine and therefore ensures that pH values in the muscles do not drop as quickly, thus helping to prevent low pH values and delaying the onset of acidification.

Beta-Alanine should be taken as a course, over an 8 week time period.  The basic treatment consists of 2 x 2 tablets per day. After this course, you can stop taking the supplement for a few weeks, and then perhaps start taking a top-up dose for a maximum of 4 weeks, whereby 1 tablet per day is enough.

2
What is the difference between carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and liquids?

You can only exert physical effort when your body/muscles are getting enough fuel. This is logical, since physical effort requires muscular work, which is only possible when there is sufficient energy for our muscles to function. You could compare this to a car with an empty petrol tank. The car won’t get very far, and neither will an athlete if he or she has not filled up with enough fuel before or during activity. Carbohydrates (sugars) are the best source for delivering fuel and generating muscular work. Fats are also capable of supplying energy, and have the advantage of being able to supply more energy than carbohydrates. 1 gram of fat contains 9 kcal, while 1 gram of carbohydrate only contains 4 kcal. But fats suffer the disadvantage of not being viable as a fuel in every sporting scenario. An athlete can only use fat as an energy source if several requirements are met:

  1. Firstly, there must be sufficient oxygen supply to burn fat. Research has shown that the effective burning of fat requires that the heart rate does not exceed 60-70 per cent of the maximum heart rate.
  2. Carnitine is an important compound that is required for burning fat. Without carnitine, an athlete will burn fat less effectively. This is important information for vegetarians, since animal products are rich in carnitine.
  3. An athlete who is less well trained in the use of fat as an energy source will have trouble using fat when exerting effort. Training after fasting is the best way to train your body to use fat for energy. During training after fasting, our bodies are forced to use fats instead of carbohydrates. In doing so, the body produces fat burning enzymes that we need to convert fat into glucose. During a competition, an athlete who does not have these enzymes will have more trouble burning fat and will only be able to use carbohydrates.

It is important that athletes consume sufficient building materials to help build up cells. A muscle consists of thousands of cells, which can be damaged by exercise. This damage must be repaired in order to prevent muscle degradation and facilitate muscle growth. Fat and protein are important sources of building materials, and are therefore essential for athletes.

In general, athletes require more protective nutrients in the form of vitamins and minerals. Due to overworking and excess fertilisation, our agricultural land has been degraded, so that fruit and vegetables now contain less vitamins and minerals than roughly 50 years ago. This lower level of vitamins and minerals, combined with lower consumption of fruit and vegetables in general, means that athletes have to pay extra attention to consuming sufficient fruit and vegetables in their diets. Variety is also very important here.

Our level of performance is directly proportional to our loss of moisture. With this in mind, it is important that we pay enough attention to hydration. Drinking enough before, during and after exercise is of crucial importance to preventing dehydration and loss of performance.

3
What is the difference between an isotonic sports drink and a hypertonic energy sports drink?

In an isotonic drink, the concentration of dissolved particles (electrolytes and carbohydrates) per 100 ml of sports drink is approximately the same as in the blood. Because of this concentration, the fluid can be absorbed into the body faster compared to a hypertonic energy sports drink. So, the drink supplies a lot of fluid, as well as energy. An example of an isotonic sports drink is Etixx Isotonic.

In a hypertonic drink, the concentration of dissolved particles per 100 ml of sports drink is higher than in the blood. These sports drinks have the highest osmotic pressure. The moisture in hypertonic sports drinks is absorbed slower than water. The purpose of these sports drinks is not hydration, but rather the supplementation of lost energy. An example of a hypertonic sports drink is Etixx Carbo-Gy.

4
Why is a healthy diet so important?

As an athlete, you can only perform at your best if your body is functioning optimally. And our bodies can only function optimally when they get the nutrients that our cells really need. Fuel, building material, protective nutrients and hydration are 4 essential components that an athlete needs for this. If an athlete neglects 1 of these components, then his or her performance will suffer. The fuel and building materials are considered macronutrients; these are carbohydrate, fat and protein. Protective nutrients are the micronutrients that contain vitamins and minerals. Hydration obviously refers to liquids.

5
Why are carbohydrates so important for recovery?

After an intensive or prolonged training session/competition, the glycogen (stored sugar) has disappeared from the muscles and liver and the muscles are tired. Recovery of muscle glycogen is the primary focus during recovery after extreme (prolonged) exertion. The recommendation is to ingest 1 g of carbohydrates per kg of body weight immediately after the exercise and then every 2 hours for the next 6 hours, depending on the duration and intensity of the exertion.

Consequently, the Recovery Shake and the Recovery Shake PRO LINE are particularly suitable for replenishing the glycogen after a workout. During a short workout or a low-intensity workout, we primarily use fats as a source of fuel. As a result, there is no need to replenish the glycogen after this type of exercise. The High Protein Shake is therefore the best option after this type of exercise since the product is a low-carbohydrate protein shake and does not contain any added sugars. The High Protein Shake is therefore also the most suitable for athletes who want to control their weight.

6
Is sports nutrition the same as a healthy diet?

A healthy diet  for a trained athlete consists of a much higher intake of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements), and fluids than that of a non-athlete. This explains the need for sports nutrition and supplements. The sports nutrition and healthy basic diet that you require depend on the type of sport and your personal goals.

1
Can Beta-alanine cause a tingling sensation?

This is possible and is called paraesthesia. This side effect is totally harmless, but unpleasant. Etixx Beta-alanine is a slow-release formula, which means that beta-alanine is slowly released into the blood. This prevents or reduces the chance of paraesthesia. Nonetheless, it cannot be entirely ruled out that some people will still experience a tingling sensation when using Beta-alanine. It is always advisable (and especially for people who are susceptible to paraesthesia) to take the tablets spread out over the day and with a meal. 

2
Which Etixx products could be useful if you suffer from muscle cramps frequently.

Maintaining a good fluid balance is very important for preventing muscle cramps. 

Etixx Isotonic:

  • The ideal sports drink during exercise for all athletes in any sport. 
  • Source of carbohydrates, extra minerals and fluid. 
  • Recommendation: minimum of 500 ml per hour of exercise. 


Magnesium 2000 AA / Magnesium instant stick / Magnesium 100% Bisglycinate PROLINE. 

  • Magnesium is an important mineral that plays a role in more than 300 reactions in our body.
  • Magnesium is important for the electrolyte balance. An imbalance or deficit could lead to cramps. 
  • Recommendation: a minimum 4-week course. A course can be repeated several times a year.


Sport Hydro Tab (in very warm weather)

  • Sport Hydro Tab is a low-calorie effervescent tablet with a high concentration of the main minerals that are lost through sweating. Please note that this tablet does not contain any carbohydrates, so it is not suitable for replenishing energy. 
  • The ideal product for athletes who sweat a lot or ‘salty sweaters’.
  • Recommendation: ½ to 1 tablet in 500 ml of water


Beta Alanine Slow Release

  • Chronic, everyday use can lead to delayed muscle acidification
  • Recommendation: start supplementation 4-8 weeks before the peak time.
3
With a team sport, is it best to use Isotonic or water with an Energy Gel at half-time?

For team sports players, it is important to choose energy that can be absorbed quickly. That is why it’s advisable to choose semi-liquid or liquid energy sources to replenish a team sports player’s carbohydrates at half-time. A team sports player can choose either Etixx Isotonic or Etixx Energy Gels combined with water for this.

4
Can the Etixx BCAA, Recovery Shake and the High Protein Shake be used alongside each other and if they can, when is it best to use each product?

The Recovery Shake, Recovery Shake and BCAAs can definitely be used alongside each other. After intensive training sessions, which are characterised by high carbohydrate consumption, it’s best to drink the Etixx Recovery Shake. The athlete also has the choice of a Recovery Shake or Recovery Shake PRO LINE, where the Proline version has a much higher dose of carbohydrates and proteins and is therefore more suitable after more extreme exercise. These shakes offer the most high-quality proteins.

After strength-related training sessions, i.e. training sessions when people are aiming to build muscle (muscle volume) or after training sessions that were less intensive and where fewer carbohydrates were burned, the High Protein Shake is more suitable. This shake contains approximately 25 g of high-quality proteins without added carbohydrates. 

BCAA are the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, which stimulate extra muscle growth. It is therefore best to consume these before/after strenuous training sessions and strength training. So, in combination with the Recovery Shake or High Protein Shake, depending on the aim/intensity of the training. 

5
Does the Etixx Isotonic contain sufficient salt?

Etixx Isotonic contains 276 mg of sodium per 500 ml, i.e. 552 mg/litre.

Australian Institute of Sport guidelines: Guidelines for the optimal sodium intake during endurance exercise (> 1 hour) are still unclear. General recommendations include 0.5–0.7 g per litre of fluid (21–30 mmol/L) [American College of Sports Medicine 1996] however it is important to note individual differences when making recommendations.

21-30mmol/L= 483-690mg/L

American College of Sport Medicine – position stand: Exercise and fluid replacement (zie bijlage).The Institute of Medicine provided general guidance for composition of ‘‘sports beverages’’ for persons performing prolonged physical activity in hot weather (73). They recommend that these types of fluid replacement beverages might contain ~20–30 meq/L sodium. 

20-30mEq/L = 460mg-690mg/L

Real ‘salty sweaters’ could use the Etixx Sport Hydro Tabs in addition to this. 

6
Do the Etixx Energy Bars, Gels and Gummies contain fructose?

Yes, all Etixx Energy Bars, Gels and Gummies contain fructose. 

7
What is the advantage of omega 3 in triglyceride form in comparison to ethyl esters?

Triglycerides are the molecular form in which all fats and oils occur naturally. Ethyl esters, on the other hand, do not occur naturally and are produced through chemical synthesis. 

An Omega 3 supplement based on triglycerides has 3 advantages:

  • Faster and fuller separation. This ensures better absorption
  • More stable for oxidation
  • More EPA and DHA following absorption

The Etixx Omega 3 only contains triglycerides.

8
What are the advantages of a 2:1 ratio of glucose:fructose?

During exercise, the body can absorb a maximum of 60g (of 1 type) of carbohydrates per hour. 

When an athlete needs > 60g of carbohydrates per hour, during exercise, he/she should provide this through a mixture of different type of carbohydrates and, scientifically, a 2:1 ratio of glucose:fructose is the best option. 

A few additional side notes:

  • Only athletes who 1) exercise for more than 3 or 4 hours in one go, who furthermore 2) are extremely well trained and 3) are used to consuming such large amounts (e.g. 80 or 90 g) of carbohydrates per hour of exercise, will benefit from consuming >60 g of carbohydrates per hour in a 2:1 ratio
  • The 2:1 ratio is primarily useful for drinks that are drunk DURING exercise, e.g. Isotonic drinks. For example, the Etixx Energy Gels and Etixx Isotonic contain a 2:1 ratio for optimum intake of carbohydrates and to prevent gastrointestinal complaints. This is certainly advisable with this type of drink, because athletes can easily consume 1-2 containers per hour of exercise, often also in combination with bar/gel.
9
Do the Etixx bars contain nuts?

Energy Marzipan Sport Bar and Energy Nougat Sport Bar contain nuts (almonds). All other Etixx bars do not contain nuts as an ingredient, but nuts are used on the same production line and these products may therefore contain traces of nuts and/or peanuts.

 

10
Should an older athlete (60 plus) take as much collagen? And is this equally effective?

The recommendation for the Etixx Collagen is 10 grams per day for both curative and preventative purposes. This is also the most appropriate intake for older athletes. Furthermore, collagen production is known to reduce with age, so older athletes may gain extra benefits from a collagen supplement.

1
What support is available for sports clubs and teams?

Are you a member or manager of a sports club, team or training group? Are you looking for a sports nutrition partner?

We would be happy to offer your club, team or training group the opportunity to start a partnership with Etixx. Become one of our partners and receive product discounts, cashback rewards, an info session at your club and many other benefits for your members.

To find out more about such partnerships, you can contact us on the email address below: Kenny.vandamme@ceres-pharma.com