HEED® Sports Drink

HEED is a “carbohydrate only” drink mix that is great for bouts of exercise up to 2-3 hours in duration. Perpetuem is a “carb + protein + healthy fat” drink mix that is ideal for longer-duration workouts and races. The inclusion of protein in Perpetuem helps to satisfy the 10-15% of energy that must come from protein/amino acids during long-duration exercise. Without this protein donation the body is forced to cannibalize its lean muscle tissue to satisfy this small percentage of energy requirements. That decreases exercise performance, due to the excess amount of fatigue-causing ammonia that is produced, and it will also cause recovery after exercise to be significantly longer because there is a greater percentage of broken down muscle tissue that needs repairing. The healthy fat added to the Perpetuem formula gives the body a cue of sorts to let it know that it’s not depriving it of fat (the “you have to eat fat to burn fat” train of thought). As a result, the body releases its fatty acid stores more liberally so that the calories from them can be used to create energy more consistently and efficiently. As you can see, Perpetuem is a very complete “meal in a bottle” fuel for endurance exercise.

Either, it's your preference!

Both products are ideal for use during exercise of any intensity lasting up to 2-3 hours.

Hammer Gel is a concentrated complex carbohydrate gel with the consistency of syrup. It is the best choice for athletes who prefer drinking plain water for hydration.

Offered in 12 flavors: Apple-Cinnamon, Banana, Chocolate, Espresso, Montana Huckleberry, Orange, Raspberry, Tropical, Vanilla, Nocciola (Hazelnut-Chocolate), Peanut Butter, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate.

Caffeine Quotient: Espresso contains 50mg and Tropical contains 25mg of caffeine per serving.

HEED is a powdered sports drink mix. It is the best choice for athletes who DO NOT like drinking plain water while exercising.

HEED comes in five flavors: Cherry Bomb, Lemon-Lime, Orange, Melon, and Strawberry.

Caffeine Quotient: Cherry Bomb contains 25mg of caffeine per serving.

Either product can be used as a partial source of calories during ultra distance events to provide variety and flavor to your primary fuel sources, Perpetuem and/or Sustained Energy.

Every scoop of HEED contains 110 calories and about the same amount of electrolytes as found in one Endurolytes capsule or approximately one-half tablet of Endurolytes Fizz. Neither of these two electrolyte replenishment products are a calories source. Most athletes will fulfill all their calorie needs, as well as at least some of their electrolyte needs for an hour with one to two scoops of HEED in a water bottle. Heavier athletes and/or athletes competing in hot-weather conditions will oftentimes need additional electrolytic mineral support via additional Endurolytes capsules or Endurolytes Fizz tablets.

HEED - Calories + electrolytes
Endurolytes, Endurolytes Fizz - Electrolytes only

Q: I'm a 200-pound athlete MTB and road cyclist. How much HEED do I need per hour?

A: Most athletes weighing ~200 pounds find that 1.5 to 1.75 scoops of HEED (165 - 192.5 calories) is an excellent amount on a per-hour basis. Also, keep in mind that this will provide the equivalent of 1.5 to about 2 Endurolytes capsules. Athletes in that weight range, and especially in warmer weather, usually need to an additional 2-3 capsules of Endurolytes (up to 4 additional capsules in really hot weather) to fulfill electrolytic mineral needs much more completely.

The two products are similar in application only... they are during-exercise sports drinks that contain calories and some-to-all electrolytes. Review the labels of both products and you will see some major differences, especially in regards to sugars/added sugars (HEED has no added sugars), artificial ingredients (HEED has none), citric acid (HEED has none), and high amounts of sodium (HEED has significantly less sodium, as well as a full electrolyte profile, while the other product contains only sodium and potassium). HEED also contains auxiliary nutrients to help stabilize blood sugar levels, and to help buffer excess acidity.

No scoop? No problem! With the following conversion information, your "Where did my scoop go?" problems are resolved!

HEED 2.0
1 Level Scoop (39cc) = 2 TBSP +1 ¾ tsp (Serving Size: 1 Scoop)

HEED Classic
1 Level Scoop (60 cc) = 4 TBSP + ½ tsp (Serving Size: 1 Scoop)

Q: Are there any concerns with pre-mixing HEED with water, say 24-hours in advance?

A: If you premix a bottle of HEED and keep it refrigerated, it will not lose any of its potency or beneficial properties for 24-36 hours. The taste will be somewhat flat and a small amount of the electrolytic minerals and flavoring crystals may have separated and settled to the bottom. If this is the case, simply give the bottle a good shake prior to consumption.

Q: I've been using HEED for about a month already, great results, excellent product. I noticed that the flavor is very light for one scoop in a 24-ounce bottle. Is that normal? Is the light flavor due to the low sugar on the product?

A: The light flavor is by design! When we were in the beginning stages in formulating HEED, the main complaint that we heard from athletes was that all the other sports drinks currently available were too sweet, so that was one major thing we worked on. We always use maltodextrin (complex carbs) in our fuels, and that starch-like carbohydrate is not very sweet to begin with. We wanted to give the product a bit of sweetness, but adding sugar or artificial sweeteners weren't an option. Instead, we opted to use a small amount of xylitol and stevia. Both of these sweeteners are undeniably better options than sugar or artificial ingredients, they’re actually good for teeth and gums, and because they are both several times sweeter than sugar, only a small amount was needed. The result is a sports drink that's not short on calories (110 per scoop), but comes without that unpleasant overly sweet and syrupy taste.

Q: Can Perpetuem and HEED be used in a hydration pack's bladder without clogging it up?

A: While both products can be used in a hydration pack bladder, because Perpetuem is a bit thicker by nature--with its complex carbs, protein, and healthy fat--it has the greater potential to clog. HEED is just an all-carbohydrate fuel, no protein or fat, so it's easier mix in and consume from a hydration pack.

Q: Is HEED safe for young athletes to use during exercise and competitions?

A: HEED is not only 100% safe for young athletes, it's an undeniably a better choice than the plethora of sports drinks available, ones that contain loads of refined sugar and citric acid, as well as artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. HEED contains the complex carbohydrate maltodextrin (not refined sugars) and two natural sweeteners - xylitol and stevia - which are not only safe, but also beneficial to teeth and gums.

With the exception of the Cherry Bomb flavor (25 mg of caffeine per serving, via the green tea extract), all flavors of HEED are caffeine-free.

HEED contains no dairy and is 100% gluten-free.

Q: Can a pregnant woman take HEED for runs, biking, triathlons, etc.?

A: Many of the Hammer Nutrition fuels (such as the non-caffeinated flavors of Hammer Gel) and some of the supplements (such as Premium Insurance Caps and EndurOmega) are generally safe for use during pregnancy. However, before using any supplement or fuel, including HEED, we strongly recommend that you get your doctor's approval first. One reason that this is important is because the maximum safe dose for many nutrients and most herbal supplements for pregnant or nursing women has not been scientifically determined... this would include the amino acids l-carnosine and l-tyrosine in HEED. Another reason to discuss product use with your physician first is because your physician is privy to your medical history to which we have no access. So while it's entirely possible that you may be able to use HEED during pregnancy, it's important that you discuss this product (and share the ingredient list) with your doctor prior to using the product.

Q: I cannot consume soy. Is there a recipe for a soy-free Perpetuem?

A: Yes, you can make a non-soy endurance fuel that’s comparable to Perpetuem by using HEED and Vegan Protein:

Each 2-scoop serving of Perpetuem contains 180 calories from 34 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fat. To make a soy-free version that’s similar to Perpetuem, mix together the following:

• 1.25 scoops of HEED = 137.5 calories from 35 grams of carbohydrates
• 1/3 scoop of Vegan Protein = 40 calories from 2.5 grams of carbohydrates, 6.5 grams of protein, and 0.67 grams of fat

TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES – 37.5 grams
TOTAL PROTEIN – 6.5 grams
TOTAL FAT – .67 grams
TOTAL CALORIES – 177.5

Always start with about one-third of your water bottle/blender bottle filled with water. Adding water to dry powder will oftentimes cause clumping, but if you first start with water and then add the powder, this issue will cease to exist. Once you’ve added the powder to the water-containing bottle, put the lid on and shake vigorously. After that, add a bit more water, put the lid on, and repeat the process. Continue until your fuel bottle is full. Note: This is especially important when you’re making a multi-hour bottle of fuel; make it a little bit at a time—add some water, add powder, put the lid on, shake, repeat.

Q: Why did the sodium content increase in HEED? Did you add more salt to the product?

A: The latest HEED formulation contains 150mg of sodium per serving instead of the original 60mg per serving. We believe that this amount, especially when combined with the balanced blend of the other electrolytic minerals in HEED, will serve more athletes under more conditions. We made sure not to overdo it on the sodium content, however, and 150mg per serving is still a much more reasonable amount as compared to most of the sports drink mixes currently available (including one that has an obscenely high 900mg of sodium per serving).

We did not add more salt (sodium chloride) to the product, but instead added a specific amount of sodium phosphate, a remarkable compound that, among its other benefits, has no peer when it comes to buffering excess acidity (which causes that burning sensation we all hate) while extending endurance by helping maintain optimal blood and muscle pH.

When we added sodium phosphate to the formula, we noted that it is a much denser and heavier ingredient. That’s why the larger, 60cc-sized scoop was no longer required. Instead, we found that the smaller 43cc scoop was the size that worked to ensure that HEED still contains the full number of calories (110/serving) and the same amounts of all of the additional ingredients in the product.

Yes. Every Hammer Nutrition product we sell comes straight from Hammer Nutrition USA, based in Whitefish, Montana. We are Hammer Nutrition Philippines, the official distributor of Hammer Nutrition in the Philippines, and we import directly from Hammer Nutrition USA. You can buy from us here on hammernutrition.ph, from our official Lazada and Shopee stores, or from the authorised dealers listed on our Dealer Locator.

It depends on the batch we have in stock. Right now most of our stock has at least a year left, and many items have 2 to 4 years, with expiry dates running up to 2031. Hammer Nutrition supplements also show a manufacture (MFG) date on the label. If you need a specific expiry date, message us by email at sales@hammernutrition.ph or on Viber before you order and we will check it for you. We update this FAQ as new stock arrives.