1 tbsp Chia Seeds
2 tbsp Raw Agave (I used Trader Joe's brand)
4 tbsp water
2 tsp lime juice concentrate (ie, Real Lime)
1 tsp lemon juice concentrate (ie, Real Lemon)

Agave nectar, as far as a syrup is concerned, is low on the glycemic index...meaning that you won't get the instant spike in blood sugar and instant energy boost you might normally get. Instead, you'll get a steady amount of energy over a longer period of time. If you want a faster energy hit, substitute brown rice syrup for the agave or even for half the agave.
About lemon and lime. In addition to being a natural preservative, there's a long forgotten reason that lemon and lime is used in so many foods and beverages (like a wedge of lemon or lime in your ice water)--its because they act as antacids and calm the stomach. "But they're citrus, that means their acidy." Nope, just the opposite. Lemon and lime are actually akaline forming once they enter your body. They may seem acidy-citrusy in their natural state, but that's not what they truely are once consumed. With other gels that are cooked up in a lab, they may give you energy, but your body also has to work a little harder to process (digest and absorb) them--this homemade gel is made with ingredients that actually aide in digestion. Sugar, cornsyrup, maltodextrin, and some of the other ingredients in store-bought gels are actually acidic/acid forming, and can block digestion. That's why you may have had one that didn't "sit right" when you ate it or you had indigestion from it. I'd be surprised if you felt any adverse affects from the recipe above. Click here for more lemon/lime facts. Click here for info on chia seeds.
Allergy note: not everyone has tried chia--if that's you, sample a fingertip worth of seeds to test them out.
About lemon and lime. In addition to being a natural preservative, there's a long forgotten reason that lemon and lime is used in so many foods and beverages (like a wedge of lemon or lime in your ice water)--its because they act as antacids and calm the stomach. "But they're citrus, that means their acidy." Nope, just the opposite. Lemon and lime are actually akaline forming once they enter your body. They may seem acidy-citrusy in their natural state, but that's not what they truely are once consumed. With other gels that are cooked up in a lab, they may give you energy, but your body also has to work a little harder to process (digest and absorb) them--this homemade gel is made with ingredients that actually aide in digestion. Sugar, cornsyrup, maltodextrin, and some of the other ingredients in store-bought gels are actually acidic/acid forming, and can block digestion. That's why you may have had one that didn't "sit right" when you ate it or you had indigestion from it. I'd be surprised if you felt any adverse affects from the recipe above. Click here for more lemon/lime facts. Click here for info on chia seeds.
Allergy note: not everyone has tried chia--if that's you, sample a fingertip worth of seeds to test them out.
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