NEW YORK CITY (April 11, 2012) ­ Jeff Bonisa plays hard. An avid diver and bicycle rider, he knows the toll strenuous activity can take on the body and why athletes of all types turn to energy-boosting products for help. But he noticed a gap in products that were natural and tasted good.

Three years ago, Bonisa created Mud Energy Gel to fill that void. Made with performance-boosting ingredients and proprietary protein blend, Mud Energy goes one step further than other energy products by adding to the mix Sustamine ­ an ingredients that works on multiple levels to help rehydrate the body and sustain energy levels during exertion.

By adding Sustamine to our formulas, we are able to give athletes of all types a way to not only get the energy boost they need but also get their muscles the amino acids needed to hydrate better than water alone, said Bonisa, the self-proclaimed Mud Guy.

It also helps that Bonisa is an executive chef, so Mud Energy products were developed with taste in mind. They come in a variety of flavors, including Chocolate Truffle Rage and Tai-Chee Tangerine Lychee. There is also a Dive-n-Sea formula that is caffeine-free and contains ginger to help with seasickness.

Mud Energy is a great product for Sustamine because it provides a variety of choices and flavors for endurance athletes who know that staying hydrated may mean finishing a triathlon more quickly because they may maintain their endurance longer, said Karen Todd, Director of Marketing for Kyowa Hakko USA, the company that markets Sustamine. And its clip-on-pouch packaging is pretty cool, too.

A recent clinical study shows Sustamine can impact athletes overall performance. The University of Central Florida study involved current and former collegiate basketball players, who showed a 12.5% difference in shooting performance between the trial where no hydration was allowed and the one where players drank 1 gram of Sustamine in 500 milliliters of water; an 11% increase was seen between the Sustamine trial and the one where only water was consumed.

The study’s findings were published in the March 2012 edition of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, which focuses on the acute and chronic effects of sports nutrition and supplementation strategies on body composition, physical performance and metabolism. A copy of the Sustamine study can be found at http://www.jissn.com/content/pdf/1550-2783-9-4.pdf.

(1) The subjects consumed 3.1g of Sustamine on the average

About Mud Energy Gel

The adventure began in 2009. As an avid waterman, rider and generally just someone who likes to play hard, I saw a product gap in what we as athletes could use as fuel during strenuous activity. I was driven to create something that I could use in my adventures that would provide quality ingredients with a purpose that tasted great. As an Executive Chef that part came naturally. And, with our convenient packaging, you can RIP IT. SIP IT.CLIP IT.  with ease. Whether you are on land or in the sea, we have a formula that is made for you to help you ENERGIZE. MAXIMIZE. SUSTAIN. And keep you performing at your prime. WE are SERIOUS ENERGY FOR SERIOUS PLAY. We would love for you to be a part of this Mud Energy adventure. More information can be found at www.mudenergy.com.

About Sustamine

Sustamine is an ingredient that works on multiple levels to help rehydrate the body and sustain energy levels during exertion. Ultra-pure, clinically tested, Sustamine is a unique dipeptide ingredient that combines the amino acids L-Alanine and L-Glutamine to help your body rehydrate, replenish and recover no matter how hard you push it. Sustamine¹s dipeptide structure is quickly and easily absorbed by the body, which means your muscles get the amino acids they need faster. More information can be found at www.sustamine.com.

About Kyowa Hakko USA

Kyowa Hakko USA is an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food products.

Kyowa is the maker of branded ingredients including Cognizin® Citicoline, Hydrafend Hyaluronic Acid, Lumistor® L-Hydroxyproline, Setria® Glutathione, Kyowa CoQ10 as well as Sustamine L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine. For more information visit www.kyowa-usa.com.