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Why Every Endurance Supplement Should Include goBHB

Why Every Endurance Supplement Should Include goBHB

By: Marc Lobliner, IFBB Pro

I don’t care if you’re a triathlete, marathoner, cyclist, or just a weekend warrior putting in the miles—if your endurance formula doesn’t include goBHB, it’s incomplete. Period. The science is there, the performance is real, and the benefits go far beyond energy.

We’re not just talking about “keto” here. We’re talking about one of the most efficient fuels your body can run on—beta-hydroxybutyrate (goBHB)—and why it should be in every single product marketed for endurance.

1. goBHB Is a Clean, Efficient Fuel Source

goBHB is a ketone body, a natural energy substrate your body produces during fasting, carbohydrate restriction, or extended exercise. But when you take it exogenously (as a supplement), your body gets all the energy benefits of ketosis—without the diet.

Let’s get technical for a second.

When you consume goBHB:

  • It skips glycolysis and goes straight into the mitochondria for ATP production.

  • It produces more ATP per unit of oxygen than glucose or fat [1].

  • That means you get more energy output with less oxygen demand, which is exactly what you need during endurance performance.

In high-output situations like marathons, ultra events, or long training sessions, your body starts to deplete glycogen. Instead of hitting the wall, goBHB provides an immediate alternate fuel source that spares glycogen and prolongs performance [2].

2. goBHB Delays Fatigue and Preserves Muscle

Ever bonk on a run or cramp up on mile 20? That’s your body crying out for fuel and balance. BHB helps solve that.

In a study published in Cell Metabolism, elite cyclists who supplemented with ketones experienced 28% greater endurance performance compared to those who didn’t [3]. That’s not a small edge—that’s a podium-level advantage.

And there’s more:

  • BHB has anti-catabolic properties, meaning it reduces muscle breakdown during prolonged training [4].

  • It blunts the rise in cortisol and other stress hormones that normally go through the roof in ultra-endurance efforts.

  • It also enhances recovery by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress post-exercise [5].

Translation: You can go longer, recover faster, and stay leaner.

3. Electrolyte Co-Delivery = Better Hydration + Cramp Prevention

goBHB doesn’t come alone. It’s typically bonded to essential electrolytes like sodium, calcium, and magnesium—making it a dual-action endurance tool.

Think about it:

  • You lose sodium, potassium, and magnesium through sweat.

  • You need to replenish those to avoid cramps, fatigue, and brain fog.

  • goBHB-based salts do exactly that, while also delivering clean fuel.

Most endurance supplements throw in electrolytes and call it a day. But with goBHB, you’re combining electrolyte support + metabolic enhancement in one.

This makes it an obvious choice for hot-weather races, long-distance events, or even fasted cardio.

4. Cognitive Focus and Mental Clarity Under Fatigue

You’re not just racing your body—you’re racing your mind.

When glucose runs low, brain fog and poor decision-making set in. BHB crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts as an alternative fuel for your brain, giving you heightened clarity and focus when others are crashing mentally [6].

In high-stakes endurance events, one bad decision can cost you the race. goBHB helps keep your brain firing when it counts most.

5. It Works WITH Carbs — Not Against Them

Let’s kill the myth: you don’t need to be on a keto diet to benefit from ketones.

goBHB can be taken with carbs. In fact, studies show stacking ketones with carbs improves endurance performance even further [7]. Carbs refill glycogen. Ketones preserve it and offer a parallel energy stream. It’s the best of both worlds.

So endurance supplements shouldn’t ditch carbs—they should add goBHB to enhance them.

The Bottom Line

If you’re formulating an endurance product and you’re leaving out goBHB, you’re doing it wrong. Athletes want more than just sugar, sodium, and caffeine. They want:

  • Clean energy

  • Muscle protection

  • Electrolyte balance

  • Mental focus

  • Faster recovery

And goBHB delivers on all of it.

It’s time to evolve endurance nutrition. And that starts with adding goBHB to every endurance stack out there.

Train longer. Recover faster. Perform better.

📚 References:

  1. Veech, R.L. (2004). “The therapeutic implications of ketone bodies.” Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 70(3), 309–319.

  2. Pinckaers, P.J., et al. (2017). “Exogenous ketone supplementation and endurance exercise performance.” Sports Medicine, 47(3), 513–523.

  3. Cox, P.J., et al. (2016). “Nutritional Ketosis Alters Fuel Preference and Endurance Performance in Athletes.” Cell Metabolism, 24(2), 256–268.

  4. D’Agostino, D.P., et al. (2013). “Ketone bodies and protection against muscle wasting.” Nutrition & Metabolism, 10:29.

  5. Stubbs, B.J., et al. (2017). “On the Metabolism of Exogenous Ketones in Humans.” Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 848.

  6. Newman, J.C., et al. (2014). “Ketone Bodies Improve Cognition and Protect the Brain.” Neurobiology of Aging, 35(6), 1316–1323.

  7. Evans, M., et al. (2018). “Exogenous ketone supplementation improves time trial performance in elite cyclists.” Nutrition, 57, 1–7.