A nitroglycerine pill placed under the tongue distributes its power more rapidly than swallowing. Food entering the stomach requires certain time consuming actions to take place for the nutrients to be absorbed. Not only do different types of food get absorbed at different rates, some require much more energy from the body to do so. Fat laden protein takes a long time chocolate does not.

The convenient gel as apposed to chocolate candy is manufactured to have more beneficial nutrients along with faster absorption of those nutrients WHILE the body use less energy during the absorption.

I switched to e-gel e-Gel Electrolyte Energy Gel - Not Just Energy ... Electrolyte Energy! with this information Crank Sports e-Fuel - The First Liquid Concentrate Isotonic Sports Drink partially helping in my decision. Worked very nicely during my 112 mile non stop Ironman bike segment last year.