Why does Perpetuem contain plant-based protein and fat in addition to carbohydrates?
For shorter workouts, carbohydrates usually play the main role in energy supply. However, as the duration of exertion extends to three, four, six or even more hours, the body's energy expenditure and nutrient metabolism become more complex. While readily available carbohydrates are still needed, fatty acids play an increasingly important role, and the utilization of amino acids may also increase.
Perpetuem was therefore not developed as a simple carbohydrate drink. It contains complex carbohydrates derived from maltodextrin, a small amount of soy protein, and fat from lecithin and vegetable oil. Their proportions have been designed so that carbohydrates remain the primary external energy source, while protein and fat supplement it according to the specific demands of long-duration endurance exercise.
The carbohydrate-to-protein ratio in Perpetuem 2.0 is approximately 8:1. Two scoops provide 34 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of plant-based protein, and about 2 grams of fat. This is why Hammer Nutrition calls Perpetuem a "carbohydrate + protein + healthy fat" long-term fuel in its official product introduction.
Carbohydrates remain the most important external energy source
The largest part of Perpetuem is maltodextrin derived from tapioca. Maltodextrin consists of linked glucose units, which are efficiently broken down by the digestive system. The released glucose can quickly become available for energy production.
This is necessary because the body's carbohydrate stores are limited. The amount of glycogen stored in muscles and the liver is finite, while these reserves are continuously used during prolonged exertion. Carbohydrates consumed during exercise or competition help maintain blood sugar levels, provide energy to working muscles, and can slow down the depletion of one's own glycogen stores.
At the same time, externally consumed carbohydrates never cover the total energy expenditure. An athlete can burn several hundred kilocalories per hour, while the digestive system can comfortably process significantly less energy than that. The body covers the difference from its own energy reserves.
The goal of long-term fueling is therefore not to immediately replenish all burned calories. Perpetuem provides as much external energy as the digestive system can efficiently handle during the given exertion, while the body still has access to its own fat and glycogen stores.
What changes during several hours of exertion?
At the beginning of exercise, muscles primarily cover their energy needs from carbohydrates and fat. The ratio of the two constantly changes depending on intensity, fitness level, duration of exertion, previous nutrition, and the state of glycogen stores.
At high intensity, more carbohydrates are needed because energy for work can be produced faster from them. During lower and moderate intensity, long-sustainable exertion, the contribution of fatty acids is greater. As hours pass, glycogen stores gradually decrease, so the body's metabolism must ensure energy supply from an increasing number of sources.
The proportion of protein in total energy acquisition remains small. According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025, protein contributed an average of approximately 3.3 percent to the energy expenditure of endurance exertion. However, amino acid oxidation more than doubled compared to resting state. Other studies and summaries estimate a contribution of approximately 5–6 percent, especially during longer, more intense exertion or exertion performed with reduced glycogen levels. The 2025 protein metabolism review discusses this topic in detail.
The exact ratio depends on the measurement method and circumstances, so a uniform percentage cannot be given for all athletes. However, it is clear that protein metabolism also becomes more active during long-duration endurance exertion.
Why is a small amount of protein added to Perpetuem?
The human body does not have a separate protein store like glycogen for carbohydrates or adipose tissue for energy. The majority of amino acids are found in functioning tissues, enzymes, and other vital proteins.
During prolonged exertion, some amino acids can directly participate in energy production. Others can provide raw material for glucose synthesis or intermediate metabolic processes. The utilization of amino acids can particularly increase when the amount of available glycogen decreases, total energy expenditure is high, or the athlete does not receive sufficient energy.
The small amount of plant-based protein in Perpetuem provides amino acids for this multi-hour exertion. According to Hammer's approach, this can help reduce the need for the body to cover increased amino acid utilization from its own proteins.
The manufacturer often phrases this as mitigating "muscle tissue cannibalization." From a physiological perspective, it is more accurate to describe it as prolonged exertion increasing protein turnover and amino acid oxidation, with the external protein source providing available amino acids.
Despite this, protein does not become Perpetuem's primary energy source. The 8:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio indicates that it is only a supplementary amount. The goal is not to consume a large dose of protein during exercise, as this would unnecessarily burden digestion.
Adequate carbohydrate intake alone protects proteins
To understand the role of protein, it is important to see that the protection of the body's own proteins is primarily aided by adequate energy and carbohydrate supply.
If sufficient carbohydrates are available, the body is less forced to use amino acids for energy production and maintaining blood sugar levels. The maltodextrin content of Perpetuem can therefore have a protein-sparing role on its own. The added soy protein complements this with a small amount of external amino acids.
This is important because the effects of carbohydrates and proteins should not be examined in complete isolation from each other. In Perpetuem's formula, they work together to provide multi-hour energy: maltodextrin provides the majority of readily available energy, while protein provides an additional source of amino acids.
Why plant-based protein was used in Perpetuem?
Perpetuem contains soy protein. A long-duration sports nutrition product needs a protein source that provides an adequate amino acid profile even in small amounts, is easy to mix, and can be consumed for many hours.
Soy is a complete plant-based protein, meaning it contains all essential amino acids. It allows for the creation of an appropriate carbohydrate-to-protein ratio even without dairy proteins. This can be particularly beneficial for those who avoid dairy ingredients or tolerate them less during prolonged sports exertion.
The plant origin here is not merely a dietary aspect. Perpetuem's task is to be repeatedly consumable for several hours. For this, the amount and type of protein and the digestibility of the entire formula had to be designed together.
Why is there only a small amount of protein in it?
During exercise, the digestive system functions differently from a resting state. An increasing portion of circulation supports muscle work and thermoregulation, so the stomach and intestines' capacity may decrease. This becomes particularly noticeable at high intensity, in hot weather, with dehydration, and during running.
A large dose of protein could slow gastric emptying, cause a feeling of fullness, and make it difficult to process fluids and carbohydrates. Therefore, Perpetuem contains only enough protein to complement the long-term energy profile, while carbohydrates remain the dominant nutrient.
The 8:1 ratio does not mean that every athlete needs exactly this much protein for every workout. This is a moderate formula designed for prolonged exertion, which should be interpreted in conjunction with individual dosing.
Why does Perpetuem contain fat?
Fatty acids are involved in energy production from the very first minutes of exercise. During longer, aerobic exertion, the body can rely on them to an increasing extent, especially at appropriately chosen intensities.
Even in a very lean athlete, the body's own fat stores contain an enormous amount of energy. The small amount of fat in Perpetuem is therefore not intended to cover the fat requirements of the entire exertion. The energy content of a few grams of consumed fat is dwarfed by the body's own reserves.
The added fat rather completes the nutrient profile designed for long durations. It increases energy density, can contribute to a more sustained feeling of fullness, and can help Perpetuem feel less like a carbohydrate-only drink during multi-hour use.
Fat digestion is slower, so in large quantities during exercise, it could easily overload the stomach. Perpetuem contains approximately 2 grams per serving, so the amount is intentionally kept low.
What is the role of soy lecithin?
Lecithin is not a single fatty acid, but a natural mixture of phospholipids. One of its best-known components is phosphatidylcholine. Due to their structure, phospholipids can bind to both water and fats, so they have natural emulsifying properties in food.
In Perpetuem, soy lecithin performs several tasks. It contributes to the product's small fat content, and also helps to evenly mix water- and fat-soluble ingredients. This is especially important for a drink that contains carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Fat derived from lecithin also provides energy, but based on its quantity, this is a supplementary role. It does not act like a fast carbohydrate source, and no direct performance-enhancing effect is expected from it alone. Its value is evident within the entire formula: it helps create a low-fat, long-term usable liquid food.
Fat intake does not automatically trigger fat burning
It is often heard that if you consume fat during exercise, the body starts to use more of its own body fat. The connection is more complex than that.
Fat oxidation is primarily regulated by intensity, fitness, hormonal environment, available glycogen, and duration of exertion. The small amount of lecithin in Perpetuem does not act as a switch to initiate fat burning. The utilization of one's own fat stores is a natural part of prolonged aerobic exertion.
Hammer's fueling philosophy is based on moderate external energy intake. Its aim is to ensure that the athlete receives enough carbohydrates to sustain performance, while not trying to replace all burned calories with food. This way, the body can still rely significantly on its own energy reserves.
The small amount of fat from lecithin fits into this multi-source energy profile.
Why is this not necessary for all shorter workouts?
During a one-to-two-hour workout, the body's carbohydrate stores generally do not decrease to such an extent that in-exercise protein intake would have significant practical importance. In such cases, a faster-digesting carbohydrate source, such as HEED or Hammer Gel, might be a simpler solution.
The advantage of Perpetuem becomes increasingly important as the duration of exertion increases. Beyond three hours, fueling needs to be thought about differently, especially if the athlete will be in continuous motion for five, eight, or even twenty hours.
The two-to-three-hour period is a transitional area. In a high-intensity race or very hot weather, a carbohydrate-only, faster-digesting energy source may be more tolerable. For lower-intensity, definitely multi-hour workouts, Perpetuem can be used from the beginning.
Perpetuem is not a full meal in the traditional sense
Due to the combined presence of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, Perpetuem can be used as a liquid sports nutrition, but it does not replace a daily balanced diet. Its composition has been designed exclusively for use during prolonged sports exertion.
The amount of protein is much lower than what would be advisable for a recovery meal or daily diet. Fat is also present only in small, supplementary quantities. Perpetuem's goal is to provide the limited amount of nutrients that the stomach can still process during active movement.
During recovery, different ratios are needed. After exercise, in addition to fluid and electrolyte replenishment, more protein and carbohydrates can help replenish glycogen stores, repair muscle proteins, and support adaptation processes.
Three nutrients, with different levels of importance
The carbohydrates, protein, and fat in Perpetuem are not equal energy sources. Maltodextrin provides the majority of the energy consumed during exercise. Plant-based protein provides a small amount of amino acids for the increased protein turnover during prolonged exertion. Fat from lecithin and vegetable oil complements the energy profile, contributes to a feeling of fullness, and helps mix the different ingredients.
This precisely defined ratio allows Perpetuem to be consumed for several hours. Carbohydrates provide readily available energy, while the small amounts of protein and fat adapt the formula to the metabolic situation that gradually develops during long-duration endurance exertion.
