Exclusive | Women are turning to a runners’ hack to power through pregnancy and labor like athletes

Nypost · Aug 04, 2026 · 1389 words · By Anna Medaris

Sports Nutrition in Healthcare Pregnancy as an Endurance Sport

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Sports Nutrition in Healthcare

Women are turning to a runners’ hack to power through pregnancy and labor like athletes See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Women are turning to a runners’ hack to power through pregnancy and labor like athletes See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google So long, saltines and applesauce — modern moms-to-be are turning to performance products to boost energy during pregnancy and labor like athletes.

Common ground

“It makes total sense,” Lauren Puretz, an OB-GYN and ultrarunner in Colorado Springs, Colo., told The Post.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Sports Nutrition in Healthcare story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that studies show whole foods like raisins can often do the same trick [as commercial energy products]?
How does this story connect Sports Nutrition in Healthcare with Pregnancy as an Endurance Sport over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/04/health/moms-are-using-energy-gels-to-power-through…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 70% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3

info Single Source 2

verified Verified By Reference 2

verified Verified 1

check_circle

Claim 1: “studies show whole foods like raisins can often do the same trick [as commercial energy products]”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources indicate that simpler options, such as sugary foods or real food (bananas, etc.), can provide similar energy benefits to commercial gels.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Gels can provide a quick source of energy – but they can also come with downsides.Simpler options such as sports drinks or sugary foods may deliver similar energy, but typically lack the portability a…
https://fllics.com/en/politics-en/energy-gels-heres-what-run…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Foods such as bananas, energy bars, or even specific performance snacks might provide similar benefits while being gentler on the stomach. Ultimately, it may be beneficial for athletes to experiment w…
https://ukgravityenduro.com/fueling-long-distance-rides-real…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — This fruit-based energy gel, once touted for its high-carb intake and low volume, contains about a third of calories than advertised, multiple independent nutritional analyses suggest.
https://run.outsideonline.com/nutrition-and-health/getting-l…

info

Claim 2: “GU goes for $2 a pop, while the popular brand Maurten is nearly double that”

SINGLE SOURCE

One TikTok source mentions Coles Perform gels at $1.50 and Maurten as costing more, but there is no consistent evidence across the provided results to verify the specific $2 vs $4 price point for GU and Maurten.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — GEL 100 - Energy gel with high carbohydrate formula. Energy encapsulated in a natural hydrogel. 25g of carbohydrates per serving.
https://www.maurten.com/products/gel-100-box-us

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Try Maurten Energy Gel 100 . Our most affordable pick is Hammer Energy Gel , coming in at just $1.46 per serving.Unlike other gels, Hammer Energy Gel can be purchased in a larger containers so that in…
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/energy-gel

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — COLES PERFORM ELITE ENERGY GELS. These are currently $1.50 per gel, and honestly they’re not just cheap - they’re actually solid nutritionally. Each gel has 23.8g of carbs, which is only just behind m…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/gu-energy-vs-liquid-gel?lang…

check_circle

Claim 3: “UCAN denies the claim.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly state that UCAN 'denies her version of events' regarding the allegation that she was dropped due to pregnancy.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — EastEnders is a BBC soap opera that first aired on 19 February 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 2021, in order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_EastEnders_characters_…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Horne Section is a British musical comedy band, appearing on radio, television, podcast, and stage. Led by frontman and comedian Alex Horne, the band comprises Joe Auckland (trumpet, banjo, vocals…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Horne_Section

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Turkish Air Force (TuAF) (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) is the air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Aviation Squadrons …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Air_Force

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 4: “the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports “moderate amounts” of clear fluids during active, uncomplicated labors, but advises against solid food.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While the evidence confirms ACOG is an authoritative body and mentions that restrictions on eating during labor have been questioned, the provided snippets do not explicitly state the specific 'moderate clear fluids vs. no solid food' guideline mentioned in the claim.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a professional association of physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States. Several Latin American count…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_College_of_Obstetrici…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Obstetrics and gynaecology (also spelled as obstetrics and gynecology; abbreviated as Obst and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstet…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstetrics_and_gynaecology

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 476 U.S. 747 (1986), was a United States Supreme Court case involving a challenge to Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act of 1982.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornburgh_v._American_College…

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 5: “Energy gels and chews are generally formulated for endurance athletes to consume while in motion. They’re small but mightily packed with easily-digestible carbohydrates, plus electrolytes like sodium.”

VERIFIED

Web search results from Runner's World and other nutrition sources confirm that energy gels for endurance athletes are formulated with easily digestible carbohydrates and electrolytes for use during motion.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 9 Runner-Approved Energy Gels for Training and Racing.
https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/g22716327…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — For Ncabira, carbohydrates are central to performance. “I prioritise carbs because that’s the energy I’ll use during the run. Before a full marathon, it’s mostly carb-loading, more carbohydrates, less…
https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/the-runner-s-diet…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The key is choosing easily digestible carbohydrates that deliver quick energy without gastrointestinal distress. Why Carbs Matter for Endurance. During prolonged exercise, your body taps into glycogen…
https://metrowestnutrition.com/fuel-up-right-easily-digestib…

info

Claim 6: “An entire pregnancy calls for about 80,000 extra calories”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists of dictionary definitions for the word 'full' and does not contain any nutritional or medical data regarding pregnancy calories.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible. full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or …
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — FULL definition: completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity. See examples of full used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/full

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Some common synonyms of full are complete, plenary, and replete. While all these words mean "containing all that is wanted or needed or possible," full implies the presence or inclusion of everything …
https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/full

check_circle

Claim 7: “pro runner Emma Bates, who alleges her former sponsor, the energy gel brand UCAN, dropped her after she got pregnant last year.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that Emma Bates alleged she was dropped by her sponsor UCAN after announcing her pregnancy.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 8: “One 2021 journal article called pregnancy a “9-month stress test” that forces the cardiovascular system to adapt in ways not dissimilar to some training regimens.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for the year 2021 and does not contain the specific journal article or the '9-month stress test' quote.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — 2021 (MMXXI) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2021st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 21st year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — 2021 in film is an overview of events, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies, festivals, a list of country-specific lists of films released, and movie programming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_in_film

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rocky is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by Arun Matheswaran in his directorial debut, while it was produced by C. R. Manoj Kumar under RA Studios and distributed b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_(2021_film)

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.