Some initial information I have learned from preliminary research: one of the most popular methods used to stock up glycogen stores is carb loading. There is no specific math behind carb loading other than consuming almost exclusively carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are long chain polysaccharides that can be broken down into simple sugars like glucose which is stored in the human body as glycogen.
This method is used by marathon runners and cyclists before racing days. Note: carb loading is not something you should do more than just the day before racing. It is only used the day before because it is not healthy as a regular diet. Loading up on carbs, especially when large meals are consumed all at once, spikes insulin in the blood stream. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas that tells fat cells to take glycogen out of the blood stream for storage. Spiking insulin frequently can lead to the development of insulin resistance. This is when the fat storage cells no longer respond to the insulin and hence do not take glycogen out of the blood stream. After a while, the resistance to insulin's message becomes so strong that the body's insulin doesn't do anything. This is called Diabetes. So stay away from carb loading as an everyday diet. Only use it the day before competition if at all.
You made good progress since your last post. Carb loading also leads to weight gain, so maybe you could talk about that as well. I suggest that you find more information on the effects of carb loading, because right now you have only talked about one. So
ReplyDeletehow do people know how much to consume if nothing is calculated? You found some good information. Keep it up.
- Abhay Aanabathula
Rahul your research seems to be in par with your goal, and the information you provided is very useful. I can really connect with the information you provided since I am a athlete as well. Other possible factors you can talk about in regards to carb-loading is the negative effects/long term usage of a carbohydrate meal. Overall your research was well conducted and I was wondering how you were going to incorporate this research into calculating how much carbs should be in our diets. Again, very well done and keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete- Shayan Moraveji