[pct-l] Fructose vs glucose, sucrose; muscle sparring

["Joanne Lennox" <goforth@cio.net>]

The reason I use energy bars is not simply because they have sugar in them.
And all energy bars are not created equal.

The body's insulin response is completely different for fructose than it is
for glucose. a high insulin response can lead to a lot of things: sugar
blues, hypoglycemia, increased hunger, cravings for more sugars (and
usually fats), increased fat storage, and changes in cholesterol levels in
the blood.  You might try reading "Bodyfueling" by Robyn Landis (mostly
about wieght loss).  Also check out the Glycemic Index site by Rick
Mendosa.  Different people have slightly different responses to different
sugars as well. Kevin Sayers UltRUNR site also has some clarification on
how the glycemic index should be used while exercising.  Some of the
fructose based bars are not appropriate while you are actually doing heavy
exercise ( I find that I can eat them going downhill but not going up.),
but they have a lot of other nuitrients that are needed (like chromium)
which Snickers do not have.

The main reason that I have carried the Metr-X bar is for the protein it
contains.  It is very important to eat enough protein when you are
exercising day after day, and you need some about every four hours or so. 
The body does not store protein, like it stores sugar and fat.( liver and
muscle glycogen), and fat and sugar can not be converted into protein.  If
the body does not have enough protein , it goes to the muscles and starts
to "eat" them.  Once muscles are reduced in order satisfy metabolic needs,
it is difficult to build them back up, especially if you are older and your
level of growth hormone is proportionately lower.  Poor diet, lack of sleep
and rest (factors affecting levels of growth hormone) aggravate the process
of muscle build up. Waiting until dinner or for your package in town for
the protein you need is not a very good idea.  When Brick told the funny
story about losing 20 pounds and then not being able to get his jeans over
his thighs after the thru hike, I and my husband got a good laugh, but I
also knew that he had been fairly careful about his protein intake.  And
the Power Gainers 100 for breakfast might not be such a bad idea,
especially if you alternate with some other protein sources so that you
don't get tired of this particular source.  Of course, you can also take
too much protein which reduces energy and the protein has to be excreted
through the kidneys.

Snickers are my 30 year standard energy bar.  I used to count up the number
of days I would be out, add the number of summits I was aiming for and put
that number of Snickers bars in my pack.

I don't think that my body has that much resilience anymore; and I think
that a reliance on them as a primary energy source for my thru hike, would
be to jepardize the outcome.  I will take them as a treat.

Peace,
Goforth
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