Low GI better than High GI for 10-mile performance

[Scott Kustes]

Maximising energy for sporting performance

They found that the participant who followed a Low Glycemic Index (LGI) diet showed significant improvements in running performance as opposed to those who followed a High Glycemic Index (HGI) diet, which the researchers attributed to increases in blood glucose during the trial time.

I wonder what the "Potatoes and Pasta" crowd would have to say about this.

[Mike ODonnell]

I'm not a big fan of the whole GI thing....since if you are eating a proper protein/fat/carb ratio that should control your blood sugar anyways...it only matters if you are doing carbs alone and that shouldn't be the option. Already studies out there with the chocolate milk theory...that mix protein+carbs is better than carbs alone for recovery and performance.

[Scott Kustes]

I tend to agree with you Mike, but I do think the GI can provide a framework for nutrition. I think companies like NutriSystem blow it out of proportion talking about "the breakthrough science of the glycemic index which seperates good carbs from bad" (have seen that commercial way too many times). Whether high GI or low GI, all fruits and vegetables have a place in a nutrition plan...none are inherently bad. But you can use the GI to figure out what to eat and when. I would think that ceteris paribus, GI holds some water. For instance, two meals of 50g protein, 25g fat, and 50g carbs...the one with lower GI carbs will probably be more filling (due to bulk) and exhibit less of a glucose increase.

[Steve Liberati]

Originally Posted by Scott Kustes

I wonder what the "Potatoes and Pasta" crowd would have to say about this.

Nothing...most of them are deceased mainly as a result of following this kind of lifestyle for years. Contrary to popular belief, long distance running coupled with high carb diets have proven to be detrimental to one's health.

My grand-pop who ran marathons for years and regularly ate high gi carbs now has an array of health problems in his old age, including Parkinson's disease. God forbid someone ever suggested long-distance running or his diet played a major factor...they would be looked at as some quack who couldn't tell the difference between his ( )( ) and a hole in the ground.

So I just keep my mouth shut and go about my business as the doctors continue to blame everything on his old age and leech off the insurance companies who keep raising the premiums to suck every last penny from my grandparents pension and savings. In the end it boils down to a screwed up system that works for the select few with little hope of changing anytime soon.