Originally Posted by micromuscles

RIght I read insulin is very anabolic?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

But sugar is unhealthy and catabolic?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

Low carbs can increase growth hormone leves

Originally Posted by micromuscles

Sugar decreases testosterone levels?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

Insulin is realeased when you eat high carbs/sugar?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

Sugar is unhealthy, cuases disease and diabetes?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

High insulin levels are unehalthy?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

So, if sugar is bad for you and carbs are in general not so healthy

Originally Posted by micromuscles

but insulin is very anabolic and good for msucle growth whats an ideal sugar/carb intake?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

Some health freaks woudl suggest minimal carbs for healthy living..such as our preshistoric ancsetsors ate little carbs etc...and pure sugar is bad?

Originally Posted by micromuscles

However, if carbs lead to higher insulin levels...which is very anabolic but at the same time unhealthy whats that all about?

Originally Posted by m11

Yes, it facilitates the uptake of glucose by your liver, muscle tissue, fat cells.

'Sugar' is a term that includes a variety of molecules. The term 'table sugar' (i.e. the stuff that you buy in the grocery store and use to bake etc) is made up of glucose and fructose. When you see "sugar" on a nutrition label, this is what it refers to.

The 'sugar' that is found in 'starchy' foods (e.g. pasta, bread, crackers etc.) is generally made up of glucose polymers (i.e. a bunch of glucose molecules 'glued' together).

Excessive fructose intake can lead to a variety of health issues (think: high fructose corn syrup). "fructose and health issues" is something you can google.

As a result, I suppose we can call fructose 'unhealthy'.

In terms of being catabolic? Sugar is anabolic. When it's not used, it'll be stored as fat. Regarding fructose: your body cannot use it to refill liver glycogen or provide your brain energy, so it'll be more readily stored to fat then glucose.


Well, high blood sugar inhibits growth hormone release


Actually, the opposite. Chronic hypoglycemia may decrease your body's release of luitenizing hormone. LH binds to the leydig cells in your testes stimulating the release of LH.

Yes, insulin is responsible for removing the necessary amount of sugar from your blood.

Well, not quite. Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. That is, eating sugar doesn't directly cause you to develop diabetes. However, excess intake of fructose can lead to insulin resistance (you should know this from googling from what I suggested that you to google). Diabetes is just a high degree of insulin resistance. Additionally, obesity also promotes insulin resistance -- this is why most people with diabetes are fat.

If you take in sugar, insulin is released to facilitate the sugar's movement into the liver, fat cells, or muscle tissue. That's just the mechanism that exists. In simple terms, insulin blunts your bodies ability to extract fat from fat cells. If your goal is optimal fat loss, you'd probably want to keep insulin levels relatively 'low'.

Additionally, because the majority of the United States, is overweight or obese, that suggests that the majority of the United States is probably insulin resistant. Excessive stimulation of insulin in insulin resistant individuals causes issues that you've found by now from your fructose/insulin resistance/health issues google search.



It's not so much that carbs are 'unhealthy', it's just that the majority of people are fat, insulin resistant, and overeat. By telling people that they shouldn't eat carbs (from a physiological standpoint, carbs aren't needed by your body) this will force people eat less by removing a whole bunch of food options. Additionally, many find it tough to feel full if they have to decrease their fat or protein intake in order to make room for carbs, and because carbs aren't necessary, it's usually just recommended to decrease their carb intake to allow for sufficient fat and protein intake.



Their is no ideal. Put in some effort, and figure out what works best for you.



Blanket statement such as 'don't eat carbs' exist because they sell magazines and because it is easier to say that than address many individual cases. Most people don't track their intake.



If your goals is optimal fat loss, it would be preferred to maintain 'low' insulin levels for reasons that I mentioned above.

Insulin isn't 'unhealthy' --- from an fat loss optimization standpoint, it just works against the majority of peoples' goals. The majority of people (and where the money is) are trying to lose fat, not increase body weight.