Thread: The value of GI and GL

Why are some foods avoided by dieting bodybuilders in favor of other foods which have a less favorable GI and GU. At a quick glance bananas and carrots (for example) seem to have a superior GI and GU when compared to oatmeal. And why do some pro bodybuilders include white rice and white potatoes in their pre-contest diets?

Originally Posted by Built

Mostly, myth and bro-school lore. And you need to define "favourable" within context. If the goal is appetite control, a slower carb might be prudent. If the goal is optimal post-workout nutrition, perhaps not.

Personally, I prefer white rice to brown and tend to avoid fruits that are high in fructose, which would include bananas. The white rice is because I use it for carb-loading, where brown would be waaaaay too much fibre. Fructose I avoid because it interferes with normal satiety responses and for me this is a disaster - I'm always hungry as it is and I certainly don't need something that makes me even hungrier!

GI and GL aren't issues of much concern to athetes. We use food like others use drugs. Sometimes the thing you really want is a "fast" carb for the insulin response, for instance post workout or when you want it to clear your body quickly and allow you to get back into ketosis. Other times, you want glucose or a glucose polymer with little or no fructose to help reglycogenate.

When you're timing your meals around your training, your priorities are quite different from those of a non-athlete who is trying to reduce systemic markers of inflammation, or a diabetic who may be trying to reduce reliance on administered insulin.

Does this help at all?

That's helpful, yes. Thanks.