Low carb, high protein, no fat, no fruits and veggies, all fruits an veggies. Currently there is so much talk about what to eat and even more talk about what not to eat that it can leave anyone confused. One week you hear that you should eat whole wheat bread and pastas; the next week you hear not to touch the stuff. With all the talk about what to eat, it shocks me that very few people are talking about when to eat. Not necessarily time wise because most everyone knows that, but what foods to eat at those times. I did an article a few months ago about eating certain foods at certain times, but left out a very important reason why.
When it comes to body composition, your blood insulin levels is the most important thing to get a grip of. Insulin is a hormone that is released into the blood and moves around the carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The great thing about insulin is that it can bring the carbs and proteins to the muscles and promote lean muscle mass. The terrible thing about insulin is that it can store those carbs as fat. Seeing how insulin doesn't have a mind of its own and works off a chemical reaction, the food you eat and the time you eat it will determine how insulin reacts.
From time to time we want our insulin levels to spike and if you can have high levels of insulin in the muscles than you are in a great position. However, if you are in a chronic state of raised insulin levels throughout your body then you will end up developing diabetes.
The best time to have spiked insulin levels is in the mornings and especially during and following your workouts. This is because it is easier for your body to make insulin work towards muscle building rather then fat storing. Without carbs your body will not be insulin sensitive, therefore it will be hard to get any benefits from it.
I will get into insulin in greater detail tomorrow. In the meantime, go back to my January 23rd article called “Give Your Body What It Needs” and read about the Half and Half Diet. Also, do a search for Insulin Index and get an idea of what foods change insulin in what manner.
When it comes to body composition, your blood insulin levels is the most important thing to get a grip of. Insulin is a hormone that is released into the blood and moves around the carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The great thing about insulin is that it can bring the carbs and proteins to the muscles and promote lean muscle mass. The terrible thing about insulin is that it can store those carbs as fat. Seeing how insulin doesn't have a mind of its own and works off a chemical reaction, the food you eat and the time you eat it will determine how insulin reacts.
From time to time we want our insulin levels to spike and if you can have high levels of insulin in the muscles than you are in a great position. However, if you are in a chronic state of raised insulin levels throughout your body then you will end up developing diabetes.
The best time to have spiked insulin levels is in the mornings and especially during and following your workouts. This is because it is easier for your body to make insulin work towards muscle building rather then fat storing. Without carbs your body will not be insulin sensitive, therefore it will be hard to get any benefits from it.
I will get into insulin in greater detail tomorrow. In the meantime, go back to my January 23rd article called “Give Your Body What It Needs” and read about the Half and Half Diet. Also, do a search for Insulin Index and get an idea of what foods change insulin in what manner.