Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[dangermouse]

Been learning about caffeine, adrenaline etc. and found that adrenaline (and stimulants like caffeine and oestrogen) will make you feel alert (in a good way) but only turns to a stress response (jittery, palps etc.) if there isn't enough glucose in your liver. Hence, the reason energy drinks balance caffeine and sugar and make you feel good as opposed to if you had the equivalent in caffeine in a strong coffee and would feel jittery.

I know many of you here, particularly CLKD, points out the importance of eating every few hours to keep the stress down. So I was wondering if you might try an experiment and when you next get the horrible jitters to have a large amount of sugar (fruits, fruit juices, cola etc. rather than slower carbs) to see if this relaxes you more.

Let us know if you try it and how you get on!

[Nellendra]

I'll try it. I'll try bl@@dy anything to get rid of anxiety!
Xx

[Taz2]

 Interesting point but I think the jitteriness would be relieved for a while but then surely the blood sugar would plunge even further meaning you would have to have more sugar? Not sure it would be good for the adrenals?

Taz x

[CLKD]

I use Dextrose when necessary.  Or thick slabs of fruit cake when walking.  Staves the stomach.

[dangermouse]

 Interesting point but I think the jitteriness would be relieved for a while but then surely the blood sugar would plunge even further meaning you would have to have more sugar? Not sure it would be good for the adrenals?

Taz x

Oh yes, the instant sugar test is more to check if its what the body is needing. The theory is that adrenal stress is already happening from the lack of sugar to support the excess stimulation, so its to replenish what should already be there. Perhaps longer term, enough carbs needs to be consumed to keep the liver topped up with glycogen as more is needed when the adrenals have more demand on them.

I used to do intermittent fasting and this starts off making you feel great as you are getting an adrenal rush of energy from the extended ketosis state (beyond the one we naturally have during sleep) but months later my adrenal glands struggled to cope with the low sugar state and it no longer made me feel good.

I got used to fearing sugar, thinking it was bad for me, but not having enough I'm sure is equally bad for us.

[Hurdity]

We don't need to eat sugar! I agree with Taz that it's not a good idea to get the body used to surges of sugar taken externally and slow release foods surely are the way to go otherwise we can develop insulin resistance and as Taz says need more sugar.  Our body is designed to function properly and produce sugar when we need it! I don't go along with the idea of struggling adrenals as such -  we should control stress by natural means.

Hurdity x

[Tempest]

Oh dear me, no!!! Not sugar. Low GI foods yes, to keep blood sugar stable but not great big sugar surges or you'll get an even bigger crash later!

[CLKD]

Oh give me     

I survived on chocolate buttons at a time when I wouldn't eat much else!  Chocolate has minerals etc. and in small amounts is good for us ……… it's the only food stuff that melts at body temperature.  I have eaten lots of honey over the years though I've 'gone off' it recently.  I love it when it's sugary.

When walking I notice low blood sugar because I set off too fast  , don't pace myself and then get that awful nausea ….. s we always carry lots of quick fixes as well as cooked, cooled pasta or rice mixes . 

A varied diet should give us what we require but as we don't in general exercise as our bodies are built to do >shrug< ….. we don't burn it off …….. when I think of what my Grandparents ate and how much exercise they did, maybe there's a lesson there?  Also, the times I eat has changed to when I was growing up in that our cooked meals were at noon and a lighter supper was served around 6.00 p.m.  Anyone else changed when they eat their mains?

[dangermouse]

It's not about excess sugar, it's about keeping glycogen stores topped up if they're too low. It's all about balance.

Also, if there are any women like me who favoured protein over carbs and/or have done any intermittent fasting then this can play havoc with the adrenals when your glycogen stores are running on empty. Yes we can get energy from fat but it's an emergency way to get it so once again it evokes a stress response.

I'm having more fresh carrot and beetroot juice for example and am feeling more balanced already. Slow carbs are great but they won't digest as fully as glucose and fructose because of the fibre, so you may not be as topped up as you think.

If the test works for you then you know for sure what is lacking and can then look into healthy ways of keeping glycogen topped up.

[Tempest]

I get you, dangermouse!

Yes, this sounds like an idea to test to see if this is the case. I'll give it a go myself. Anything has to be worth a try.

[dahliagirl]

Off to test it by having some breakfast 

Regular meals with slow release carbs are the way forward - I feel better on that sort of regime.

Love fruit cake - sugar rush, slow release carbs and soluble fibre for the transit problems - all in one delicious package 

[dangermouse]

Ooh, must get some fruit cake! 

[Hurdity]

As I said before, I really would not get into the habit of topping up your glycogen stores by eating sugar. It really is not the way to go! Your glycogen will be fine if you eat a normal (balanced healthy) diet and eat regularly - and in relation to the exercise you take, and if you are otherwise healthy. Slow release carbs (and fewer refined carbs generally) are definitely the way to go to regulate blood sugar levels. Athletes eat a meal of pasta the day (?evening) before an important fixture. If you are concerned with morning blood sugar, then eat slow release carbs during the evening. Also plenty of protein!

Glucose is not digested - it is absorbed straight into the blood stream as is fructose. All other foods are digested or metabolised in some way and we are designed to work like this, and not to eat pure glucose!

Nice idea dangermouse - but in this case Tempest - I would say it is not really "worth a try" for reasons Taz and I have already given. Glucose tablets and the like should only be reserved for diabetics or very occasionally for those who get reactive hypoglycaemia and might suddenly find themselves with the shakes and sweats in an inconvenient place with no time to sit down and eat something slow release.

CLKD - if you are getting low blood sugar very soon after exercise ie walking fast - then you are not eating enough slow release foods or at the right time. My weak time energy wise is morning so I try to eat a big breakfast and often something else mid morning, as well as a medium sized lunch.

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

 Yep.  That's why Dextrose is my go-to followed by cake  - over the years I have learned how to manage it by carrying energy bars as used by Pro-cylists etc..

[Mojo61]

Good old fashioned porridge is a great breakfast food as it releases the carbs slowly.