Hello Pacers,
Unlike Joy I’m not really one for the social media, but I have recently come across something that I think will be of interest to many of you especially those keen on torturing yourselves by running silly distances (i.e. any distance greater than 6.2 miles). I expect some of you may have come across it as it has been available in the US for a couple of years. It is not just another sports energy concoction that messes with your gut and causes sugar highs and consequential slumps, which I’m sure we all know are best left on Asda’s shelf. It is made by a small company, the owners of which, (a team of scientists) developed the product to treat Glycogen Storage Disease a very rare congenital disorder, a baby born with GSD cannot release glycogen (the storage form of energy) from its liver, which used to result in death.
GSD babies are now being successfully treated with this product which is described as a “hydrothermally modified starch” HMS is a giant glucose polymer up to 2,000 times larger than any other simple or complex carb, in effect it is a (very slow) time release glucose which has little or no impact on blood sugar and therefore no resultant rush of insulin, is easily and rapidly absorbed with no gastrointestinal impact.
A sports nutritionist came across HMS and realised that this substance is exactly what was needed to overcome the basic problem athletes encounter of not being able to access energy from fat cells whilst processing carbs (because fat cells cannot be unlocked when insulin is present in the blood). Tests were carried out on some top cyclists, a new company was formed and now HMS is available to sports men and women.
What this means, say for a marathon runner, is that by not taking carbs on board they will be able to cruise on energy from fat cells all day if necessary without hitting “the wall” or risking hypoglycaemia and yet always have glycogen available for a steep hill or a sprint finish.
Below is a link to the website of Dr Peter Attia, the video lasts for an hour and I urge you to watch it to improve understanding of how your body manages and utilises energy. If what some top coaches and sports people are saying about it is true it could change your running for ever.
eatingacademy.com/sports-and-nutrition/i...o-superstarch-part-i
David Elliott