Out of Control Fatroll

Since cutting back on my caloric intake I’ve noticed that I haven’t had the energy I once had when lifting weights.  To remedy this I asked our Wellness Coordinator at work about what would give me a nice burst of energy without consuming a ridiculous amount of calories.  One of the suggestions he made was to swallow a couple of tablespoons of honey before I head out to the gym.  I had never heard of using honey for anything other than remedying a cold or preventing allergies, so I was intrigued.

Back in the day the ancient Greek and Roman athletes supplemented their diets with honey to increase strength and stamina.  Today, most of us don’t think of it as an integral part of our diet so the National Honey Board has released a study that proves honey’s ability to give athletes a boost before and after their workout.  This research shows that “honey may help tired muscles recover more quickly after heavy exercise.” 

whfoods.com had such an interesting take on the benefits of honey during sleep and exercise that I had to reference this entire bullet point:

Honey may promote better blood sugar control. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose “unlocks” the enzyme from the liver cell’s nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells). An adequate glycogen store in the liver is essential to supply the brain with fuel when we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise. When glycogen stores are insufficient, the brain triggers the release of stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – in order to convert muscle protein into glucose. Repeated metabolic stress from cortisol produced when less than optimal liver glycogen stores are available during sleep, leads over time, to impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, diabetes, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity.

I don’t know about you but I will definitely be keeping my honey bear handy from now on!