turbozed
Senior Member
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- Mar 21, 2006
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You're confusing the issue into cortisol = bad when it's a lot more complex than that. And carbs don't lower cortisol levels -- insulin and cortisol aren't really opposing hormones. Carbs may assist in protein uptake (this is often overstated), but that's a product of insulin and overall energy balance and has little to do with cortisol levels.
This is another causation issue that's so often confused by people.
No I realize cortisol has many other functions than just promoting gluconeogenesis. I was just mentioning that because that's the explanation for the 'carbs after workout' theory. So you're saying that depleting (and restoring) stored muscle glycogen has no effect on cortisol levels? Does it (depletion of muscle glycogen and blood glucose) also have no effect on gluconeogenesis (and the 'unwanted' muscle protein breakdown)?
In other words, would the theory be sound if it weren't for cortisol tossed in this mix? I've always understood that physical exercise increases cortisol levels, and that cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis so I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that they were involved in the same process. If it isn't, and the fact is merely ancillary, then that would explain the confusion.
Thanks for clarifying your stance. No need to get E-motional over nothing.