Insulin and Muscle Growth

By: Marylin Salgado

April 26, 2019

What is Insulin?

Insulin is a natural hormone we all have in our bodies. It is produced in the pancreas and helps regulate the amount of sugar that travels through the blood. When the pancreas can’t produce a normal amount of insulin, then the result is either Diabetes Type I or Type II.

Type I Diabetes, or insulin dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces no insulin. In such a case, synthetic insulin is given to the individual to regulate high blood levels in the body.

Type II Diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes, is regulated with diet. In this case, the pancreas produces some insulin, but not enough to maintain normal levels of blood sugar.

What is the Pancreas?

The pancreas is located within the abdominal cavity. Its main function is to convert food into energy to help fuel our body’s cells. It also helps in digestion and as described above, regulate blood sugar by the production of insulin.

How does insulin affect muscle growth?

Insulin is responsible for muscle growth and the storage of muscle glycogen. – Clay Hyght, DC Glycogen serves as a form of energy storage. Insulin, combined with amino acids, stimulates muscle protein syntheses. Amino acids can stimulate these reactions on their own. Therefore, the use of insulin is dangerous and if abused, can cause death.

The reason why insulin is such an attractive additive to muscle gainers is because adding insulin to testosterone or human growth hormone assists in muscle growth. With the assistance of steroids to build muscle, insulin will prevent the new muscle from breaking down. The use of steroids is also dangerous in its own way.

Side effects of using Synthetic Insulin

 

• Swelling of your arms and legs

• Low blood sugar (remember, insulin is used to regulate blood sugar when it is high)

• Weight gain

• Hunger, thus causing weight gain

• Trouble concentrating

• Blurred vision

• Slurred speech

• Other side effects not noted

 

More serious side effects of Synthetic Insulin use

• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Nightmares or crying out in your sleep
• Confusion, including delirium
• Heart failure with the following symptoms:

 

• Shortness of breath

• Swelling of your ankles or feet

• Additional weight gain

 

Given the above side effects, it would make me wonder why anyone would risk their lives to achieve muscle growth. Let’s be honest, we don’t need big muscles to be healthy, but they are attractive. So, let’s discuss some safer ways to encourage the insulin in our bodies to naturally help us with muscle growth.

As discussed before, insulin is crucial for muscle growth. But, too much release of insulin will make you gain weight. Here are some simple rules to follow so you can maximize your body’s natural ability to produce and release insulin.

Let’s first discuss a few important components that assist with insulin.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. There are two types of carbohydrates; high glycemic index carbs and low glycemic index carbs. The high GI carbs release sugar into the blood more quickly. Hence why diabetics have a carb limited diet. The low GI carbs, break down more slowly and release sugar into the blood slowly, allowing the individual to feel fuller and more satisfied after having a meal.

High glycemic index foods

• Donuts, bagels, and white bread
• Parsnips
• Pumpkins
• Fruits and Vegetables that have ripened have a high GI
• French fries
• White rice
• Watermelon
• Instant Oatmeal
• Corn Syrup products
• Puffed rice
• Table sugar
• Soda or Pop

Low glycemic index foods

• Stone ground whole wheat
• Oatmeal or muesli
• Barley
• Pasta
• Sweet Potatoes or Yams
• Peas, legumes and lentils
• Non – starchy vegetables, carrots
• Lima beans and Chickpea

What does this all mean to those of us wanting to gain muscle?

If choosing to go low or high, for most meals, go low. This will help control weight gain, maintain energy levels and reduce spikes in blood sugar. Eating high GI foods will cause a spike in sugar and energy, but also a quick crash and drained out feeling. That rush of sugar going through your blood will convert into fat, thus allowing weight gain to happen.The best option is to eat low GI foods before a work out.

If your goal is to gain mass, then the best time to eat high GI foods is in your morning breakfast. Your body has gone without food for several hours while you sleep, so the best thing to do at this time is to give it a nice boost of carbs and sugar. If you are trying to lose weight, then this type of regimen would not be advisable.

 

Another time to take high GI foods is 30 to 45 minutes after a workout. The high GI intake, along with 30 to 40 grams of TokkyoNutrition Protein and one scoop of TokkyoNutrtion Creatine will help spike insulin levels and drive those carbs and amino acids into the muscle to stimulate muscle growth.

If you are or know of someone using synthetic insulin, please stop and/or advise them of the dangers of this medication, including death. Insulin can cause hypoglycemia, or very low blood sugars. A normal blood sugar is between 80 and 100. Hypoglycemia can begin at levels below 70. Critically low blood sugars can cause sweating, nausea and feeling shaky. Some individuals lose consciousness, may have seizures, go into a coma, and even die. While some numbers are critically low for some, some individuals may not go into a coma, even with blood sugars in their 20’s. Even so, for a healthy individual, adding something to your body not needed can greatly increase the risks.

This platform is meant to educate Tokkyo Nutrition consumers with the information needed to help you stay mentally and physically healthy.

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Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/types-of-diabetes-mellitus#1

https://www.t-nation.com/diet-fat-loss/insulin-advantage

https://www.healthline.com/health/regular-insulin-injectable-solution

https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/the-muscle-building-messenger-complete-guide-to-insulin.html