Dextrose and Corn Syrup – Other Reasons To Buy
DEXTROSE AND CORN SYRUP – OTHER REASONS TO BUY
While most of you are aware of the benefits of using dextrose in beer and spirits brewing (cleaner flavours, less impurities), you may be unaware that it is also used in the fitness and body building industry, to assist in post-training recovery and in cooking to help fight weight gain. We are seeing more and more people visiting our stores to purchase dextrose and corn syrup (Maltodextrin) for other than brewing purposes and thought we might provide you with a little background on why.
Use in Weight Training and Fitness
Dextrose (aka glucose) is a high GI (Glycemic Index) type of simple carbohydrate. Dextrose is used by bodybuilders and athletes to induce an insulin spike and replace glycogen in muscle cells which is lost during training.
Dextrose rates very high on the glycemic index meaning that it enters our system extremely fast and so stimulates a high insulin response very quickly. Insulin is a very anabolic hormone as it takes not only glucose to muscle cells, but proteins, amino acids and other essential nutrients such as creatine and glutamine. Etc
While dextrose is most commonly used by people trying to gain muscle and weight, it can also be used by endurance athletes. Typically a lower dose will be used and taken gradually before and during training with 600ml – 1ltr of water. (Note that it is also essential to ensure adequate sodium intake when consuming this much fluid).
Studies have shown that the optimal amount of dextrose needed to induce an insulin spike post workout is 60-75g. Dextrose is particularly effective when mixed with creatine, whey protein and glutamine. The insulin spike created by dextrose will move nutrients from these other supplements into the muscle cells very fast.
Maltodextrin, aka Corn Syrup, used in beer brewing, is a complex carbohydrate, and is also used post workout mixed with dextrose to replenish glycogen stores in the muscles. It is also used as a low calorie sweetener instead of artificial sweeteners, and because it technically is not a sugar, companies can call their products “sugar-free”.
(Ref:www.muscleandstrength.com)
Dextrose in Cooking - Replacing Sucrose
We have also been getting a lot of people also visiting our stores to buy Dextrose for cooking, and the reason is almost the opposite of above.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Big Bad in our diets is not fat so much, but sugar. And specifically the fructose form of sugar. Our bodies do not have an appetite regulator for fructose, and so the more we eat, the more we want to eat - and we all know what that leads to.
Unfortunately fructose makes up exactly half of sucrose - the bog-standard 'table sugar' that we spoon onto our breakfast, into our coffee, that fills our soft drinks, ice creams, cakes, and ... well, so many other foods it's actually a bit scary.
So is there a better alternative to sugar/sucrose? The answer, according to many is yes, use dextrose. Dextrose (Glucose) is the other half of sucrose, and our bodies do have a regulator for dextrose. What that means is that when we have had enough dextrose, a hormone is released which stops us from wanting more. So dextrose is good to use instead of regular table-sugar, and can be used in cooking with a minor adjustment to recipes.
And you might find that as you start using Dextrose instead of sugar, your desire for sweet things might start to drop off!
(Ref: http://www.squidoo.com/cooking-with-dextrose)
If you are thinking about purchasing Dextrose and Maltodextrin, drop in and talk to us. From the comments made by the body builders who visit us, the price of these items at Brewers Choice stores is a fraction of what Supplement and health food stores charge!
