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What about T?

September 28, 2005 10:57 AM

I have had a somewhat flaky internet connection for the past few weeks, so I have not had much to say about the comments. But, the discussion of my post on Jump Squats brings me to say a few things.

1. Free testosterone is not the active form of T. T must be bound to a carrier to be taken to sites where it can be active. There seems to be a correlation between free and bound T, but it may be weak. So, don't place too much emphasis on free T. My free T is not high, but I can build muscle just looking at a barbell. Over the years, my body has learned how to do this. And, all my hormones are in the right sort of balance to signal muscle building rather than fat building.

2. The dietary intake, measured as macro-nutrients (CHO, protein, fat) is so crude I would not place much reliance on it. And, as noted by Fong, the dairies on which they are based are notoriously inaccurate.

3. Not all CHO is equal. The Chinese CHO intake is primarily complex CHO, though there may be a fair amount of rice (I forget the details of the study that became popular on this topic a few years ago) in it. Rice and other grasses contain a lot of mineral-sequestering substances, such as phytic acid, and these inhibit skeletal development, hence short stature of the Chinese Fong mentions. Deficient protein, plants contain about 14 per cent protein, is also a factor.

4. I actually eat a lot of CHO, but it is all in plant form such as vegetables and fruit. CHO that contains water is a good guide to CHO that has both low glycemic index (low obesity promoting potential) and low inhibition of mineral metabolism.

5. In any event, you won't gain muscle based on what you eat.

6. Fasting actually potentiates gene expression for building muscle tissue. Another reason to work out on an empty stomach. A morning work out after an over night fast is quite effective for this.

· Evolutionary Fitness

Comments

Posted by: Flower Online [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 12, 2006 2:57 AM

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