Sugar rush and crash

Sugar rush and crash is a phenomenon seen in many people that have a diet high in glycemic index, more specifically glycemic load.

The sudden rise in glucose after a high glycemic load triggers rapid release of the hormone insulin so that the body can start utilizing the glucose at the same time as keeping the blood glucose levels under control.

Sugar rush and crash and overeating
The rapid absorption of glucose after consumption of foods that are high in glycemic index meals induces a sequence of hormonal and metabolic changes, especially sugar rush and crash, leading to overeating.

Sugar rush and crash and insulin resistance
As the body can become resistant to the actions of the very anabolic hormone called insulin, this sugar rush and crash is believed to contribute to the commonly seen process called insulin resistance.

Sugar rush and crash and weight gain
The compensation for insulin resistance is to increase the production of this anabolic hormone - insulin which in turn makes one gain weight. The excessive levels of insulin can also cause metabolic starvation which in turn lead to ones own fat stores unavailable in between the meals.

Sugar rush and crash and metabolic starvation
An analogy to this metabolic starvation would to think of having a Swiss bank account where you can deposit money but lost the password to retrieve it back. This metabolic starvation that is seen in many of the obese or overweight people is what drives their overeating.

Most people including many medical professionals, fail to understand this metabolic starvation in the obese and therefore, blame the victim.

Insulin resistance and weight gain
Studies have shown that up to 71 percent of the population in the United States have some degree of insulin resistance leading to their weight gain - it is not their fault but their metabolism that in fact causes them to gain weight due to the anabolic or body building effects of insulin.

Sumo Wrestlers and insulin resistance
In fact, Sumo Wrestlers in japan have been using insulin resistance as a way to gain excess weight at will as their ideal body weight for Sumo wrestling competition is between 400-600 pounds. They consume a diet rich in high glycemic carbohydrates which puts them in to insulin resistance leading to rapid weight gain.

They use this principle in animal husbandry where they feed the animal a diet rich in starches, especially corn which is high glycemic index so that the animal can gain weight rapidly!