No doubt you’ve heard the term GDA or Glucose Disposal Agent. There’s two other terms that mean the same thing. They are insulin mimickers and nutrient partitioners. All these terms are important to know. The reason for this is because supplement companies and websites use them interchangeably. Without this tidbit of knowledge, you may be scratching your head trying to understand the different terms. When I researched this article, I found no one went out of their way to clarify that.
Glucose Disposal Agent Defined
So, what is a GDA? It is a supplement that helps your body store carbohydrates in the muscles. This is in contrast to carbs being stored as fat. Think about the possibilities. Exciting, right?
The Role Of Carbohydrates
Of the three macronutrients, carbohydrates is the one the body prefers to use for energy. This means taking in most of your carbs around workouts is ideal. This is especially true if you follow a low-carb diet. Following this idea will give you more training energy.
What is the role of carbohydrates in relation to a GDA? First of all, let’s look at carbohydrates themselves. Carbs consist of three components. They are carbons, hydrogens, and oxygens. When we eat carbohydrates, digestion begins right away. Digestion completes in the small intestine by an enzyme known as amylase. This enzyme breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. From here, carbs are used as fuel. Or, they can be stored as glycogen. To do that, storage takes place in the liver and muscles for use later.
The Role Of A Glucose Disposal Agent
A Glucose Disposal Agent mimics the powerful hormone insulin. This means a good GDA will assist in transporting glucose into the muscle cells. Here they will be stored as glycogen. This in turn means less insulin is released after a high carb meal. As noted, you should take in most of your carb intake around the workout. Therefore, you should take a GDA with your pre-workout meal.
You should also take a Glucose Disposal Agent with your heaviest carb meals. It’s not hard to make your highest carb meal several hours before your workout. Make sure you allow enough digestion time. Taking A GDA with your pre-workout meal makes sense. It will mean more glycogen will be available for training energy. It also means improved endurance and performance. As a result, this can lead to more muscle growth.
Another benefit of carbohydrates is that they pull water into the muscles. This creates water-based pumps. However, what if you use a Glucose Disposal Agent at other times of the day? It will help keep blood glucose levels stable. Additionally, it will also support recovery.
Are There Other Times To Use A GDA?
Other times to use a GDA would be if you’re doing a clean bulk. Bodybuilders eating a lot of food may find themselves feeling tired. This is because fasted blood glucose increases because of eating a lot of carbs. Most importantly, a Glucose Disposal Agent ensures high carb meals are supporting muscle growth.
What about fat loss? Fat loss isn’t as simple as calories in vs calories out. Hormones play a major role in fat loss. They influence how our body responds to fat loss efforts. Insulin transports glucose to be stored as fat. A GDA will lower the need for insulin release.
What Are The Key Ingredients Of A GDA?
Here’s a list of the most common ingredients you’ll see in a Glucose Disposal Agent.
Gymnema Sylvestre – This herb is a traditional herb used in India. It supports stable blood sugar levels. Furthermore, it also helps transport carbs into the muscle cells. In addition, carbs pull in lots of water for full, pumped muscles. (1)
Banaba Leaf – This herb is a potent insulin mimicker. It increases glucose delivery to the muscles. Of course, this means more training energy. Additionally, it improves insulin sensitivity. (2)
Berberine – This herb has a reputation for its ability to lower blood glucose levels. It increases the absorption of glucose into muscle cells. (3)
Cinnamon Extract – Cinnamon helps decrease blood glucose levels. Of course, it’s also a common addition to numerous recipes and foods. (4)
Alpha Lipoic Acid – This is a powerful antioxidant. It’s involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates. They are then used as energy. (5)
Chromium – This essential mineral regulates glucose metabolism.
In conclusion, Glucose Disposal Agents can be an important addition to your supplement arsenal. First, they allow you to eat more carbs. Second, they shuttle carbs into the muscle. Moreover, this pulls more water into the muscles. To sum up, this means more energy and great pumps.
There are several Glucose Disposal Agents available right here at illpumpyouup.com. Check them out today!
References:
- Ulbricht, Catherine & Rae Abrams, Tracee & Basch, Ethan & Davies-Heerema, Theresa & Foppa, Ivo & Hammerness, Paul & Rusie, Erica & Tanguay-Colucci, Shaina & Taylor, Sarah & Varghese, Minney & Weissner, Wendy & Woods, Jen. (2011). An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Gymnema ( Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Journal of dietary supplements. 8. 311-30. 10.3109/19390211.2011.597977.
- Judy, W., Hari, S., Stogsdill, W., Judy, J., Naguib, Y. and Passwater, R. (2003). Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol™) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves in Type II diabetics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87(1), pp.115-117.
- https://examine.com/supplements/berberine/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5067830/
- Shay, K. P., Moreau, R. F., Smith, E. J., Smith, A. R., & Hagen, T. M. (2009, October). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756298/
By Jim Brewster