Glycerol

Subject: Glycerol Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:41 pm

Author :Jeremy Keough

What is Glycerol?

Glycerol is a colorless, odorless, sweet tasting, syrupy liquid. It is 60% as sweet as sucrose and has a caloric value of 4.32 per gram. Glycerol is technically a sugar alcohol.

What is it? Does anyone have a clue why that suddenly a protein bar has 20 grams of carbohydrates instead of two? What about why there is a sudden "bite" feeling in the back of your throat after eating one? Lots of people don't know, and should they? Yes.

So what exactly is it? Is it a carbohydrate? Yes and no. A carbohydrate is based on simple sugars (glucose and sucrose) they are made of a simple formula (CH2O). They are polymeric compounds made up of the simple sugars and can be hydrolyzed to yield simple sugars. The disaccharides are sometimes grouped with the simpler polysaccharides (usually those made up of three or four simple sugar units) to form a class of carbohydrates called the oligosaccharides.

A carbohydrate will break down and give you a little bit of energy and used in the production of lipids (fatty acids) along with the fatty acids combined with glycerol it will form triglyceride. All carbohydrate consists of a large class of cellulose, starches, and of course sugars.

Carbohydrates are organic compounds that consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They vary from simple sugars containing from three to seven carbon atoms to very complex polymers. Only the hexoses (sugars with six carbon atoms) and pentoses (sugars with five carbon atoms) and their polymers play important roles in nutrition.

Plants manufacture and store carbohydrates as their chief source of energy. The glucose synthesized in the leaves of plants is used as the basis for more complex forms of carbohydrates. Classification of carbohydrates relates to their structural core of simple sugars, saccharides. Principal monosaccharides that occur in food are glucose and fructose. The three common disaccharides are sucrose, maltose and lactose. Polysaccharides of interest in nutrition include starch, dextrin, glycogen and cellulose.

The FDA (food and drug administration) had no choice but to list it as a carbohydrate only because there was nothing else to list it under. Now we all know why a protein bar had two grams of carbs per bar than suddenly went up to twenty-something.

A high protein bar will have about 18-25 grams of glycerol in it, but will be listed on the label now. Too much can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. Studies shown that devouring one-gram per kilo of body weight would be an accurate dosage.

I recommend not exceeding 100 grams per day. Now that you have read this I can tell you why it should not be counted as a carbohydrate. Glycerol is chemically an alcohol; it is obtained from oils and fats, and used to retain moisture from the air. Do carbohydrates do that? I think not, not even close.

I understand if you still can't comprehend what it is from my article. It is hard for me to since a lot of people didn't know what it was, including me. So I had to do a lot of research. To make it easier I thought I might as well throw in a question and answer segment of this page.

Exactly what does glycerol do to your body?

When administered orally, glycerol has a hydrating/dehydrating effect. This is based on the fact that glycerol has an ability to hold onto water, glycerol can actually absorb so much moisture that mold growths can develop unless an antiseptic is added along with the softening agent! Glycerol's water binding ability helps keep bars soft and also may be of benefit to endurance athletes and bodybuilders alike.

Endurance athletes can utilize glycerol in conjunction with extra water prior to an event in order to support hydration and therefore enhance performance. The recommended dosage for accomplishing "super-hydration" range varies and each individual should experiment sufficiently prior to use during competition. For reference, start with approximately 1-gram glycerol per kilogram body weight along with an additional 1.5L - 2.0L of water, consumed 1-4 hours prior to the event.

Interestingly bodybuilders might consider taking glycerol prior to their stage appearance in lower dosages without consuming the additional water to "dry out". Leaving the water out of the equation may cause a shift of existing body water temporarily out of the tissues and into the blood.
While this ought to maybe work to obtain the shrink-wrapped look, you to definitely test it out prior to the day of the show to see how you react? Glycerol supplementation will not help those who have failed to diet properly and are covered by a small layer of blubber.

What does glycerol claim to do precisely?

There is only five things I that I could find that it is claimed to do. To easy answer this question, it claims it increases blood volume, enhances temperature regulation and improves exercise performance in the heat. Also its claimed glycerol is a sweet liquid that acts like a sponge in your body. When consumed with water or a sports drink, glycerol causes greater fluid retention than drinking water alone. Hyper hydration before exercise can reduce, delay or eliminate the negative effects of dehydration. I apologize for not giving a more descriptive answer but this is all I have at the current time.

What do you think about this whole "protein bar glycerol controversy" going on?
In my opinion, I have no problem with using glycerol as a sweetener, but I do have a problem with having to explain to my readers that the bars they are eating are mislabeled�intentionally to get you to think there are fewer carbohydrates in it than there really is. It is deceptive and dishonest and it gives the food/supplement industry a bad name. I think all of you bodybuilders will agree on this statement I offer you.

Subject: Re: Glycerol Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:46 pm

Source :nutritional supplement review

Summary
Glycerol increases hydration within cells, allowing tissues to remain hydrated during prolonged endurance exercise, when taken in combination with ample amounts of water. It's also been shown to reveal (or give the illusion of) greater muscle definition and a more vascular appearance.

Other names for Glycerol
glycerine, glycerin

Where to find Glycerol
Glycerol is found in some foods and pharmaceuticals as a sweetening agent, but the amounts are so small they aren't beneficial.

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

Why athletes use Glycerol
Endurance athletes, especially marathoners and triathletes, have found glycerol beneficial during long-term strenuous activities by preventing dehydration — a major cause of fatigue. As a "last-minute prep" before photo shoots and such, some bodybuilders and models claim it helps reduce water retention, giving the illusion of increased muscle definition and vascularity.

Ways that Glycerol can enhance Fat Loss:

Give the illusion of enhanced muscle definition and vascularity
Ways that Glycerol can enhance Energy & Endurance:

Replace lost fluids, hydrating muscle tissues to reduce fatigue and enhance performance
Lower heart rate and body temperature to support the body during endurance activities

HEALTH BENEFITS

Signs of Glycerol deficiency
No deficiency conditions are known to exist.

Potential uses for Glycerol
Research indicates that Glycerol may be useful in the treatment of:

Dehydration
Glaucoma

DISCUSSION

More about Glycerol
Glycerol is the backbone of triglycerides and phospholipids and is naturally produced in our bodies. It has become a popular supplement among endurance athletes because it appears to help prevent dehydration during long-term exercise. More recently, people more interested in showing off their physiques, such as bodybuilders and models, have found that glycerol may help make their muscles look more defined.

How it works
Preliminary studies indicate glycerol draws water into the bloodstream and holds it there, somewhat like a sponge. This can be an enormous advantage for endurance athletes because as much as three to four pounds of fluid can be lost during strenuous exercise. By replacing this fluid during exercise, we may delay fatigue and significantly boost performance levels. Recent studies also suggest glycerol may prevent the breakdown of muscle through its protein-sparing action.

Stay cool during hot competition
Staying properly hydrated can also prevent more serious conditions, such as heat exhaustion and even stroke. And it can prevent a drop in your blood plasma levels. Sufficient blood plasma levels are needed to carry vital nutrients and oxygen to muscle cells. A drop in blood plasma levels can increase the time it takes for muscles to recover after exercise, and it may make it more difficult for your skin to cool down quickly.

Studies show that athletes training for more than one hour can exercise longer and maintain a cooler body temperature longer when they supplement with a water-glycerol mixture. Drinking glycerol before exercise may reduce the amount of water lost and protect against dangerous dehydration. Drinking glycerol after exercise may help rehydrate your body more quickly for a faster recovery.

In conclusion
Glycerol's hydrating benefits and potential muscle-definition-enhancing properties may make it a powerful tool for the hard-training athlete. Especially useful when training for long periods of time in hot weather, glycerol may be a potent weapon in the fight against fatigue and dehydration.

NOTES ON USAGE

Amount
The amount of glycerol used depends more on bodyweight than anything else. Note, water intake with glycerol is also very important.

For people who weigh less than 125 lbs, 25 ml is recommended with at least 8 oz of water.
For those who weigh 125 to 200, 50 ml with at least 16 oz of water is recommended.
And those over 200 lbs may need up to 75 ml with at least 24 oz of water.
Some experts suggest even more specific amounts with greater amounts of water: about half a milliliter for every pound of bodyweight with 20 times more water than glycerol. For example, a 150-lb person would use 75 ml of glycerol with 1,500 ml of water (that is, a little over 6 cups or 100 oz).

Timing
Experts recommend taking glycerol over a period of a few hours during strenuous exercise or a half hour before exercise and again immediately after.

Synergists of Glycerol
Glycerol attracts water like a magnet and thus helps carry water throughout the body with it. Without sufficient water intake, glycerol may actually dehydrate the body, so water and glycerol must be used together.

Safety of Glycerol
Some people report bloating, nausea, and lightheadedness, so you may want to give glycerol a test run several days before competition to see how your body responds.

Toxicity of Glycerol
No known toxicity.

Bans and restrictions
None reported.