It’s always fun to have a sweet treat when you’re on your bike ride. It gives you that extra push to get back to the gym, or maybe just climb that hill once again. But what if we told you there could be a downside to having those treats? Well, there is, and it’s called sugar. Many of our favorite snacks are loaded with sugar. And the more of them you consume in one sitting, the more detrimental they can become. This is especially true when it comes to foods that are high in fructose – like fruit juices and sodas – which quickly enter your bloodstream and cause a surge of glucose as soon as they hit your tongue. According to a study published by The American Society for Nutrition , high levels of fructose consumption have been linked with insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and increased risk for metabolic syndrome (which includes high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels).
Butter and margarine
One of the biggest food threats that cyclists face is the high carbohydrate content found in butter and margarine. The reason is simple: these foods are almost entirely composed of fat, which is one of the most dangerous components of a sport diet. These foods contain high levels of saturated fat, which can lead to fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and an increased risk for metabolic syndrome. What’s worse, these aren’t rare occurrences; they’re more common than you think. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 60% of US adults are at risk for fatty liver disease.
Cakes and cookies
Another common threat to your cycling diet is the high sugar content found in many cakes and cookies. While these treats look innocent enough, they’re often loaded with refined sugar, which is highly detrimental to your cycling health. Refined sugar causes an immediate surge of glucose in your blood, which can lead to insulin resistance and disordered insulin levels. This, in turn, can cause fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome.
Fried foods
Fried foods are also a potential cycling threat, as they’re often high in saturated fat and dishes like this are almost entirely composed of fat. Fried foods like french fries and chicken tend to have a high carbohydrate content and are almost entirely composed of fat. This means they’re also high in saturated fat, which can lead to fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
Dairy desserts, such as ice cream and fudge
While these are commonly seen as cycling treats, they’re also a sneaky cycling threat. Dairy desserts usually have a high sugar content, which can lead to metabolic syndrome. This includes ice cream, fudge, and other treats made with refined sugar, as well as milk, yogurt, and other dairy products. This is dangerous for cyclists because these foods are frequently eaten after intense training sessions, which are high in sugar and can rapidly spike insulin levels. This can cause insulin resistance, which is one of the most dangerous cycling threats you can face.
Sweets made with refined sugar
Sugar is often seen as the big enemy in cycling diets – and for good reason. It’s the main ingredient found in energy drinks, chocolate bars, and other sugary foods. But did you know that refined sugar is also dangerous to cyclists? Foods that contain refined sugar can cause a rapid rise in glucose in your blood, which can lead to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Alcoholic drinks
Now we’re getting into some serious cycling threats. First off, let’s talk about alcohol itself. It’s obviously not good for you, regardless of whether you ride a bike or not. But the dangerous part is how quickly it enters your bloodstream while you’re riding your bike. Many alcoholic drinks are high in sugar, sometimes as much as 10% of the drink’s volume. And since these drinks are almost entirely composed of sugar, they’re also high in refined carbohydrates, which can lead to metabolic syndrome. In fact, a study published by The American Journal of Cardiology found that drinking alcohol is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
Baked goods and other starchy foods
Some baked goods are loaded with refined sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, like refined flour and hydrogenated fats. These ingredients can cause insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which is dangerous to cyclists. Bread is one of these foods. White/wheat bread, as well as other foods made from refined flour, are almost entirely composed of carbohydrates. This means they’re also very high in refined sugar and refined flour, which can cause insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Bottom line
Cycling foods are a threat to cyclists’ health for many reasons, one of which being the high sugar content found in many foods. The most dangerous foods are those that are high in sugar, refined flour, or other refined carbohydrates.
