For dinner, I had 3 pieces of grilled chicken and LOTS of greens (like 3 plates full). Will this cause an insulin spike at all? It probably totaled around a 1000 calories meal. Also, I've been told that whey can cause an insulin spike b/c it's absorbed so quickly. Can chicken alone or vegetables alone cause an insulin spike? Thanks

Yep....

Perhaps a little more explanation? I thought protein doesn't really affect the insulin levels that much and I heard fiber slows it down...

Also, I can only get 3 meals in a day. I don't have the time/resources to each 6 small meals. So normally 600-800 calories makes up each of my meals.

What exactly is this pertinent to? Do you have diabetes? Or are you concerned just from a weight maintenance or weight loss perspective?

I know that diabetics are told to eat every two to three hours, and a smart dietitian would tell a dieter the same thing, for a lot of the same reasons.

Ingestion of protein will raise your insulin level, yes. To what extent it "spikes" it, I'm not sure.

Basically that is what I meant....there will be a bit of an Insulin raise....probably well within "o.k." parameters. (As opposed to a deliberate simple carb-induced spike).

Are you trying to hopefully induce a spike? Or steer clear of one....:)

I'm trying to lose a some fat, so I don't really want a spike. So, I'm fine then with the previously mentioned meal? Thanks, btw!

Unless you think the insulin will ruin your energy levels or make you binge on crappy foods it matters, but as long as you're in a deficit you're going to lose weight, massive insulin spike or no.

I'm trying to lose a some fat, so I don't really want a spike. So, I'm fine then with the previously mentioned meal? Thanks, btw!


The insulin increase you'll get from meat with a fiber source like veggies is nothing like an insulin spike you'd receive from...say bread.

All right, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it. One more question out of curiosity. How many carbohydates would it take to have a spike in insulin. For example, would one piece of white bread cause a spike? How about a slice of pizza? How many carbohydrates in terms of calories and/or grams would it take for your insulin to spike? Thanks!

Oh, and also, if there is an insulin spike, how long does it usually last?

All right, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it. One more question out of curiosity. How many carbohydates would it take to have a spike in insulin. For example, would one piece of white bread cause a spike? How about a slice of pizza? How many carbohydrates in terms of calories and/or grams would it take for your insulin to spike? Thanks!

Oh, and also, if there is an insulin spike, how long does it usually last?


Yes, white bread and most pizza crusts will raise insulin. But I'm not sure you truly understand what you fear. Insulin control is a good thing, but not the end all. At times, insulin increases can be good (post workout, etc).

Also, insulin can be controlled by eating the right kind of carbs...fiberous carbs that have low GI. Or starchy carbs with significant fiber. Also, the inclusion of fat in a meal with carbs will slow the absorption of the carbs and therefore control how high insulin rises.

Yes, white bread and most pizza crusts will raise insulin. But I'm not sure you truly understand what you fear. Insulin control is a good thing, but not the end all. At times, insulin increases can be good (post workout, etc).

Also, insulin can be controlled by eating the right kind of carbs...fiberous carbs that have low GI. Or starchy carbs with significant fiber. Also, the inclusion of fat in a meal with carbs will slow the absorption of the carbs and therefore control how high insulin rises.

I thought that combining fat and carbs was the worst thing you could do for a meal. Doesn't protein slow down carb absorption?

And I still don't understand, would one slice pizza cause an insulin spike or just a raise? How about a slice of pizza? (What I am getting at is, how many simple carbs does it take to spike your insulin) And how long does an insulin spike usually last? Sorry for so many questions. I just need to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks a bunch!

Define spike? I just don't get what you are going for.

Yes, simple carbs such as the processed flour used to make the pizza dough and the sugar that's probably added to the tomato sauce will cause an insulin response...just like sugar would.

What I mean is will eating one slice of pizza vs eating two slices of pizza make a difference in the level of insulin increase? Also, so you're saying if I eat one slice of white bread, it'll put me into fat storing mode if it's not PWO. And finally isn't combining fats and carbs a bad thing? I thought you were supposed either had proteins and carbs or proteins and fats. Thanks!

What I mean is will eating one slice of pizza vs eating two slices of pizza make a difference in the level of insulin increase? Also, so you're saying if I eat one slice of white bread, it'll put me into fat storing mode if it's not PWO. And finally isn't combining fats and carbs a bad thing? I thought you were supposed either had proteins and carbs or proteins and fats. Thanks!Yes, eating twice as much food will give you a larger insulin response. I don't believe in a "fat storing mode" so I don't think it's really something that you need to be frightened of. There is no black and white here, just shades of greay.

For me, combining carbs and fats is not bad. Fats will blunt the insulin response of carbs; I don't really see that this is a big problem. Some people might not want to add fats to their post-workout carbs so that their recovery is quicker, and might not want to add carbs into their protein meals so that they limit the insulin response. I'm not one of those people, so I can't really elaborate on whether that's an important thing to do. I've done fine without worrying about it, though I do have a personal preference to keep more of my carbohydrates earlier in the day rather than later.

What does your complete diet look like? It's really impossible to comment on just one food (or even just one of your meals) and say whether it's good or bad, without knowing what else you eat and how it's arranged around your workouts.

What I mean is will eating one slice of pizza vs eating two slices of pizza make a difference in the level of insulin increase? Also, so you're saying if I eat one slice of white bread, it'll put me into fat storing mode if it's not PWO. And finally isn't combining fats and carbs a bad thing? I thought you were supposed either had proteins and carbs or proteins and fats. Thanks!

In my opinion you are way overthinking this. As long as you make sure to stay in a caloric deficit you will not store fat, insulin response or not. In my experience, the "never mix fat and carbs" thing is incredibly overblown.

You might want to read up on the Glycemic Index (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index) to get a general idea of how different types of carbs affect blood glucose. It's not a perfect representation because, as others have said, combining foods can change the insulin response. But it should help you understand the difference between eating a slice of white bread and a plate of greens.


In my experience, the "never mix fat and carbs" thing is incredibly overblown.

It's also important to consider the quality of the fats and carbs that you're mixing. A doughnut (white flour, simple sugar, and trans fats) is in a far different league than grilled broccoli with olive oil and toasted almond slivers.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/insulin-levels-and-fat-loss-qa.html