
The PILLAR Performance Podcast
Challenging the Carbohydrate Paradigm in Endurance Sports - Dr Andrew Koutnik
In this episode, Dr. Dan Plews speaks with Andrew Koutnik, award winning Ph.D researcher with a remarkable journey from obese adolescence to elite athlete and researcher. Andrew has collaborated with institutions like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NASA, and the Department of Defense - Specializing in type 1 diabetes, metabolic health and performance optimization.
Topics Covered:
- Impact of diabetes on athletic performance.
- Rising obesity rates in type 1 diabetics.
- Role of carbohydrates in high-intensity exercise.
- Fat oxidation and endurance performance.
- Misconceptions about high-carb diets for elite athletes.
- Importance of metabolic health and balanced training for strength and endurance.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background of Andrew Koutnik
05:09 The Impact of Type 1 Diabetes on Athletic Performance
10:13 Understanding Obesity in Type 1 Diabetes
14:53 Carbohydrates and High-Intensity Performance
20:03 The Role of Fat Oxidation in Performance
24:57 The Ironman Study: Methodology and Findings
29:54 Carbohydrate Supplementation and Performance
35:12 Conclusions and Future Directions
44:50 Understanding Muscle Glycogen Depletion
50:42 The Role of Carbohydrates in Performance
58:58 The Importance of Blood Glucose Levels
01:06:46 The Dangers of Following Elite Athlete Guidelines
01:19:41 Balancing Strength and Endurance Training
Dr Dan Plews: https://www.instagram.com/theplews/
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STRAVA: https://www.strava.com/clubs/1108245