#545: Carbohydrate Metabolism, Performance & Metabolic Health – Prof. Javier Gonzalez

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Introduction

Carbohydrate metabolism and metabolic health have become central themes in the science of nutrition, with questions about fuel utilization, the impact of different diets, and the potential of ketone supplements driving new research.

As researchers continue to uncover how the body adapts to various energy sources, there are emerging insights into how glucose tolerance, glycogen utilization, and even ketogenic diets influence not only physical performance but also long-term health outcomes.

Understanding how the body responds to different energy sources, particularly in relation to carbohydrate restriction, brings crucial context to popular nutrition strategies and the potential benefits—or trade-offs—they offer.

In this episode, Professor Javier Gonzalez joins to discuss these topics in detail, exploring the latest findings on how dietary choices affect athletic performance, chronic disease risk, and the mechanisms underlying metabolic adaptations.

You will gain insight into topics like reactive hypoglycemia, carbohydrate oxidation, and why individualized responses to diet matter.

Guest Information

Javier Gonzalez, PhD

Professor Javier Gonzalez is a distinguished academic in the Department for Health at the University of Bath, specializing in human nutrition and metabolism. He earned his BSc (Hons), MRes, and PhD, and is recognized as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Since joining the University of Bath in 2014 as a Lecturer, Professor Gonzalez has advanced through the academic ranks, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2017, a Reader in 2020, and attaining the position of Professor of Nutrition and Metabolism in 2022.

Professor Gonzalez’s research focuses on human fuel utilization, examining how dietary intake influences energy expenditure during exercise and fuel storage when intake exceeds energy requirements. His research group employs methodologies such as indirect calorimetry, tissue biopsies, and stable isotope infusion and ingestion to explore these processes in both laboratory and real-world settings. This work aims to address fundamental scientific questions with practical applications in health and performance.

Timestamps

  • [01:36] Understanding carbohydrate metabolism
  • [06:33] The role of glucose in metabolic health
  • [09:59] Exercise and glucose dynamics
  • [17:35] Carbohydrate intake and athletic performance
  • [25:03] Diet impact on exercise and metabolism
  • [30:44] Pre-workout carbohydrates and reactive hypoglycemia
  • [35:31] Recent study: Ketogenic diet vs. sugar restriction
  • [41:09] Future research directions in metabolic health
  • [45:07] Ketone esters and their role in exercise performance
  • [49:22] Carbohydrate metabolism and common misconceptions

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