I went shopping for flowers at the garden center on Saturday, so naturally I crashed Sunday. At least I get to look at the happy little plants while feeling like crap. But it occurred to me this morning that my crashes lately haven't been as bad, even though my threshold for crashing is still pretty low. I'm still semi-coherent, for example 
What am I doing differently that might be impacting my crashes? For starters, I take protein powder three times per day now. My test results from ELN indicated my Krebs (Citric Acid) Cycle is totally buggered, and my body might be breaking down muscles to feed it. So I make sure it has all the protein it wants, and can leave my poor little muscles alone. I'm also taking the vitamins that are needed to support the Krebs Cycle - maybe it won't help, but at least it helps cover all the bases. So extra B vitamins, and as much C as I can handle (not much), plus magnesium and all my usual stuff - tons of B12, multivitamin, carnitine, Q10, alpha lipoic acid, NAC.
So what's happening when we crash in the first place? My favorite theory is that we can't produce enough ATP (energy) to store much or replenish it quickly when our muscles use it. Then we're too active and burn up what little energy we have in most muscles. Instead of letting us collapse in a puddle, our muscles look for an alternate energy source - protein!
Protein isn't an efficient source of energy, which is why we use fats and carbohydrates primarily as fuel. But if we have to, we can break down proteins and feed them into the Krebs Cycle at various points. The main (and best) point is at the start of the cycle, where fats and carbs also get fed in. Okay, that might not be working any better for proteins than for fats and carbs, depending on where the Cycle is malfunctioning.
But certain proteins also feed the Kreb's Cycle at later steps. Less efficiently, however, so less energy is being produced than would be if enough carbs, fats, and other protein forms were able to get in at the beginning of the Cycle. So by breaking down proteins, our Krebs Cycle can limp along a bit faster and life goes on.
A side effect of breaking down any protein for fuel is that nitrogen is left behind, which forms urea and has to be disposed of. Excess water may be needed for those, causing temporary increase in urination, thirst, and/or dehydration. It can also result in sweating it out as ammonia if we can't excrete it quickly enough via urine, complete with distinctive smell. This might explain why I piss like a race horse, lose weight, and smell funny for a few days every time I crash - protein is being broken down faster, from whatever source.
To be continued ... (pretty sure there are some extra side effects from breaking down muscle versus dietary protein. Must research!)
What am I doing differently that might be impacting my crashes? For starters, I take protein powder three times per day now. My test results from ELN indicated my Krebs (Citric Acid) Cycle is totally buggered, and my body might be breaking down muscles to feed it. So I make sure it has all the protein it wants, and can leave my poor little muscles alone. I'm also taking the vitamins that are needed to support the Krebs Cycle - maybe it won't help, but at least it helps cover all the bases. So extra B vitamins, and as much C as I can handle (not much), plus magnesium and all my usual stuff - tons of B12, multivitamin, carnitine, Q10, alpha lipoic acid, NAC.
So what's happening when we crash in the first place? My favorite theory is that we can't produce enough ATP (energy) to store much or replenish it quickly when our muscles use it. Then we're too active and burn up what little energy we have in most muscles. Instead of letting us collapse in a puddle, our muscles look for an alternate energy source - protein!
Protein isn't an efficient source of energy, which is why we use fats and carbohydrates primarily as fuel. But if we have to, we can break down proteins and feed them into the Krebs Cycle at various points. The main (and best) point is at the start of the cycle, where fats and carbs also get fed in. Okay, that might not be working any better for proteins than for fats and carbs, depending on where the Cycle is malfunctioning.
But certain proteins also feed the Kreb's Cycle at later steps. Less efficiently, however, so less energy is being produced than would be if enough carbs, fats, and other protein forms were able to get in at the beginning of the Cycle. So by breaking down proteins, our Krebs Cycle can limp along a bit faster and life goes on.
A side effect of breaking down any protein for fuel is that nitrogen is left behind, which forms urea and has to be disposed of. Excess water may be needed for those, causing temporary increase in urination, thirst, and/or dehydration. It can also result in sweating it out as ammonia if we can't excrete it quickly enough via urine, complete with distinctive smell. This might explain why I piss like a race horse, lose weight, and smell funny for a few days every time I crash
- protein is being broken down faster, from whatever source.To be continued ... (pretty sure there are some extra side effects from breaking down muscle versus dietary protein. Must research!)
