Is Parle-G a good choice?

[Minkey Chief]

A lot of people mention eating Parle-G during and after rides and I wanted to know whether it is the right thing.

The thing with Parle G is that, correct me if I'm wrong, it contains mainly glucose and simple carbohydrates and so has a really high glycaemic index. This means that you get a quick spike of energy that might give you a burst to let you climb a hill, but isn't good for anything longer. Also, if you eat it when you're not exercising, you cause a spike in blood sugar and then a steep drop because of the flood of insulin--so its use as recovery food is questionable as well.

I mentioned peanut butter and (pure fruit, no sugar) jam on wholewheat bread as a food that works for me. The way I understand it is that you get fibre, complex carbs, a bit of fat, a bit of protein and fructose as against glucose--a slow, regular delivery system for energy. This is good during rides as you don't get an energy spike (and slump) and good for recovery as your body can process the carbs slowly and replenish glycogen, rather than flood the body with insulin and have it all put away as fat.

Even energy gels that don't have fibre feature complex sugars to slow the absorption, not glucose. Apparently, the absorption of glucose is almost instantaneous.

My understanding of these systems is based purely on reading about it, so as always, please rush in if you need to correct something.

[RNair]

This is the third time I am putting this link on the forum, answers all questions regarding pre-workout, during workout and post workout eating habits.

http://www.nestlenutrition.com/NR/rdonl ... anceGB.pdf

[Minkey Chief]

So what's your take specifically on Parle-G, baba?
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People have said that Parle-G is cheap and easily available. All kaka shops have a bunch of bananas hanging up in front. And they're cheap--a banana is a great choice (and I know that a lot of people on this forum eat them while travelling). It's not easy to carry though... how about flattened, sun-dried bananas? I saw this in a grocery shop recently.

[RNair]

I dont know, I have to look at the nutrition label on it to figure out exactly. But I do know is most biscuits contain excess sugar. I simply use a few slices of whole wheat bread with peanut butter or just plain marmalade, a banana and water and I am good to go for 100kms!! Much of what I eat to prepare for long rides is the day before the rides, I load myself with Carbs!! Post ride I am on protein rich food for muscle recovery.

Minkey it all depends on your workouts. I workout everyday so I eat Carbs and Proteins within 60 mins after the ride that is when the body readily refurbishes the glycogen stores. I am way off topic, sorry

[Minkey Chief]

Hmm, I see, in that nutrition PDF, that white bread is good for after: "Optimal glycogen replenishment depends on
consuming easily digestible carbohydrate-rich foods (i.e. white bread+jam, rice cakes, sports drinks)."

Still, it doesn't go so far as to say eat glucose.

[Minkey Chief]

But I do know is most biscuits contain excess sugar.

And a lot of fat! I know somebody from Hindustan Lever Ltd. who actually told my wife (she loves Parle-G) not to eat too much of it because it has a lot of saturated fat.

Forget Parle-G though, let's move it biscuits in general. Do you ever see people eating Oreo cookies during a ride, for example? You might as well stop for a smoking break!!

[RNair]

I keep it very simple Minkey, It took me 2 years to figure out what hurts me and what does not on bike rides. No Gatorade for me!No biscuits for me! No brownies for me! No Pizza for me! But I have seen people eating all kinds of stuff on bike rides, but then they are out for a leisure ride at turtle speeds. Not a problems except if their goal was to get fit and lose weight, then it is just not happening

[navdeep]

I will say one thing for "Parle-G or Tiger" biscuits.
NOT A SUSTAINABLE source of energy.
Certainly not recommended for long rides.
I always place my bets on Muesli, 2 eggs or maybe a banana about 30 mins before a long ride.

[nickoo]

thanks for all the info..the way i eat Tiger/parle-g biscuits ...i guess...i'll bloat up and blast one day ...they are bloody so addictive

[deepak_majipatil]

I dont think of all these when in have a Parle G in my hand .
They are so tasty but they are also acidic

[nickoo]

same here deepak..."soak the parle-g in milk and then...ummm...."...but after reading all this i feel i'll have to reduce the intake of parle-g

[Minkey Chief]

Pretty much any long-life packaged biscuit is full of junk--anywhere in the world. Emulsifiers, saturated fat, refined sugars, refined flour, preservatives...

It's good to reduce, if not eliminate, consumption of all processed foods... but I don't believe in totally eliminating something you really love. It'll just lead to cravings and sadness!

My wife's favourite morning ritual is tea and Parle-G, so I know what you guys are talking about when you say addictive! I never took to it, but then I never really took to any kind of biscuit... my downfall is fried food.

[nickoo]

like someone said..." all good things in life are either illegal, fattening or married to someone else "

[raknair]

i dont mind having parle-g with a cup of tea .. anytime of the day.... even if it is in the middle of a ride how about some rusk with some hot hot kattan kapee kerala style.. i know this doesnt solve the question asked

oh yeah how about britannia marie and a cup of tea ??

[Minkey Chief]

Rakesh monay, eat pazham and be happy

[raknair]

minkey..... it has to be ethapazham or pazhampazhichathu south indian railway style... everything else is a strict no for me

[Minkey Chief]

Okay, now you've lost me! Is that the reddish banana--the big plantain?

[RNair]

I know what you guys are talking about, If I had them here that would be in my rear jersey pockets. No Gu gel or Cliff product can replace a 'ethaparam'! Super Power food

[nickoo]

hey folks...it would be great if anyone of you could translate all those words, which are quite difficult to pronounce for someone like me, in some plain english or hindi ya..and one thing...any place in or around Delhi where i could see and taste all the above mentioned delicacies

[Minkey Chief]

Sorry Nickoo, I didn't mean to exclude, but I sometimes see untranslated Hindi on the forum, which is why I wasn't too worried.

"Pazham" (the zh is a le sound made with the tongue right up against the soft palate) means fruit in general, but is often used to refer to bananas in both Malayalam and Tamil. You find a big reddish hearty plantain in Kerala, which is one of the types Rakesh is referring to, but I don't know what the other one is! Is it the small banana--the one you can eat 10 of and still want more?

And then there's the fried banana dish--probably not good for refuelling with too often, but so, so delicious!

[Minkey Chief]

I know what you guys are talking about, If I had them here that would be in my rear jersey pockets. No Gu gel or Cliff product can replace a 'ethaparam'! Super Power food

I tried a Clif Shot the other day, and I must say, I was surprised at how nice it was. Felt good too, on a hot day. I got a few more to play with, but in the long run I think I'll be more comfortable with a homemade solution. (I'm especially concerned with the amount of packaging involved with stuff like that.)

I once tried to bake toasted oatmeal and melon into a bar and it turned out horribly--it looked like the skin of some yellow animal. I couldn't bring myself to eat it--such a waste... I might try again, but with banana and honey. Will post here if it turns out okay!

[raknair]

the "zh" sound is so difficult to make. It has a "R" sound to it but it.

ethapazham is indeed the reddish long banana we get in kerala. It can grow upto a foot in length and as thick as an average size wrist. You can say it is typical keralite. They also make banana chips out of this.

Of the smaller once, I think I alone can eat 2 dozens of it and yet feel hungry They usually serve them on kerala style sadhya (feast) during Onam and Vishu.

Pazhampozhichathu is ethapazham dipped in maida paste and fried in coconut oil. It is sure shot way to block your arteries but once in a while blocking of arteries is something I do not mind.

[nickoo]

over head transmission...but i guess all this must be good eating stuff since everyone is after it

[crazzyarch]

well my reply could sound quiet stupid to u all but it helps........eat jaggery....u will have to try it out to believe me...it is the best source of energy around.....all sucrose.....no big calorie boost...instant energy...i know its a bit messy to carry but it works....cant say about riding.....buy it worked when i went for swimming..........i was in the water polo team....we had to keep cycling for hours only using our legs....plus u cant eat too much before swimming....our coach adviced us to eat jaggery ...its light on the belly...but works great.....tyr it out and reply........

[trekking&cycling]

Jaggery is one of the best. I eat it often. It also has a lot of iron, so more iron, better the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, so more stamina and less fatigue.