In addition to catecholamine increase, exercise stimulates the production of cortisol to boost the breakdown of fuels within the body. These high levels of cortisol not only decompose stored fuels, but also begin muscle breakdown once the stores of glycogen get low. A post workout meal should therefore consist of high Glycemic (quick digesting) carbohydrates, as they not only promote higher glycogen storage, but the insulin released counteracts the catabolic activity of cortisol that follows. This is possibly one of the few times when high Glycemic carbs are superior to low Glycemic carbs.
