Horizon Med clinic
608 S Houston Lake Rd, Suite 200, Warner Robins, GA, United States, Georgia
Yes, glycogen is very real; it's your body's primary way to store extra glucose (sugar) from carbs as a readily available energy reserve, stored mainly in your liver and muscles, acting like a biological battery pack for quick energy during workouts or when blood sugar drops. When you need fuel, your body breaks down glycogen into glucose through a process called glycogenolysis to power your cells, making it crucial for physical performance and maintaining stable energy levels.
Key Facts About Glycogen
- What it is: A complex carbohydrate (polysaccharide) made of many glucose (sugar) units linked together.
- Where it's stored: Primarily in your liver and skeletal muscles, with smaller amounts in the kidneys, brain, and heart.
- How it's made (Glycogenesis): When you eat carbs, your body converts them to glucose. Excess glucose is chained together into glycogen for storage, stimulated by insulin.
- How it's used (Glycogenolysis): When energy is needed (like during exercise or fasting), glycogen is broken down into glucose, released into the bloodstream, and used for fuel.
- Why it matters: It's the preferred, quick-access fuel for high-intensity exercise, preventing "hitting the wall" (bonking). Liver glycogen keeps blood sugar steady between meals.
Think of it like this:
- Glucose is like cash in your wallet (immediate energy).
- Glycogen is like your savings account (stored energy).
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23509-glycogen#:~:text=Glycogen%20is%20a%20form%20of,responsible%20for%20these%20two%20processes.
- Glycogen: What It Is & Function - Cleveland Clinic
- Glycogen is a form of glucose, a main source of energy that your body stores primarily in your liver and muscles. Your body needs ...
- Cleveland Clinic
- https://inbodyusa.com/blogs/inbodyblog/the-effects-of-glycogen-on-your-body-composition/#:~:text=Glucose%2C%20Carbs%2C%20and%20Sugar,muscles%20and%20used%20as%20fuel.
- The Effects of Glycogen on Your Body Composition - InBody
- Mar 31, 2020 — Glucose, Carbs, and Sugar. Glucose, carbohydrates, sugar – all words that we've heard of when it comes to our body and...
- InBody USA
- https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/all-access/clinical-corner/glycogen-glucose-glucagon-in-diabetes
- Breaking down glucose, glycogen, and glucagon in diabetes - Dexcom
- Jun 9, 2025 — What is glycogen? * Glucose becomes glycogen through a process called glycogenesis-a set of chemical reactions using en...
- Dexcom
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