Are they necessary?
Insulin should still be sufficiently elevated from a pre workout meal and exercise. So long as carbs are in the post workout meals, there isn't an advantage to spiking insulin to very, very high levels, is there? I don't think rapidly replenishing glycogen within an hour after a workout has an impact on recovery from one day to the next. Having low GI carbs in PWO meals should replenish glycogen equally well. I suppose in some cases it could help to prevent catabolism, but is that the only significant advantage? If a meal is consumed 30 minutes after a workout, then will that be sufficient? I know a lot of it's relative to a person's workout and circumstances, but overall I don't see the need. Somebody please ed-yoo-kate me.