Low
Carb: The Role of Insulin
by Beverley Brooke
There
are three basic units the body uses for energy:
1.
Fats
2.
Proteins
3.
Carbohydrates
All
three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and
proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly
causing quick spikes in the body’s blood sugar levels. These
spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create and
release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to normal.
Meanwhile,
insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers our blood’s
glucose levels is released into the blood as soon as the body
detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.
Insulin
is a very efficient hormone that runs the body’s fuel storage
systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood insulin
will signal the body to store it in the body’s fat cells.
Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat,
making that fat unavailable for use by the body as energy.
Since
this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy, insulin
very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher the body’s
insulin levels, the more effectively it prevents fat cells from
releasing their stores, and the harder it becomes to lose weight.
According to many authorities, over the long term, high insulin
levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause serious health
problems like the ones listed below:
1.
Raised insulin levels and insulin resistance
2.
Lower metabolism leading to weight gain
3.
An increase in fatty tissue and reduction in muscle tissue
4.
Accelerated aging
5.
Increased food allergies and intolerances
6.
Overworked immune system
7.
Increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer
Carbohydrates,
especially simple carbs like sugar and starch, are quickly turned
into sucrose by the body entering the blood stream quicker thereby
causing the release of large amounts of insulin. The fewer carbs
are eaten, the less insulin is produced by the body, and the fewer
calories are stored as fat. Less fat storage equals less weight
gain and fewer carbs eaten equals less insulin in the blood and
the body using its fat stores for fuel.
The
premise behind every low-carb diet plan is that a body that produces
less insulin burns more fat than a body that produces lots of
insulin. Some plans encourage a period of extremely low carbohydrate
intake so that the body will enter a state of ketosis and more
quickly burn fat stores - These are usually called induction periods.
Beverley
Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse - Free health, diet and
fitness articles and weekly newsletters
©
Beverley Brooke
Article
by Beverley Brooke Visit http://www.healthandfinesse.com.
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com/