Originally published June 3 2008
Cut Down on Sugar and Carbohydrates to Improve Health
by Sheryl Walters
(NaturalNews) Have you ever eaten a big meal and then felt really hungry an hour later? You may feel like you never want to eat again, only to be feeling like you need a snack a short while later. You may find that it is often carbohydrate foods you are dreaming of, like bread, pasta, biscuits, or sugar.
This is probably a sign that your body is experiencing fluctuating blood sugar levels. When your body is continually in this state for long periods of time, it can lead to diabetes, obesity, depression, and a whole range of other health issues. In fact, fluctuating blood sugar levels is the number one sign of aging.
Food that Quickly Turns to Sugar
Carbohydrates are foods that turn to sugar inside the body. The carbohydrates that create the highest amount of sugar very quickly are called high glycemic and are sugar and carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potato, and rice. Other foods such as vegetables (apart from potatoes), nuts and lentils turn to sugar very slowly and are called low glycemic.
Each time we eat a big bowl of pasta, a couple of slices of toast or some sugary foods, there is a surge in the blood sugar level. The body panics "I'm not supposed to be dealing with this type of food. What is going on?" You see, our bodies are not built to consume high glycemic foods... they have only been around for a short period of time relative to our evolution.
A vital hormone called insulin is secreted by the pancreas and encourages the sugar in the blood to move into the cells so that it does not harm the body, and so that it can be turned into energy. Because the pancreas is worried that there is this unnatural amount of sugar, it releases loads of insulin, so the blood sugar is now excessively low.
Now the body is worried because there is no sugar around, so it thinks that it is not going to have any energy. Other sugar raising hormones are called upon to compensate, and so are we. This is when our bodies begin to scream "give me some sugary food to get my blood sugar up again." This is why you begin to crave foods that are high in carbohydrates after just finishing a huge meal an hour before.
If you find yourself in this constant state of eating and craving, you may want to consider cutting out high glycemic foods that make us addicted to the sugar rush, because it will eventually lead to illness.
Insulin Resistance
After this insane cycle of sugar, insulin and more sugar continues for a while, the cell thinks "if that insulin thinks that it can continue to constantly push all of that sugar into me, it better think again!" The cells begin to not allow the sugar to come into them. The blood sugar level is now chronically high since the sugar can't get into the cells, and the pancreas is constantly producing insulin to get rid of the sugar.
This state is called insulin resistance, and it is a pre diabetic state. While diabetes is increasingly common, this state is epidemic and is perhaps the greatest biggest threat to feeling healthy and warding off disease.
Some of the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance are:
* Prematurely aged skin
* Fatigue � Some people are tired in the morning, some hit a low in the afternoon, and some are tired all day. They may also become sleepy after meal.
* Brain fogginess � the inability to focus.
* A faint feeling accompanied by physical or mental fatigue.
* Intestinal bloating � Too many high glycemic carbohydrates can result in bloating and flatulence.
* Excess weight
* High levels of bad cholesterol (triglycerides) caused by over production of insulin.
* Depression or mood swings caused by the constant ups and downs of blood sugar.
About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous. You can also find some of the most powerful super foods on the planet including raw chocolate, purple corn, and many others.
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