Low Carb - Glossary
Here are some other terms to help explain the science and health issues
behind low-carbohydrate dietary planning solutions. Note these are only
basic definitions and can be explored at your leisure through other resources
to further define their roles in the body's health system.
CALORIE - A calorie is a measure of heat.
Calorie also refers to a measure of the amount of energy a body
gets from food. In a nutshell, the more calories in food, the more
energy is required for the body to use up the nutrients.
CARBOHYDRATE -
A carbohydrate is one of three major nutrients that provide the body
with energy. Carbohydrates are made up of either single sugars or
bound strings of sugar. Examples of single sugars (simple carbohydrates)
are sucrose or table sugar, fructose or fruit sugar and lactose or
dairy sugar. Bound strings of sugar or complex carbohydrates that are
found in plants are often called starches. Examples of digestible kinds
of complex carbs are wheat flour or potato starch. A non-digestible
example is cellulose from celery. Carbs are converted by the body into
sugar and used for energy. Unused carbs are stored in the body as fat.
FAT -
A Fat is one of the three major nutrient groups that provide energy
to the body. Fat is derived from animal or plant oil sources. It is
broken down by the body into simpler fats and are burned or stored in
the body.
FRUCTOSE -
Fructose is sugar derived from plants, especially corn, that is used to
sweeten commercial food products like sodas and other prepared foods.
First gained widespread popularity in the 1970s and is usually listed
in ingredients as "high-fructose corn syrup".
GLUCOSE -
Glucose is referred to as blood sugar. All carbohydrates whether simple or
complex are converted by the body into sugar and the sugar within the
body's bloodstream is of this form. The level of glucose in the blood is
the main stimulus for insulin secretion.
GLUCAGON -
Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that encourages fat cells
to convert their stores to glucose and release them for energy use.
Glucagon must be released for the body to release and break down body fat.
The pancreas cannot efficiently release both glucagon and insulin and will
not release glucagon if blood sugar and insulin levels are high.
GLYCOGEN -
Glycogen is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and occurs
primarily in the liver and muscle tissue. It is readily converted to
glucose as needed by the body to satisfy its energy needs.
Also called animal starch.
GLYCEMIC INDEX -
The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly individual foods will
raise your body's blood sugar level.
INSULIN -
Insulin is one of two main hormones produced by the pancreas and the
body's major metabolic hormone. When the blood's glucose increases,
insulin is released by the pancreas to help transfer glucose into the
cells for energy. Insulin also helps convert extra glucose to storage
in fatty tissue, and helps promote amino acids which are turned into
protein and stored in muscle. In the liver, it aids in extra glucose
being stored as glycogen. Insulin can raise cholesterol levels and cause
retention of fluids and salt and it gets in the way of breaking down
stored fat. A lack of adequate insulin or lack of sufficient sensitivity
to insulin's effects in the body can lead to diabetes.
INSULIN RESISTANCE -
Insulin resistance is a state reached when the body does not properly
respond to and process the insulin it releases. Insulin resistance causes
the pancreas to overproduce insulin. According to Drs. Michael and Mary Eades
of Protein Power, insulin resistance causes high blood pressure,
elevated cholesterol levels, coronary artery disease (heart disease),
obesity, Type II diabetes and a host of other diseases and disorders.
KETONES -
When the body breaks down fat for energy due to the lack of sufficient
glucose for energy needs combined with the liver's depletion of glycogen,
ketones is a type of chemical result. Excess ketones cause bad breath
and show up in urine during strip testing.
KETOSIS -
Ketosis is the body's process of burning stored fat for energy when glucose
is not readily available. A survival mechanism used during times of famine.
Generally thought not to be a good long-term state for the body to operate in.
When ketosis takes place in someone who is the victim of famine, or who is
not eating food for whatever reason, it can cause serious illness
and eventually death.
PROTEIN -
Protein is one of the three major nutrient groups that provide energy to the
body. Protein is derived from animal and soy products and from some plant
products like legumes (beans, peanuts and peas). Converted to amino acids
by the body during digestion and stored in muscle cells as protein.
SUCROSE -
Another name for sucrose is table sugar; it is derived from sugar cane plants.
STARCH -
Starch is a type of sugar found in potatoes, white rice, breads, bagels and other foods.
TRANS FAT -
Trans fat is a type of processed fat that does not occur in nature
(also called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat/oil). Used
in baked goods like doughnuts, breads, crackers, potato chips, cookies and
many other processed food products like margarine and salad dressings.
Note that the contents of articles in this series
are not presented from a medical practitioner,
and that any and all dietary planning should be made under the guidance of
your own medical practitioners. This series only presents overviews of
low-carb research for educational purposes and does not replace medical
advice from a professional physician.
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