The Role of Insulin
There are three basic units the body uses for energy:
- Fats
- Proteins
- 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:
- Raised insulin levels and insulin resistance
- Lower metabolism leading to weight gain
- An increase in fatty tissue and reduction in muscle tissue
- Accelerated aging
- Increased food allergies and intolerances
- Overworked immune system
- 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. The length of extreme carb
control varies from seven days to however long it takes you to reach
your ideal weight. After this period of extremely low carb dieting, maintenance
levels of carb consumption are followed to prevent weight gain. The amount
of carb you can safely eat will depend on your unique body system. And
you will probably have to experiment to find out what level of
carb intake is best for you.
No matter what your carb intake, it will be lower than the norm and you
will still eliminate white flour and white flower products and certain
other sugary and starchy foods. This is why these diet plans are known
as low-carb lifestyles.
Low-carb success requires that you be willing to give up simple carbs
for the long-term.
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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