Prisoner of Carbs

I more than understand the carbohydrate roller coaster that many of you may be experiencing. You hear that in order to achieve successful weight loss you should cut carbohydrates. On the flipside, some readings suggest limiting carbohydrates, and still others say to eat more carbohydrates! Does the carbohydrate mystery have you completely confused?

You will be amazed to learn that you can eat carbohydrates and still achieve desired weight loss. Before you can make carbohydrates to work in your favor you need to understand their position, so I will recap lightly on their functioning role. Function of Carbohydrates All carbohydrates are broken down and are directed to the bloodstream as blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. When a large amount of carbohydrates, or refined carbohydrates, are eaten the blood glucose level rises. When this happens the pancreas expels insulin to remove glucose from the blood and directs it to the muscles and liver to be stored as glycogen (a starch stored in the muscle) for later use.

The muscles and liver can only store a limited amount of glycogen, and once those stores are full the rest is stored as fat. Consistently high insulin levels can result in fat storage, water retention, and an insulin imbalance.

The consequences of an insulin imbalance are a rapid rise and fall of blood glucose. Your blood is rapidly saturated with glucose, followed by an immediate plummet, resulting in carbohydrate cravings. If you eat more carbohydrates to feed into the "craving" you start the cycle over. Therefore, insulin can literally make you or break you in your weight loss efforts. Gaining control can put you a step ahead.

Excessive carbohydrate intake, wrong macro nutrient combining, and poor nutrition choices can have an effect on how insulin is managed in the body. A high intake of processed food and poor food combining can interfere with insulin management.

Normally, carbohydrates are used as fuel, but when there is an imbalance in how the body produces and manages insulin, it can lead to fat storage rather than burned for energy. If this condition persists, it can lead to a wide range of illnesses and diseases such as type 2 diabetes. You will literally be a prisoner of carbohydrates if you lose control.

Signs of an Insulin Imbalance

- Feeling sluggish
- Weight gain
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Hypoglycemic conditions
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Depression

Over time, the insulin imbalance can result in an insulin resistant condition. The pancreas begins expelling insulin anytime food is eaten, causing a constant rise in blood glucose, making weight loss extremely difficult.

Now the question is how to gain more control. The answer is to correct insulin imbalances. Of course, genetics do play a part. However, the main correction will come in nutritional changes and a proper functioning thyroid, which can also be corrected through proper nutrition.

One might think that the solution for correcting an insulin imbalance is to restrict carbohydrates. Restricting carbohydrates is a set up for disaster! Rather than restriction, try management.

Steps to help control insulin levels Limit processed food intake Eat more natural fibrous vegetables Eat natural carbohydrates within reason Combine your carbohydrates with a protein

Gaining control over carbohydrates is all in the right food choices and food combining. Now go take control!

Copyright (c) 2006 Karen Sessions

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