Belgian Chocolates

Carbohydrates: Heroes or villains?

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates
Do you teach your grandmother like mine does, you are what you eat? We used to laugh at his obsession with whole wheat, and found she went to sea when she advised us to avoid sugar. Grandma lived to an advanced age, and she has the spirit lively and ambulatory at the end. Now, years after his death, science is "discovering" the truth in Grandma's views on health.
It is my observation that at least 80% of health problems in America are related to food. I will even go so far that many people who are disabled with chronic depression or episodic would notice a new life with energy and focus, if their diet have been reviewed and adjusted, and if time was allotted for the body to repair itself. And those who suffer from chronic diseases hope, if their diet is carefully evaluated and adapted. Lets look at some possible applications of these principles.
Sugar is not our friend
The study of sugar and its effects on humans is so diverse, it is difficult to know where to start. Endocrinology start with 101. This is somewhat complex. Are you ready for this? I think it would be easier to understand if we can compare it to something with which we are a unfamiliar.
In dry areas, rains are not immediately used to moisten the soil is channeled into tributaries, which are often empty into reservoirs. The tanks store water behind high, secure dams. huge turbines, combined with the power of water, produce energy. If water levels are too high to be contained in the tank, an overflow occurs, or there is a break in the dam. The resulting flooding can create dangerous situations.
In our body, the sugar is not used immediately to create energy is stored. Sugar fed sudden dose of the organism reacts in a manner similar to that of a tank overflow, especially when it is consumed without the fiber, minerals and other nutrients that are naturally occurring sugars. When we eat a bar of chocolate (or a biscuit, cake, pie, chocolate), glucose (one of several sugar) levels rise rapidly in the blood. This leads to the release rapid insulin by the pancreas. Insulin glucose into the cell through receptors of insulin and it uses one three places: 1) by about 50% is used for immediate energy (as in the huge dam turbines), 2) approximately 10% stored in muscle and liver as glycogen (like water in the tank) and 3) approximately 40% of fats are stored as triglycerides, and cholesterol (like an overflowing dam that would create a dangerous situation). (1) (This becomes important as we discuss the epidemic obesity and diabetes in a subsequent article).
In other words, the sugar causes the body to release insulin and stress hormones, which "flood" the body. And unfortunately, the consumption of sugar, floods never ends. If refined sugar is not followed by a meal (with slow release of glucose from complex carbohydrates), insulin will lower blood sugar too low. This prompts the adrenal glands to release stress hormones (cortisol, which is our natural steroids and epinephrine) for muscle and liver, which in turn release glucose from glycogen to raise the level of blood sugar. (2) Sometimes, low blood sugar causes "hypo" symptoms that are superficially relieved by eating more refined sugar. Liberation of both glycogen and sugar consumption new raise blood sugar. If it rises too high or too fast, we see a later version of insulin and the cycle continues.
With the long-term exposure to high levels of glucose, cell walls become thicker and lose their insulin receptors. The cell then resists the consumption of glucose, which is called insulin resistance. This means that blood sugar rises and insulin in the blood increases, but the subsequent drop in blood sugar does not occur. Under high blood glucose glucose causes to stick to proteins, called glycosylation. "(3) The effects of glycosylation will be discussed later in an article on diabetes and obesity. high insulin levels block the conversion of triglycerides into energy, thereby increasing the rate of triglycerides in the blood, and it is difficult to lose weight. (4) Still with me? There is more. . .
Another adverse effect of sugar in the blood is an increase in loss calcium in the urine, which in the long term can contribute to osteoporosis. When the same amount of sugar was given to people with a history of kidney stones of calcium oxalate, increased calcium excretion was even greater. (5) Many people have noticed an increase in joint, muscle or headache shortly after the consumption of sugar. And conversely, many people who quit sugar in their diet have noticed more energy and less muscle and joint pain, after a few weeks.
Flooding the body insulin and stress hormones is an important part of the adverse effects of sugar consumption, but (continuing to use a metaphor of water) This is a drop in the ocean! Part of the sugar that is ingested is not absorbed, offering a good meal for bacteria harmful, Candida and other fungi in the gastrointestinal tract. (6) Cancer cells have several times more insulin receptors compared in normal cells and require more glucose for growth. (7) high sugar intake is associated with an increased risk of cancer. (8)
Because sugar is often eaten without the accompanying fiber leads to constipation and hemorrhoids. Lack of dietary fiber also to stay longer in the intestine, creating better ventilation of decay and the absorption of toxins.
So, the concern of sugar, a madman, crazy idea? Our family loves desserts, but we try to keep our sugar intake much lower than we have done in the past, and we limit in a game, made with as little processed ingredients as possible after we have completed a nutritious meal. No more binging on ice as a medium morning or an afternoon snack at mid!
Historically, sugar was sold in "pharmacies" in pioneer times, in just cone-shaped packages, which were carefully shaved in small quantities to adjust flavors. It was sold right along with medicinal herbs. In colonial times, the price of sugar was incredibly! - $ 2.40 a pound. In the "Little House on the Prairie" series of books, Pa will Travel miles from the city to get a sweet Christmas for Laura, Mary and Carrie down. consumption rate of the company for sugar is now astronomically higher it was during the pioneer days. The prices are so low that it is not uncommon today to find sugar for $ 1.50 five books. Today, it is difficult to think of any type of celebration without sweets of any kind! It is also difficult to think of other options that are attractive or represent us well as a good host or neighbor nice. After all, we should not cook a batch of brownies to make move to the new family? Or what does the treatment leads to the Cub Scout Pack Meeting? While it is difficult to think of alternatives that are healthy and still enjoy. No herds to broccoli as easily as they catch and bite into a cookie. But the sugar does not affect us, and it is wise to be aware of the affect it has on our bodies.
Before leaving the subject of sugar, it is also worth mentioning that most cavities are directly linked to the consumption of sugar. (9) Weston Price Dr., former head of research programs at the American Dental Association, documents his observations the indigenous Polynesians faces decreased after the introduction of sugar and refined flour in their diet. This has caused pitting poor and overcrowded teeth, crooked compared to previous generations. (10) I wondered if our consumption of sugar is a reason we have to have so many orthodontic work in the United States.
What about artificial sweeteners?
What sweeteners? We must recognize that many people use artificial sweeteners to lose weight, but studies consistently show that people on sweeteners artificial gain more weight than people who avoid sweeteners altogether. We know from the data of artificial sweeteners' own studies that people gain weight "diet" pop. Thus, the weight loss is not just about calories. Sweeteners are harmful on the body as well, much worse than the effects of sugar. Most foods that contain artificial sweeteners are foods that should be limited when Why not even replace foods that are naturally sweet, naturally sweet with fresh fruit? The accompanying nutrients and fiber in fruit are the choice Ideal for digestion and utilization of glucose.
That said, I must explain some things about artificial sweeteners. Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low and Sugar Twin) was the first to arrive in the marketplace and now has a responsible government warning label that is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Aspartame (NutraSweet) breaks down in the body wood alcohol, subsequently broke with formaldehyde, a carcinogen and a fixative recognized (cancer causing agent). Formaldehyde is then broken down into formic acid, which is the same strong caustic used by fire ants to administer their sting. (11) sucralose (Splenda) was approved in 1999 as general sweetener, it has not withstood the test time, although it is the least controversial of the three sweeteners. Stevia is an herbal sweetener, and provides the best interim solution to get candy altogether. You can find stevia in health food stores or in the health section of some grocery stores. Agave nectar is also healthier than processed sugars.
When carbohydrates are broken down for the formation of energy, certain vitamins and minerals are necessary for the treatment appropriate. If we remove these same nutrients, such as "polished white rice and white" enriched "flour in the refining process, vitamin and mineral depletion occurs. "Enriched" means that 24 nutrients have been removed (12) and about 5 were added. White flour, white with more bleach (bleach as we use to launder our clothes in the laundry) is then used for bread and preparing pasta. It takes research to find flour that does not value added (and unwanted!) Ingredient of bleach!
Now that we have addressed questions about the harmful effects of treatment, refined carbohydrates (I wonder if this could be some of what John A. Widstoe referred when he spoke of "adulterated and dangerous products on the market? "), We will turn our attention to the carbohydrates that are not "refined".
Here Come the carbohydrate
An important principle must be clarified at this point. Handle animals with carbohydrates Fiber differently than when carbohydrates are eaten without the presence of fibers. When cows were fed molasses with no fiber, they have developed neurological problems and died. When the fiber was added to the sheer volume of sugar, the disease has not been seen. (14) It seems to me that the same thing in humans, that eat the whole fruit or vegetable confers a protective effect against damage caused by refined, processed carbohydrates.
Legumes, including beans, peas, lentils, soybeans and peanuts are moderately high in carbohydrates, but many have fiber. Fruit, when eaten in the entire state, contain good amounts of fiber. (If more vegetables than fruits are eaten, more fiber is ingested in higher vitamins and carbohydrates lower.) Most of the time, when we think of whole grains, we simply believe whole wheat or brown rice. But the category includes whole grain oats, millet, quinoa, barley and maize. Many people seem to be sensitive (about dependence) to breads that are yeast and sugar added to the original grain. Low amounts of carbohydrates are also present in vegetables, nuts and seeds.
The change to a healthier style of eating should not be drastic, and it should not be immediate, unless our bodies have become so bad that the treatment is urgent. Learn to cook and eat healthier is a process. We all grew up in the Twinkie generation it takes time to see and implement a better, healthier way.
Safe Tips:
1. Avoid refined, processed carbohydrates (especially sugar), including flour white and white rice. Seek opportunities to use whole, fresh foods.
2. Eat whole fruit, desserts.
3. Eat vegetables, fruits whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds ("salutary herbs ... ... all fruits, whole grain is ordained for the use of ... the man").
* * *
1. Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 1988, 21st edition, p. 555.
2. ibid. P. 196.
3. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Edition, Volume 2 P. 1297.
4. Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 1988, 21st edition, p. 555.
5. Lemann, J. Piering WF Jr., and EJ Lennon. 1969. Possible role of carbohydrate-induced calciuria by calcium oxalate kidney stone formation. N Engl J Med 280: 232-237.
6. Horowitz BJ, Edelstein, S. and Lippman, L. Sugar chromatography studies in series Candida vulvovaginitis, J. Reproduction. Med. 1984; 29:441-443.
7. Rossi, Fannelli, F. et al. Al parenteral nutrition and enteral Journal, Vol. Fifteen, P. 680, 1991.
8. Horribin, DF, medical hypotheses, Vol. 11, no. 3, p. 319, 1983.
9. Dr. Harold Loe, former director of the National Institute of Dental Research, interview published in Dental Products Report, 1993.
10. Weston Price, Ph.D., Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.
11. Aspartame Safety Network Consumer, PO Box 780634 Dallas, TX 75378. (214) 352-4268.
12. Udo Erasmus, Fats that Heal Fats that kill, p. 76.
13. Mella, CM, Margolles, E. and Loew FM, epinephrine induced hyperglycemia in bulls and its relationship with Polioencephalomalacia. Can. J. model. Med. Vol 39, July 1975, pp. 321-3.

About the Author

Stan M. Gardner, M.D. is certified nutrition specialist (CNS). He writes and lectures extensively on the subject of preventive medicine and natural means of healing. With over 15 years experience in the integrative field of medicine, he is a popular speaker and provides interesting perspectives on healthy alternatives to drugs and surgery. For more information visit www.stangardnermd.com.

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