CARBOHYDRATES

There seems to be a lot of misconception today regarding carbohydrates. Although our bodies need carbohydrates to survive, many of us are consuming the wrong types of carbs. There are Simple Carbohydrates and Complex Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide "fuel" for our body. Once ingested, carbs turn to glucose. Glucose is carried by insulin, secreted from the pancreas, and fed to your cells. Your body needs glucose for energy. Unfortunately, simple carbohydrates (white refined sugar, refined fructose and flour) have no nutrients. In fact they actually rob your body of essential vitamins and minerals. If you consume too much sugar your body will eventually be forced to draw upon its own source of vitamins and minerals. Once that source is depleted disease sets in. Refined carbohydrates all become sugar very quickly in the body.

Many of our so called foods today contain sugar - it comes disguised in many forms and under many names: Sugar, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, etc. As a consumer you need to be very cautious when it comes to shopping. Watch for those "hidden" sugars. Read the labels. They are there for a good reason. The biggest one to avoid is fructose, or high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup - all the same thing - one of the most poisonous sugars known to man, yet one of the cheapest - and one which is actually touted as a "health product"! Simple carbohydrates break down very quickly in the body. They cause large amounts of insulin to be released into the bloodstream and blood sugar levels are elevated very quickly. Many people get shaky during the day. This is mainly because they skip meals and then eat the wrong kind of food. How many people eat a chocolate or drink a fizzy drink when they feel like this? They get a quick sugar high and then their blood sugar level plummets. Over a period of time, left unattended, this lifestyle can lead to major health problems.

Adult onset diabetes is a result of years of poor nutritional choices whilst growing up. Many diabetics are overweight and consume far too many simple carbohydrates. More simple carbs are required to make you feel full. Complex carbohydrates break down slowly in your body, helping to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Complex carbs are found in nuts, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. They make you feel fuller and thus a person does not have to eat as much. Overweight people need to eat more complex carbohydrates and will find this will help greatly with weight loss. You have to do a little homework to find which foods have complex carbohydrates in them. It is worth the effort though. Simple carbs rob your body while complex carbs nourish your body with essential vitamins and minerals. You need to eat complex carbohydrates every day. If you are used to eating a lot of white sugar, fructose and white flour this will take some getting used to. You will feel better after consuming complex carbs because health and vitality will return and your pancreas will love you for it!

I firmly believe diabetes can be fully controlled through diet and exercise. Many diabetics are still eating sugar, drinking alcohol, and making poor nutritional choices. Some of them offset their increased sugar levels with more insulin. This is only worsening their condition, and constant damage is taking place. Hypoglycemics need to find foods containing complex carbohydrates together with protein. This is the secret to effectively managing blood sugar problems in the body. Remember: Read the food labels. Look for food without processed white sugar, fructose and enriched flours. Find foods with a complex carbohydrates, and have them together with protein and healthy fats to maintain sugar levels.

Fruit and some vegetables contain high levels of natural complex carbs. Diabetics and hypoglycemics also need to be aware of this. Even though most fruit and vegetables are healthy foods, they can still raise your blood sugar levels too high when too many of these are eaten at one time - particularly fruit on an empty stomach, or on its own; never do this. It's important to have protein with them. Another example is corn, pasta, and potatoes. They are too rich in carbs to eat without protein added to them, causing blood sugar levels to soar. Eating wisely and sensibly as God intended us to - healthy fat with complex carbohydrates and with protein is the way to control this problem.