The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on the role of insulin in our body. There are three basic units the body uses for energy: Fats, Proteins, and 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 obesity, accelerated aging, increased food allergies and intolerances, overworked immune system, heart disease, diabetes, and even 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 flour 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.
For more low carb information and a FREE copy of the ebook "30-day Low Carb Diet Ketosis Plan", please subscribe to our ezine low carb egazette.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should consult with your physician before starting any diet.
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
"Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time... Read More
You have finally decided to tackle weight management and lose... Read More
Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More
Did you know that less than 2% of dieters lose... Read More
Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More
Let's take a look at how your attitudes and perceptions... Read More
Are you a 'look-and-lose' dieter? Have you studied every diet... Read More
What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More
You have noticed your obese friend suddenly slimmer. You want... Read More
How many of your New Year's resolution start out with... Read More
Ephedra and Ephedrine consumers are still under the assumption that... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
Of all the possible exercises there are to help you... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #2) Drink More WaterI know, I know,... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
Being overweight is no laughing matter. For those who are... Read More
Reading labels is an essential part of any weight loss... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight you may find... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
Actually, I was reading about fad diet and suddenly I... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..If all we have to do is exercise to live... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there... Read More
How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More
Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all... Read More
Like many people I've been on dozens of diet plans... Read More
Lose Weight - Grab A GlassIn childhood, we heard it:... Read More
It is well known that about two-thirds of the U.S.... Read More
One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More
Have you ever wished for a diet where you ate... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More
What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More
THE 200 POINT SYSTEMWith so many different diets available, how... Read More
Although the big push for fad diets has died down... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Looking to avoid the dieting mistakes many of our weight... Read More
There's nothing more fun then being creative with food and... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential... Read More
So your neighbor, office mate, best friend, whoever just lost... Read More
Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like... Read More
I was overweight at my age. It's not a pretty... Read More
Weight Loss |