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.
recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..If you have been trying to lose weight permanently, then... Read More
If you have ever been snow skiing you know that... Read More
Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More
It's always great to find a protein supplement with very... Read More
Learning the jargon is part of the weight loss journey.... Read More
As a weight loss coach I speak will people regularly... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
The scourge of obesity has reached such gigantic proportions across... Read More
One-size-fits-all diets don't work....but then you probably know that already.... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
I don't know anything about you but if you're anything... Read More
There are many subscriber programs available both online and in... Read More
All Diets Work: No Diets WorkHave you lost weight in... Read More
A Little Help With Some Difficult terms ------------------------------------------ Aerobic... Read More
Only if you're trying to fool the scale on a... Read More
Exercise Physiologists who study the effects of exercise on weight... Read More
We all encounter those hosts and hostesses who feel it... Read More
The purpose of this article is not to scrutinize, vilify,... Read More
I know a lot of people out there would like... Read More
Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More
Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear... Read More
Many of us have tried losing weight in the past... Read More
Make sure you check out the meaning of many common... Read More
premium house cleaning Glenview ..Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound... Read More
Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most... Read More
I personally lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
Have you ever wondered where destiny would lead you? Have... Read More
The best exercises for quick weight loss in my opinion... Read More
Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight TeensA residential school... Read More
If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you... Read More
There are a few different ways to determine if you... Read More
Am I missing something here? If I am, someone please... Read More
Following recent reports of a South Dakota man weighing half... Read More
It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
Now that the holiday season is here, holiday foods and... Read More
What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each dayOkay, for many... Read More
We are a large people. 65% of us are overweight,... Read More
Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Atkins Nutritionals recently announced that they are filing for Chapter... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
I received a telephone call from a lady last week.... Read More
Weight Loss |