1 of 19

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 5

which are pretty much just stored glucose. Finally, it will turn to your fat stores for energy purposes, turning them into ketones and other substances and burning the ketones off for fuel.

Next you should know about the three macronutrients ("big nutrients") in the human diet. These are fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Fat is a waxy or oily substance that is used to build cell membranes, hormones, and other important chemicals. It is the major building block of nervous tissue, including your brain. It is also a backup source of energy, as we have already seen. Protein is used primarily to build structures; it is the source material for making DNA, for instance. It is also a last-ditch energy source for a starving person who has burned up all their fat stores; this is why a person in the final stages of starvation breaks down their own internal organs. About half of your protein calories can be turned into glucose if you need it or simply consume too much protein.

Carbohydrates are another matter entirely, and deserve their own paragraph. Most people who hear the word "carbohydrates" think of grains and starches. Actually, in technical terms, carbohydrates are what's left over when everything else in a food has been analyzed and measured. You might say it's a fancy term for "not fat, not protein, and not micronutrients" or "none of the above." However, a common trait among most carbohydrate molecules is that they are made up of simple or complex sugars. Even fiber, which is not digestible by human beings, is nothing more than a very complex sugar that we can't break down. As such, the term "carbohydrate foods" encompasses not only the usual grains and sugars and starches but also includes fruits and vegetables. Even some organ meats and seafoods contain small amounts of carbohydrate!

The point of following a low-carb diet is that carbohydrates are the most obvious source of easily-obtained glucose in the human diet. Basically, anything that can be broken down into glucose is going to increase your blood sugar levels. If you suffer from insulin resistance, that means your blood sugar will have to get higher than normal before you make enough insulin to put it all into your cells. Something about having to eat more glucose and therefore secrete more insulin creates a vicious cycle that leads to a breakdown in how you react to insulin, leading to diabetes. The obvious answer is to cut back on your glucose sources. This has the side-effect of helping you lose excess

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The effectiveness of low-carb diet plans?
We want to hear your view. Write now!