Prisoner of Carbs

I more than understand the carbohydrate roller coaster that
many of you may be experiencing. You hear that in order to
achieve successful weight loss you should cut
carbohydrates. On the flipside, some readings suggest
limiting carbohydrates, and still others say to eat more
carbohydrates! Does the carbohydrate mystery have you
completely confused?

You will be amazed to learn that you can eat carbohydrates
and still achieve desired weight loss. Before you can make
carbohydrates to work in your favor you need to understand
their position, so I will recap lightly on their
functioning role.  Function of Carbohydrates All
carbohydrates are broken down and are directed to the
bloodstream as blood sugar, also known as blood glucose.
When a large amount of carbohydrates, or refined
carbohydrates, are eaten the blood glucose level rises.
When this happens the pancreas expels insulin to remove
glucose from the blood and directs it to the muscles and
liver to be stored as glycogen (a starch stored in the
muscle) for later use.

The muscles and liver can only store a limited amount of
glycogen, and once those stores are full the rest is stored
as fat.  Consistently high insulin levels can result in fat
storage, water retention, and an insulin imbalance.

The consequences of an insulin imbalance are a rapid rise
and fall of blood glucose. Your blood is rapidly saturated
with glucose, followed by an immediate plummet, resulting
in carbohydrate cravings. If you eat more carbohydrates to
feed into the "craving" you start the cycle over.
Therefore, insulin can literally make you or break you in
your weight loss efforts. Gaining control can put you a
step ahead.

Excessive carbohydrate intake, wrong macro nutrient
combining, and poor nutrition choices can have an effect on
how insulin is managed in the body.  A high intake of
processed food and poor food combining can interfere with
insulin management.

Normally, carbohydrates are used as fuel, but when there is
an imbalance in how the body produces and manages insulin,
it can lead to fat storage rather than burned for energy.
If this condition persists, it can lead to a wide range of
illnesses and diseases such as type 2 diabetes. You will
literally be a prisoner of carbohydrates if you lose
control.
Remember that diebetes mellitus needs to be controlled and
what you eat is very important [Editor]
Signs of an Insulin Imbalance

Feeling sluggish

Weight gain

Carbohydrate cravings

Hypoglycemic conditions

Fatigue

Headaches

Irritability

Nervousness

Depression

Over time, the insulin imbalance can result in an insulin
resistant condition.  The pancreas begins expelling insulin
anytime food is eaten, causing a constant rise in blood
glucose, making weight loss extremely difficult.

Now the question is how to gain more control. The answer is
to correct insulin imbalances. Of course, genetics do play
a part. However, the main correction will come in
nutritional changes and a proper functioning thyroid, which
can also be corrected through proper nutrition.

One might think that the solution for correcting an insulin
imbalance is to restrict carbohydrates. Restricting
carbohydrates is a set up for disaster! Rather than
restriction, try management.

Steps to help control insulin levels Limit processed food
intake Eat more natural fibrous vegetables Eat natural
carbohydrates within reason Combine your carbohydrates with
a protein

Gaining control over carbohydrates is all in the right food
choices and food combining. Now go take control!

Prisoner of Carbs
Copyright (c) 2006 Karen Sessions
Note: Diebetes Mellitus is reffered to on other pages of this blog
----------------------------------------------------
Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988.
She is a nationally qualified bodybuilder and holds two
personal training certifications. She has written 6 ebooks
on fitness and has helped hundreds of clients transform
their bodies.  http://www.theelitephysique.com