Carbohydrate-Guide

Blood sugar derived from the last meal is chased from the bloodstream by insulin. Insulin, however, lingers in the bloodsteam for a longer period of time and herein lies a problem. The problem - hormonal hunger - begins when insulin levels are catapulted skyward by a hormonally incorrect meal. The primary function of insulin is to transport sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells of the body. A meal high in refined carbohydrate produces a blood sugar spike, which in turn, prompts insulin levels to escalate rapidly.

Individuals predisposed to Type II diabetes exhibit a particularly disordered insulin response to a rapid blood sugar elevation, In these individuals, there is some degree of “overreaction” by insulin. Even those individuals who do not have this unlucky genetic draw can develop the condition from years of consuming a diet high in refined carbohydrates. This is called insulin resistance, which means the cellular receptors become “less receptive,” or desensitized, to insulin and therefore more insulin from the pancreas is required to do the job.

As insulin resistance worsens, so does the imbalance between insulin and glucagon. Saturated fat, although largely unproblematic when insulin levels are low, aggravates insulin resistance when consumed in the context of a diet high in refined carbohydrate.

Insulin resistance is strongly correlated with obesity (particularly abdominal obesity), and cardiovascular disease and is the first step toward adult-onset diabetes. Even where insulin resistance is not present, a sharp insulin escalation triggers several unfavorable events, In addition to encouraging fat storage, an insulin surge forces blood sugar down too low, while locking you into a sugar-burning state.

When blood sugar plummets, the body is faced with the “sugar-burner-deprived” predicament.

• In this scenario, the blood sugar derived from the last meal has been chased from the bloodstream by the stiff dose of insulin that came rushing forth from the pancreas in response to a high-carbohydrate meal or an overly large mixed meal.

• Insulin, however, has a longer “half-life” than blood sugar, which means it lingers in your bloodstream for a longer period of time - and herein lies the problem,

In addition to being lipogenic, insulin exerts an anti-lipolytic effect, which means it blocks fat burning and directs the body to use sugar for energy instead, So insulin remains in circulation after its purpose, to lower blood sugar, has been accomplished; and all this time insulin limits access to fat stores.

The other fuel source, glucose, is not readily available either, because insulin escorted it out of the bloodstream, At this point, the sugar burner is likely to experience unpleasant symptoms including any or a combination of the following:

• anxiety,
• bad mood,
• light-headedness,
• poor concentration,
• cognitive impairment, or
• “tense tiredness.”

Starving for sugar, the brain sends a resounding message to the body: EAT - hormonal hunger has struck.

Hormonal hunger manifests itself as a craving for cookies, cake, candy, french fries, or any other high-sugar/high-starch food (note that these foods can also be very high in fat).

• What is more, under the influence of these intense cravings you are likely to overeat carbohydrates, causing insulin to soar and restarting the whole vicious cycle.

In this way, and helped along by the infinite assortment of refined-carbohydrate-laden foods that have become a part of American culture, many people go through their entire life yanked from pillar to post by hormonal hunger and the cravings it produces.

They may never realize that what they perceive to be hunger is really a symptom of hormonal imbalance, and has nothing to do with a real need for calories or nutrients.

So, when a sugar-burner-deprived-of-sugar reaches for a carbohydrate snack it has as much to do with hunger as an alcoholic reaching for a bottle of liquor has to do with thirst.