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Lose Weight: Say No To Sugar

Everybody loves having sugar in their food. Sugar may be something our tongues relish but certainly, the body does not relish its effects on our health. Too much sugar consumption leads to the deterioration of the body’s pH levels, making it difficult for an individual to shed extra weight and therefore maintain good health. Sugar and the acidity it produces need an internal environment which leads to the overgrowth of fungi, dangerous yeasts, and bacteria.
 
As a result, the said pathogens feed on sugar in the body, multiply, while expelling toxic wastes which can result in a person feeling and looking worse. Since these pathogens feed on sugar, the body starts to crave more sugar through sweets, pasta, and bread. The body then ends feeding the said microorganism, fueling their growth and placing more toxic acids in the body.
 
As the vicious cycle goes on, the body not just feeds these microorganisms but also takes huge amounts of food that are rich in calories and void of nutrients. As time goes by, an excessive amount of calories through sugar intake leads to a gain in weight.
Another aspect of sugar preventing weight loss is that when the body fuels more microorganisms, the toxins that they expel produce more acids in the blood, adding potential stress on the liver. Because the excess acid in our blood will be stored eventually in fat cells, this is not enough to acidify the body to lose weight. Only through getting rid of excess acid and restoring it to its proper pH balance would the person be able to shed the extra fat. When the fat is no longer needed in storing acid, then it can be readily metabolized.
 
In the same way, when the liver becomes more stressed as a result of filtering many toxins in the blood, the person will have a hard time losing weight. This is because the liver not only filters the body but likewise regulates the metabolism of sugar and fat. When the liver malfunctions then its ability in metabolizing fats and sugar will likewise be compromised. This results in elevated levels of blood lipid and blood sugar.
There are many sources of sugar, particularly in our everyday fare. Some of these are livestock that is often fed on sugar before being slaughtered so that the taste and color of the meat will be improved. Other sources are molasses and corn syrup frequently in fast foods to prevent the shrinkage of hamburgers.
Likewise, sugar is added to most roasted and mixed nuts. Another source of sugar is canned fish which are usually glazed with sugar. Also, condiments like mustard, ketchup, and relish are considered rich sources of sugar. Sugar is also sourced from table salts, as well as pasta, bread, and cereals.
 
Indeed, almost everything we eat is bombarded with sugar. The important thing is to refrain from eating processed food and be more inclined in eating natural and fresh foods. Eat natural sugar from fruits rather than eating chemically altered sugar which you can purchase from a grocery.
 
You can also eat fruits and vegetables. Green foods are considered very excellent sources of alkalinity, helping get rid of excess acid in the body brought about my sugar consumption. Another important element to put in your diet plan would be water – lots of water. By drinking water, you would be able to flush out all the toxins from your body, increasing the metabolism of your body.
 
Remember that to be able to lose the excess weight, discipline is needed. By making sure that you are always eating the proper food, you would be able to enhance the ability of your body to shed the extra pounds.

The Conversion of Sugar to Fat

Sugar is sweet only as far as the tongue is concerned as it is the sweetest poison that damages our insides if consumed in large quantities. All the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) are converted into glucose, which is the body’s key source of energy. After each meal, the glucose levels in the body rise in the bloodstream, and insulin is released by the pancreas.
 
Insulin is a polypeptide hormone produced and secreted by the pancreatic beta-cells. Insulin aids in the transport of glucose into fat cells and muscle cells in human metabolism. It promotes protein synthesis, glucose utilization, and the formation and storage of neutral lipids. Insulin reduces the levels of sugar by helping it get into the body’s cells, where it is broken down and used as fuel. Insulin plays a key role in unlocking or opening up cell membranes and allowing glucose to enter the cells. Insulin is required to control blood sugar levels for the entry of glucose into muscle, by stimulating metabolism in muscle and adipocytes and glucose influx as well as by blocking gluconeogenesis in the liver. Insulin makes glucose available to the human body’s cells for energy. Once glucose is absorbed by the cells, the blood sugar levels go down. When the levels become low, we feel hungry and eat, thus beginning another cycle. In a healthy person, the insulin and glucose rise and fall gradually in the blood, so there are no sudden hunger pangs.
 
Glucose that is not burned as fuel is then converted into glycogen, which is a starch that is stored in the muscles and liver. Some of it is also converted into fat. Usually, most of the glucose is burned as fuel and only a small quantity is converted into fat. However, when this mechanism goes out of balance, then a larger quantity of glucose is converted into fat. When these changes occur in the body, the changes in the glucose and insulin levels become extreme. The blood sugar rises high and everything is fine and then suddenly the insulin surges and blood sugar drops and the person plunges along with it.
Insulin is required for the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by reducing blood sugar levels. The body’s inability to produce insulin results or the irregular production of insulin results in glucose metabolism disorders which include diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. When the insulin levels rise rapidly, the glucose level goes down and this low blood sugar level is called hypoglycemia, which leaves the person feeling tired, depressed, irritable, nervous, and light-headed. The body then starts craving sugar to feel good again.
 
Over some time, high levels of insulin lead to insulin resistance, a condition that occurs when the cells no longer react to insulin, making it difficult to absorb glucose. The pancreas then responds by releasing more insulin into the blood and this only worsens the problem, as the rising insulin levels only make the cells more stubborn. Slowly, the body loses its capacity to burn glucose and the energy levels go down. This is when it becomes extremely difficult to control weight, as insulin is unable to get glucose into the cells and converts more and more sugar into fat.
 
High insulin levels not only lead to accumulation of fat but also salt and water retention; making people feel bloated and fat. This also makes the person hungry. Usually, insulin has to signal the body to stop eating, but if a person has high glucose levels consistently, due to inefficient insulin, he may eat more.
 
As the cells become increasingly starved of glucose, carbohydrate cravings increase, which is known as the “carbohydrate hell.” These are the circumstances when any attempts at weight loss go in vain. If these problems are left untreated, they get worse with time and lead to dangerous ailments, including diabetes and heart disease.

Reverse Weight Gain with Insulin Control

Many people wonder why they continue to put on weight despite consuming fewer calories. The reason could very well be the work of the “key player,” insulin. Insulin is a hormone responsible for managing how the body uses the sugars and starches eaten. These sugars and starches are converted into fat and not burned as fuel if the body’s insulin balance is disrupted. If this imbalance is left unchecked, it can lead to serious illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes mellitus.
 
Insulin is produced by the beta cells and glucagon by the alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Human insulin comprises two polypeptide chains, the A that contains 21 amino acid residues and the B chain that contains 30 amino acid residues. They’re interconnected by two cysteine disulfide bridges. One of insulin’s major functions is to lower blood glucose, or blood sugar more commonly, by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake and suppressing the hepatic glucose output. The secretion of insulin is a regulated process that, in normal status, produces stable concentrations of blood glucose during both fasting and feeding. Insulin resistance refers to decreased insulin sensitivity.
 
Diabetes mellitus is a biological disorder involving improper carbohydrate metabolism. It is the most common endocrine disease in which the ability to utilize glucose is partly or completely lost. Diabetes is characterized by abnormalities of glucose metabolism which results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) and eventually causes complications of multiple organ systems, including eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. Diabetes mellitus results from insufficient production of insulin due to decreased insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is prevalent in overweight people, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes who produce sufficient insulin but whose tissues have a reduced ability to adequately respond to the action of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is diabetes that is insulin-dependent and usually first appears in young people. Type 1 diabetes is the result of the loss of insulin-producing beta cells. In Type 1 diabetes patients, the pancreatic islet cells cease producing insulin primarily due to autoimmune destruction. As a result, the patient has to inject himself with the missing hormone. Management of diabetes mellitus includes increasing normal blood glucose levels to delay or prevent microvascular complications. This therapy typically requires insulin control therapy and is generally used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Exogenous insulin is administered to reduce hyperglycemia in situations when circulating insulin levels are either low or ineffective.
 
It is important to restore insulin health with proper diet, nutritional supplements, and other alternative therapies. This will help keep blood sugar levels in check, control the appetite, and help shed all those unwanted pounds.
 
The body produces insulin based on what is eaten during the previous meal and if meals containing too many carbohydrates are eaten consistently, the body then has to produce more and more insulin. Finally, it gets to a point where, even if a meal with fewer carbohydrates is eaten, the body ends up producing too much insulin. This in turn makes us want to eat more sugar and this becomes a cycle. If this cycle continues, the pancreas may have trouble producing enough insulin, leading to adult-onset diabetes.
Everyone knows that sugar is high in calories and contributes to weight gain. Excessive consumption of foods high in sugar or starch permanently damages the body’s ability to utilize these substances as energy sources. Once the body loses the capacity to process sugar or starch, it resorts to converting and storing these substances as body fat. The result is that whenever sugar is consumed, weight is gained, even if the calorie intake is cut down.
Insulin is the chief sugar regulator and key appetite hormone, affecting what, when and how much food is eaten. In healthy people, insulin controls the appetite by keeping the sugar levels (glucose) in the blood constant. However, this mechanism can go off balance when it is forced to work too much for processing the extra sugars and starches consumed, thus causing too much insulin to enter the blood.
 
It has been seen that there is a clear connection between chronic obesity and high insulin levels. A survey revealed that the percentage of obese Americans increased even though the intake of calories had been reduced in both men and women. Earlier, researchers were puzzled when there was a rise in obesity despite a decline in calories and fat consumption. The answer to these paradoxical trends was the increase in sugar and corn sweetener consumption, which led to this problem of obesity.
 
This shows that the goal of every person who wants to lose weight and maintain health should be to bring about lifestyle changes, including dietary changes. They should aim at having a healthy body that is willing to do what they like to do and one that they are comfortable with.

A list of low carbohydrate foods

It is true that some people are more prone than others to sugar imbalances and insulin resistance due to being genetically inclined; however, there are several other factors that also contribute to this condition, including poor diet, food allergies, stress, and an underactive thyroid. When huge amounts of certain carbohydrates are consumed, they do damage and cause these disorders. It helps to understand how carbohydrates can be beneficial as well as bad for the body. Carbohydrates that come from plant sources are excellent sources of energy, as they are completely converted to glucose in the body.

Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone compounds that frequently occur in nature as long-chain polymers of simple sugars. Depending on the degree of polymerization, carbohydrates are categorized as oligosaccharides or polysaccharides, or glycans. Carbohydrates can be defined structurally based on molecular structure. Under this definition, carbohydrates may be classified as simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Polysaccharides or large molecules composed of straight or branched chains of monosaccharides belong to complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are found in vegetables, whole grains, beans. They are sugar molecules attached to fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. These molecules break down slowly in the digestive tract and are gradually absorbed into the bloodstream. This makes a person feel full for a longer time and provides constant energy.

Carbohydrates are monosaccharides and disaccharides are simple carbohydrates. However, simple carbohydrates are not as simple as their name and are found in honey, sugars from fruit, table sugar, and corn syrup. They break down immediately and are absorbed by the blood quickly. Processed carbohydrates are also considered to be a part of the simple carbohydrates and they are found in junk food and sweets, such as pizza, white bread, donuts, soda, ice cream, and candy bars. Children and adults alike love these foods. Unfortunately, what tastes good is not always good for the body. These foods go directly into the bloodstream and require very little digestive activity. When simple carbohydrates are consumed, the pancreas gets confused as to how much insulin needs to be released, because of the sudden surge of glucose. It tries to do its best to cope with the demand and interprets it as a sugar emergency. These huge amounts of insulin released by the pancreas to meet the high demand are extremely bad for health and affect weight.
Another disastrous situation is when sugary foods are eaten alone and not in combination with protein or other nutrients. For example, the insulin secretion is 70% greater after eating a candy than after consuming the same number of calories from some other healthy snack. It is best to avoid simple carbohydrates as much as possible, particularly the carbohydrates from processed foods so as not to cause panic or confuse the pancreas, which can prove to be disastrous to the body.
 
Carbohydrates are one of the essential basic diet pillars and have various biological functions. In humans, carbohydrates function to provide a source of energy. Although fats and proteins also provide energy, carbohydrates are generally the major source of energy in human diets. Many people can’t consume large amounts of foods containing refined carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars. Low-carbohydrate diets prohibit or limit all foods containing starches and sugars, including cereals, all grains, potatoes, and foods made with them. Low-carb diets are based on the principle that excess carbohydrates are major contributors to large amounts of body fat. It is well known that several common human diseases are aggravated by the ingestion and assimilation of carbohydrates. Among them, diabetics are a result of failure for the human body to control and regulate blood sugar levels. Abnormal blood glucose levels are directly related to surplus carbohydrate ingestion.
Low-carbohydrate foods for a weight loss diet include fish, meats, shellfish, poultry, fats/oils, some dairy products (butter, heavy cream, and some cheeses), all green, other non-starchy vegetables, and other low carbohydrate fruits. Below is a list of low carbohydrate foods having less than 100 calories each serving.
  • Sunflower seed kernels – 2 tablespoons
  • Pumpkin seeds – 2 tablespoons
  • Walnuts – 2 tablespoons
  • Low-fat cream cheese on celery – 3 tablespoons
  • Pistachio nuts – 2 tablespoons
  • Pecans – 2 tablespoons
  • Macadamia nuts – 1.5 tablespoons
  • Peanuts – 2 tablespoons
  • Pine nuts – 2 tablespoons
  • Little Bell cheese, round, red wrap – 2 balls
  • Cashews – 1.5 tablespoons
  • Low-fat cheese slices – 2 slices
  • Peanut butter on celery – 1 tablespoon
  • Sliced turkey or chicken – 2 slices
  • Low-fat popcorn – 2 cups
  • Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese – ½ cup
  • String cheese – 2 sticks
  • Black Olives, canned – 18 olives
  • Laughing Cow cheese wedge – 2 wedges
  • Tomato juice – 2 cups
  • V-8 juice – 2 cups
  • Low-carb yogurt – 6 or 8 oz container