| Carbohydrates are vital macronutrients, though they | | | | further and further away from their natural states, and |
| are certainly not all created equal, especially when | | | | instead opting for "convenience foods" that have been |
| trying to lose weight or boost health. Improving the | | | | stripped of nutrients, bleached, and refined until there is |
| quality of your carbohydrates improves the quality of | | | | nothing wholesome left in them. Little do we know, we |
| your health and life. This means limiting those that strip | | | | are paying a high price for these addictive foods. It |
| the body of vital nutrients and raise blood sugar levels | | | | takes so much for our bodies to process them that it |
| sharply, while adding in slower- releasing high fiber | | | | drains our mineral reserves, and raises our blood sugar |
| carbohydrates. | | | | levels where a flood of insulin always follows. Insulin |
| Refined carbohydrates causes rapid swings in blood | | | | circulating the blood stream for long periods is not an |
| glucose levels, which can raise the risk of diabetes, | | | | ideal situation as it can cause insulin resistance, a |
| heart disease, and weight gain. The process of refining | | | | precursor to type 2 diabetes. |
| breaks down complex carbohydrates into simple | | | | Better forms of carbohydrates include whole grains, |
| carbohydrates. When you eat simple carbohydrates, | | | | fresh fruits, and vegetables. These foods are closer to |
| you get a rapid increase in blood sugar levels and a | | | | their natural state therefore include fiber, enzymes, B |
| corresponding surge of energy. A sudden drop, | | | | vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains that are not |
| however, follows this surge, as the body works to | | | | refined do not have a huge effect on blood sugar |
| balance the blood sugar levels and bring them back to | | | | levels, just as legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils |
| normal. Keeping blood sugar levels steady is one of | | | | do not. Eating these fiber-rich foods will help to prevent |
| the most important factors in weight loss. When the | | | | bowel cancer, diverticular disease, diabetes, and |
| levels are too high, we can store excess sugar as | | | | obesity. By introducing foods that are slower releasing |
| glycogen (a short-term fuel) and turn it into fat. When | | | | into the body, we can help control the appetite, thus |
| the levels are too low, we experience a host of | | | | have an easier time losing weight. |
| symptoms including, fatique, depression, digestion | | | | The moral of the story here is to eat whole foods |
| problems, headaches, etc. Weight gain is also a result | | | | such as fruits, vegetables, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, |
| as when the blood sugar drops too low, it burns more | | | | oats, and whole grains such as quinoa, millet, brown |
| muscle and stores more fat. | | | | rice, wild rice, whole grain pastas, and buckwheat, while |
| Diabetes is a form of extreme blood sugar imbalance. | | | | staying clear of the center grocery store isles which |
| This is where the body finally stops producing insulin, a | | | | often contain processed, packaged food. |
| hormone that helps carry the glucose out of the blood | | | | A surge in energy is sure to follow, along with better |
| and into our cells. This results in excess glucose | | | | regularity, and weight loss. Do not be afraid of |
| circulating the bloodstream and not enough in the cells. | | | | carbohydrates any longer. They contain vital nutrients |
| Each day, over 4,000 people are diagnosed with | | | | and energy that our bodies need every day. Though it |
| diabetes. This stems from years of eating refined | | | | is important, to search out those that are truly serving |
| carbohydrates such as sugars, white flours, white rice, | | | | us, and not just a plethora of pretty packages. |
| and packaged products. We are eating foods that are | | | | |