Diabetes: Deconstructing The Carbohydrate Myth
Jula Hanf
The classical definition of diabetes describes it as the condition in which the body is devoid of its ability to break down the glucose which it consumes into energy it can use, either because of a partial or complete lack of insulin production, or if it develops a resistance to insulin and hence does not respond to it. This glucose is obtained from carbohydrates and is then released into the blood stream where the cells of your body, upon being altered by the insulin, further metabolize it into energy. In view of this most-commonly referred-to definition of diabetes, most individuals mistakenly assume carbohydrates to be the root cause for all the malfunctions which lead to the occurrence of diabetes, and hence resort to eliminating carbohydrates completely as a preventive measure.
This reasoning, though supported by a large number of individuals, is a dangerous one, which will cause your body more harm than good. To better understand this, let us first study carbohydrates and the role they assume as a part of a dietary regime. Carbohydrates are simple organic compounds, which are the most easily accessible source of energy for the body to draw upon.
When an individual cuts away carbohydrates from his diet, he is virtually forcing his body into a state of starvation as it is deprived of the energy it needs for him to function. The body then resorts to breaking down proteins and fats, which are the next accessible sources of energy. This process of metabolizing fats and proteins to fuel the body, is an unnatural one, and results in the build-up of Ketones in the bloodstream.
Your body then attempts to purge out these Ketones with your urine and thus draws large quantities of water to dissolve the Ketones in so that they can be rapidly excreted. During this process, your body is swiftly depleted of its fluid content, which brings about severe dehydration, which can even result in death. This process of the production of Ketones and the exertion your body undergoes in purging them out is known as Ketoacidosis and is one of the more ill-famed complications attributed to diabetes. Weight is yet another issue with diabetics, as being overweight can not only augment the imbalances in blood glucose, but also place them at a heightened risk of coronary disease and several other problems.
Several modern day dietary programs, or fad diets as they are better known, propagate denouncing carbohydrates altogether and consuming only proteins-rich foods instead. The reasoning behind this practice is that carbohydrates are high inn calories and hence contribute to weight-gain. However, what these diets fail to consider is the fact that most protein-rich foods are very rich sources of saturated fats, which are co-conspirators of heart disease. Also, even though the individual may have lost a large amount of weight by eliminating carbohydrates, the weight comes right back on once he re-introduces them into his diet sometimes even more rapidly than the rate at which the weight was lost!
Curtailing a diet to completely eliminate one of the most significant foods groups also seems overwhelming to the individual, whom such a diet is imposed upon. This leads him to despair and lose all control, indulging in overfeeding himself with unhealthy foods, which will deteriorate his condition even further. This form of binge-eating leads the glucose levels haywire and allows diabetes to inflict its more dreaded complications, almost effortlessly.
When planning your dietary regime, ensure that carbohydrates form at least 60% of the calories you consume in a day. With carbohydrates, the quality of carbohydrates matters a lot more than the actual quantity you devour. Refined, processed foods only contribute in lowering your physical health and adding on those dreary pounds whereas complex carbohydrates, which still retain most of their natural fiber fortify your body with the array of nutrients they posses. Diabetes is a disease of proportions, and not of excesses. And hence, it is essential that you pay importance to regulating your food intake instead harshly restricting the kinds of food you consume. Empower yourself with awareness about diabetes today just this one step could keep you from becoming diabetes' next victim!
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.
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