In reality, even though we watch our diet, blood sugar is not a perfect science. However it is known that some foods are more influential than others. These foods are mostly carbohydrates - and they can affect more than just our blood sugar. Carbohydrates can affect our moods and appetite through a neurotransmitter called serotonin.
Serotonin is unique in that it is indirectly controlled by foods, specifically carbohydrates. It's not surprising that eating foods like chocolate cake and potato chips can lift your spirits for a moment or two - but the aftermath doesn't always seem as exhilarating. This becomes a fattening trend, after a while. Why do we get a spiritual uplift from indulging in these no no yum yums?
There is an explanation for this fattening fix. Different sugars affect the brain in different ways. Beware of sugars that are more processed like: glucose, dextrose, and sucrose. These sugars enter the bloodstream quickly, reaching high levels in a short time. This triggers the release of large amounts of insulin. The evolution of man has not adapted for highly refined sugars. This type of sugar is quickly ushered to the cells. Depending on how active a person you are - this energy may not be used up and therefore results to fat storage. A good indicator to use when choosing carbs is the glycemic index. The lower you stay on the index, the less the overall impact on your blood sugar rise. Checkout Fifty50 glycemic index for a list of everyday foods.
1. Hi Allie and Anyone else who is interested in the CAUSE, CURE & PREVENTION of type 1a, type1b, type 1.5 & type 2 'diabetes mellitus' [as a follow-up to my previous post]...
http://www.thediabetesblog.com/2007/05/13/a-leaf-extract-lowers-insulin-requirements-in-iddm/1#c6552563
re Allie's comment Posted Aug 3rd 2007 10:40PM...
"...our blood sugar. Carbohydrates can affect our moods and appetite through a neurotransmitter called serotonin..."
Why are Diabetics so hooked on HYPOglycaemic drugs such as GM insulin?
Researchers RJ Wurtman and JJ Wurtman state: "...many patients learn to overeat carbohydrates (particularly snack foods, like potato chips or pastries, which are rich in carbohydrates and fats) to make themselves feel better. This tendency to use certain foods as though they were drugs is a frequent cause of weight gain, and can also be seen in patients who become fat when exposed to stress, or in women with premenstrual syndrome, or in patients with "winter depression," or in people who are attempting to give up smoking. (Nicotine, like dietary carbohydrates, increases brain serotonin secretion; nicotine withdrawal has the opposite effect.) It also occurs in patients with normal-weight bulimia...".
The ADA teaches: (a) that carbohydrates should form "45% to 65%" of the calories of a Diabetic's diet; and (b) "discourages low-carb diets (diets that limit carbohydrate to fewer than 130 grams per day)"; and (c) "In people with type 2 diabetes, eating protein can make the body more responsive to insulin. Thus, it can lower blood glucose levels"...
http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/DiabetesBasics0307.pdf
Reasonably extensive research of the scientific literature suggests: (a) that Humans, including Athletes, have virtually ZERO requirements for carbohydrate because virtually all the required biochemical products of carbohydrates [with the possible exception of less than 1 gram of vitamin C per day] can be manufactured within the Human body; and (b) that only a lifetime of athletic-like activity can virtually guarantee preventing diabetes on a diet that derives "45% to 65%" of the calories from carbohydrate [ie more than 130 times the carbohydrate requirement of a Human body]; and (c) that the major contributory factor for over-consumption of HYPOglycaemic drugs is the over-consumption of carbohydrates [A Polish doctor, Jan Kwasniewski, has successfully treated type-1 Diabetics for over thirty years merely by reducing their carbohydrate intake to 'an amount dictated by the insulin-producing capacity of the sufferer']...
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/diabetes.html
WHAT CAUSES DIABETES...
Eating too often [for that particular Individual at that particular period of their life] causes relative HYPOglycaemia and relative HYPOglycaemia causes a reduction of beta cells/activity [especially type 1] and/or reduced insulin sensitivity aka insulin resistance [especially type 2].
www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0705863104v1
WHAT CURES DIABETES...
(A) Maintain basal insulin [eg type 1 exogenous / type 2 endogenous] to prevent ketoacidosis [pH > 7.2].
www.jped.com.br/conteudo/07-83-S11/ing.pdf
(B) Eat Less Often ... specifically ... Eat JUST clean water [zero% carbohydrate] between meals & eat ONLY when your blood glucose level, following your previous eat, has naturally reduced to your chosen baseline blood glucose level [eg as related to the relative fuel demands of your particular activity level] and consciously helping your body learn this habit, of 'supply & demand' glucose control, makes your cure sustainable.
(C) Await daily recovery, sustainable, in respect of your increased reduction of relative HYPOglycaemia ie increasingly efficient reduction of the cause ... increasingly efficiently facilitates the gradual recovery your beta cells & insulin sensitivity ... ie gradually towards the total sustainable cure [days/weeks/months for type 1a & type 1.5 ... or ... hours/days/weeks for type 1b & type 2].
WHAT PREVENTS DIABETES...
Eat Less Often ... specifically ... Eat JUST clean water [zero % carbohydrate] between meals & eat ONLY when your blood glucose level, following your previous eat, has naturally reduced to your chosen baseline blood glucose level [eg as related to the relative fuel demands of your particular activity level] and maintaining this habit, of 'supply & demand' glucose control, makes your prevention, of diabetes mellitus, sustainable.
...Warm thanks; Nick Dynes Gracey, BSc(Hons) Medical Biochemistry, Birmingham University, UK, WATerian c/o www.TheDiabetesBlog.com @ 12:17hrs SUN.05.AUG.2007.
... Diabetes Is Caused By Food And Or Drug Administration Too Much And Or Too Often.
www.thediabetesblog.com/2007/04/19/no-food-no-problem
ps FOR MORE related info please follow the links via...
www.thediabetesblog.com/2007/07/25/early-prevention-of-type-1-diabetes-human-trials/1#c6436217
Posted at 8:23AM on Aug 5th 2007 by Nicholas Dynes Gracey