The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on
role of insulin in our body. There are three basic units body uses for energy: Fats, Proteins, and Carbohydrates.All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly causing quick spikes in body’s blood sugar levels. These spikes in blood sugar levels cause pancreas to create and release insulin until blood sugar level returns to normal.
Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in pancreas that lowers our blood’s glucose levels is released into blood as soon as body detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.
Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs body’s fuel storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in blood insulin will signal body to store it in body’s fat cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by body as energy.
Since this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy, insulin very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher body’s insulin levels, more effectively it prevents fat cells from releasing their stores, and harder it becomes to lose weight. According to many authorities, over long term, high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause serious health problems like obesity, accelerated aging, increased food allergies and intolerances, overworked immune system, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
