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Carbohydrates and the Brain
For people on weight loss diets and just trying to keep the carbohydrates (carbs) down to a minimum in their diets, we have a little news for you. In order to function properly, our brain requires quite a significant amount of fuel in the form of glucose in order to receive, process, and retain information throughout or daily lives. Without complex carbohydrates, our bodies will tend to feel weakened, a little ‘spaced-out’, and sometimes even faint. So what you are telling us is that we now have to add lots of carbs to our diets? Precisely. However, many people get simple and complex carbohydrates a bit confused sometimes and this is what this article is all about.
Too much sugar in our diets can really cause some damage. It can cause insulin levels to go through the roof, causing risk of diabetes, it can cause us to feel confused, irritated and even dehydrated when taking in the simple and refined sugars from liquid candy and sodas, for example. And, nowadays, it seems we have no place to go as we are told that nearly everything can be bad for us, it seems. However, that is what the glycemic index is used for! First, I want to mention why we need glucose. Over 10% of our body’s energy goes straight to our brain as the cells that communicate with each other called neurons are always in a state of metabolic activity and those bioelectric signals are burning fuel like crazy. In other words, we are always thinking and we need fuel in order to run ourselves.So, let’s get down to it. There are two main types of carbohydrates. Simple and Complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are found in most of the processed and refined foods (like candy and corn syrup) and maybe some natural foods. They consist of short-chained sugar molecules that easily break and can rapidly be absorbed in our bloodstream creating that rush we have all experienced. The downside here is that the pancreas then to compensate, pumps out its high levels of insulin. We all know what lots and lots of insulin causes: diabetes. But, complex carbohydrates are different. They are more like ‘time-release’ capsules of energy that will optimize our brains performance.
The time-release function of complex carbohydrates is caused by the cellulose fibres that surround the sugars and slow the digestion process and spread out that energy output, keeping us in good shape. The liver then breaks down the longer strains (thus complex carbs) into the shorter ones (kind of like the simple carbs, in a way) and then allowing it into our blood. Now, if we don’t have the right amounts of glucose from this process, our brains will begin to tire out quickly and we will end up with a harsh case of the ‘out of it’ sensation that many experience when on straight protein diets. You have to get those carbs in there, but the right ones! Please note that the lower the glycemic index number, the more gradual the release of glucose in your bloodstream which minimizes blood sugar swings and optimizes focus and brainpower.
Overall, we must always keep complex carbohydrates as a part of our daily diet. There are many more reasons beyond the scope of this article, such as strokes and mental decline due to diabetes and more. But hopefully this will create some awareness of the real risks involved with some of today’s proposed diet plans and popular products heavily marketed in stores today. The brain is obviously one of our most essential pieces of equipment and we must treat it accordingly. If you like cars, look at it this way: you would give that Corvette Stingray with the 457 under the hood the special fuel it needs, so why not the generator which makes all of your motors run?
Courtesy of S. Michael Windsor
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by peter sim 23rd February 2010
What a load of nonsensical non scientific rubbish.
The amount of carbohydrates a a human needs to function properly
is not very much at all.
In fact there are many recorded instances of people thriving on low
or no carbohydrate diets for long periods.
All digestible carbohydrates (complex or not) is converted to glucose
when it is digested.
Whenever you eat bread,pasta, pizza, "breakfast cereals", and most vegetables, you are simply consuming a simple sugar called glucose.
It might not start out like that but by the time your stomach and duodenum have dealt to the carbohydrates your blood serum levels of glucose will have risen sharply.
The brain can function very well without carbohydrates. (Ask a lion).
There is a very good source of metabolic energy called ketones.
Ketones occur when glucose is absent in the blood serum. They come from released fat stored in our fat storage cells. The brain loves them.
Where does this stored fat come from?
I doubt there would be many reading this post who would not have a few kilos of stored energy (=fat) hanging about.
Do your brain a favour and give up on carbohydrates.
The difference between complex and simple carbohydrates is irrelevant.
Your gut will turn them into glucose. Most of which is quite unnecessary
for your continued healthy existence.
Cheers to rational debate.
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