Diabetes Ahead: Atkins Detour Open
In an American society where fast food, processed meat, bleached enriched flour and high fructose corn syrup rule the roost, it's no wonder that the vast majority of Americans are headed for Type II diabetes. Type II is the diabetes that people acquire from long-term poor eating habits. This nutritional trend is also contributing to the epidemic of obesity in our nation. Luckily, the Atkins diet offers a solution that addresses both issues. It offers a way to delay, even prevent the acquired disease as well as weight loss.
The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index with regards to the level of insulin reaction they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.
We are able to more readily digest these foods as children, because our bodies function more efficiently in our youth. There may have been side effects, like weight gain and mood swings, but they didn't stand out. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more prevalent. The nation-wide obesity epidemic is a result of high-carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels.
A large part of the problem is the average American diet. Hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates work against our body's natural metabolic processes. Certain foods are known to have a high-glycemic index. A glycemic index is a number that refers to the effect a carbohydrate has on our blood sugar levels. The higher the number, the more insulin the pancreas has to produce to convert the sugar into usable energy. Unfortunately, the American diet is rich in high-glycemic index foods.
With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties become more aggravated. The condition is called "hyperinsulinism" and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is normally accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides.
Eating a low-carb, no-carb diet will reduce the extreme blood-sugar fluctuations that a body experiences when highly processes foods are digested and metabolized. The Atkins diet emphasizes a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Proteins are metabolized differently than carbohydrates in the body. They have less of an affect on the blood-sugar level. The effect is a more stable, continual level. This is the most desired insulin-sugar balance.
The Atkins diet directs a person through three stages that will allow them to regain control of their blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and weight problems. These include the Introductory Stage, Ongoing Weight-loss Stage, and the Pre-maintenance/Maintenance Stage. Good carbohydrates or low-glycemic index carbs are used to supplement the program and provide energy to the individual. The result is a manageable, healthy eating plan that does not lead Americans to obesity or other serious health risks.
Your body will work the way it was designed to. Who wouldn't want that?