Guest guest Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Well, this may confuse some people, so I'll share some correct information. The body has no " glucose reserves " , as this author suggests, but only the present level of blood sugar, and whatever sugar may be incoming from the digestive system. Also, glucose is a unbound single molecule-sugar (a monosaccharide), a simple sugar, not a complex carbohydrate. The human body, in the liver, manufactures a starch called glycogen, which it stores primarily in the muscles and in the liver. This stored glycogen DOES constitute a genuine fuel reserve. When a demand for accelerated fueling occurs (as with increased physical or mental activity of any kind), as the blood sugar level begins to drop, the body begins to convert this glycogen reserve back into glucose, our primary fuel. But the glycogen reserve is limited to perhaps 1500 calories, perhaps a bit more, and it is not rapidly replaced in ordinary circumstances. Therefore, If the demand for fuel continues for very long, the body moves to conserve its glycogen supply long before it approaches depletion, by beginning to convert stored fat into fuel. This process, known as gluconeogenesis (sugar - new - create), puts the body into a mild state of ketoacidosis (ketone production), for those familiar with either of these terms. If the demand for fuel continues long enough, eventually the glycogen reserve is exhausted, and the body must provide 100% of the needed fuel from other sources. If fat-into-sugar conversion cannot supply the required load, the body may begin to block our self-awareness by producing endorphins, the body's natural pain blockers (morphine). This enables us to keep going, because the body presumes there is some dire emergency such that we must do so. To my knowledge, this statement the lower the amount of readily available glucose reserves, the better the chance of burring fat is pure nonsense. There are no glucose reserves, we want our blood sugar level to remain fairly steady at all times (except under special circumstances, such as during fasting), and we want to replenish our glycogen reserves quickly and efficiently whenever they become even somewhat depleted. Further, this statement: The speed of conversion to glucose reserves of different foods is ranked by the Glycemic Index is also pure nonsense. The Glycemic Index ranks foods on the basis of the speed with which whatever sugar they contain is absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. But this index does not take into account the actual AMOUNT of sugar in a given food, only the speed with which a food unloads its sugar. Another scale, called the Glycemic Load, does take the actual amount of sugar in each food into account, thereby serving as a much more useful tool for selecting healthful foods. Best to all, Elchanan _____ selfhelpinfo Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:23 PM rawfood [Raw Food] How to burn through food choices The first source the body turns to is (glucose reserves), which is a complex carbohydrate.Glucose reserves quickly meet an immediate need for energy especially in activities making use of the muscles. When that source is nearly depleted, the body begins burning fat for energy. Fat cells, are broken down into energy reserves. For this reason, the lower the amount of readily available glucose reserves, the better the chance of buring fat. The speed of conversion to glucose reserves of different foods is ranked by the Glycemic Index. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Excellent post. Well and clearly stated. Thanks! tev Elchanan <Elchanan wrote: Well, this may confuse some people, so I'll share some correct information. The body has no " glucose reserves " , as this author suggests, but only the present level of blood sugar, and whatever sugar may be incoming from the digestive system. Also, glucose is a unbound single molecule-sugar (a monosaccharide), a simple sugar, not a complex carbohydrate. The human body, in the liver, manufactures a starch called glycogen, which it stores primarily in the muscles and in the liver. This stored glycogen DOES constitute a genuine fuel reserve. When a demand for accelerated fueling occurs (as with increased physical or mental activity of any kind), as the blood sugar level begins to drop, the body begins to convert this glycogen reserve back into glucose, our primary fuel. But the glycogen reserve is limited to perhaps 1500 calories, perhaps a bit more, and it is not rapidly replaced in ordinary circumstances. Therefore, If the demand for fuel continues for very long, the body moves to conserve its glycogen supply long before it approaches depletion, by beginning to convert stored fat into fuel. This process, known as gluconeogenesis (sugar - new - create), puts the body into a mild state of ketoacidosis (ketone production), for those familiar with either of these terms. If the demand for fuel continues long enough, eventually the glycogen reserve is exhausted, and the body must provide 100% of the needed fuel from other sources. If fat-into-sugar conversion cannot supply the required load, the body may begin to block our self-awareness by producing endorphins, the body's natural pain blockers (morphine). This enables us to keep going, because the body presumes there is some dire emergency such that we must do so. To my knowledge, this statement the lower the amount of readily available glucose reserves, the better the chance of burring fat is pure nonsense. There are no glucose reserves, we want our blood sugar level to remain fairly steady at all times (except under special circumstances, such as during fasting), and we want to replenish our glycogen reserves quickly and efficiently whenever they become even somewhat depleted. Further, this statement: The speed of conversion to glucose reserves of different foods is ranked by the Glycemic Index is also pure nonsense. The Glycemic Index ranks foods on the basis of the speed with which whatever sugar they contain is absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. But this index does not take into account the actual AMOUNT of sugar in a given food, only the speed with which a food unloads its sugar. Another scale, called the Glycemic Load, does take the actual amount of sugar in each food into account, thereby serving as a much more useful tool for selecting healthful foods. Best to all, Elchanan _____ selfhelpinfo Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:23 PM rawfood [Raw Food] How to burn through food choices The first source the body turns to is (glucose reserves), which is a complex carbohydrate.Glucose reserves quickly meet an immediate need for energy especially in activities making use of the muscles. When that source is nearly depleted, the body begins burning fat for energy. Fat cells, are broken down into energy reserves. For this reason, the lower the amount of readily available glucose reserves, the better the chance of buring fat. The speed of conversion to glucose reserves of different foods is ranked by the Glycemic Index. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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