are our bodies getting enough glucose?

[redness]

as carbs are broken down into glucose and glucose supplies energy for most of the bodies activities and the brain and help in the process of buildin cartilage bone and tissue are we getting enough if we are in induction of atkins or even meat and egging it?

theyre also needed to create protein - but if on low carb we are eating more protein than someone on low fat - is it not needed for this?

[LessLiz]

Human beings do not need *any* carbohydrates. The body can make its own glucose from proteins.

[scotchtape]

you should read Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. It explains everything.

[redness]

just went on amazon hoping to be able to buy it for a penny plus a couple of quid postage. but its about £10. will see if i can get from anywhere else.

thanks,
:)

[scotchtape]

It is SO worth it.

[black57]

Once upon a time, rice,wonder bread and snicker bars did not exist. In all reality, at least for me, I got the majority of my glucose from Lays and Hostess. I also got glucose from rice, potatoes,corn.. My diet then is not nearly as healthy as my diet now and I usually have a very adequate protein and fat diet. I eat some of the healthiest low carb fruits and vegetables and this is all my body needs. My bloodwork is exemplary. This leads me to conclude that I don't need any carby nonsense. I went back to college about a year before going low carb. I was getting A's before that ( of course ) and I continued to get A's after going low carb. I ran in a 5K race and I made an extra effort to eat extra low carb at this time. I have done instrumental recitals. I am living a normal and intelligent life for under 50 grams of carbs. But usually my carb intake is 20 grams or less per day. Just recently I had xrays taken of my joints and the doc was impressed with my healthy bone mass. Impressed because he was expecting to fine osteoporosis because of my age. Well, I guess I showed him.

[oakdryad]

as carbs are broken down into glucose and glucose supplies energy for most of the bodies activities and the brain and help in the process of buildin cartilage bone and tissue are we getting enough if we are in induction of atkins or even meat and egging it?

theyre also needed to create protein - but if on low carb we are eating more protein than someone on low fat - is it not needed for this?

Carbs are generally the *preferred* energy source because they are easily converted to glucose. However, carbs are NOT essential, and there are no known conditions created by a deficiency of carbs. Protein is broken down into its component amino acids and is used as the building blocks for cartilage, bone and tissue. Fat (including body fat) can be burned for energy, and the resulting ketone bodies are an acceptable source of fuel for most bodily activities. And in the absence of carbs, the body can also convert protein into glucose AS NEEDED through the process of gluconeogenesis to keep blood glucose levels within a tight normal range to provide fuel for those organs not ketone adapated.

Gary Taubes has a great explanation of these mechanisms. I've also learned much of what I understand of the process from Dr. Mike Eades (co-author of Protein Power and other books) and his blog. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/

[ElleH]

as carbs are broken down into glucose and glucose supplies energy for most of the bodies activities and the brain and help in the process of buildin cartilage bone and tissue are we getting enough if we are in induction of atkins or even meat and egging it?

The body has mechanisms for making glucose out of proteins to keep the glucose within its range in the bloodstream. No carbohydrate is needed to keep adequate levels of glucose in the blood.

theyre also needed to create protein - but if on low carb we are eating more protein than someone on low fat - is it not needed for this?

Glucose needed to make cartilage, bone, tissue and protein? This is news to me!

[Lovimylife]

Everything breaks down into sugars in your body. It is a matter of which foods you eat that determine how quick your sugar levels rise stimulating insulin.

[ElleH]

Everything breaks down into sugars in your body.

This is more news to me. I guess I'm just totally out of it...

[LessLiz]

You mean you didn't know that amino acids and ketones are sugar? :devil:

[ElleH]

No...I didn't and I'm wondering how I missed that in medical training and all the reading about LC diets I've done over the last decade.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic...I'm really just not aware of that (everything breaks down to sugar), and am wondering if it's somehow true?

[KvonM]

Carbs are generally the *preferred* energy source because they are easily converted to glucose.
unfortunately saying this is like saying "newspaper is the preferred energy source for your furnace instead of oil or hard wood."

our livers make glucose out of dietary protein. eating excess carbs to do the same function makes as much sense as drinking human blood in order to fix blood pressure issues.

[Wifezilla]

FATS do not break down to sugar. CARBS do and so does SOME protein.

[pengu1]

I don't know about amino acids, but fatty acids are broken down in to ketone bodies, which are then used by the mitochondria to produce ATP, which is what fuels the cells in your body.

Uh, I think. It's pretty confusing stuff but I have been doing alot of reading as well as listening to some of the more knowledgeable people here on this board. A quick Google search tells me the name of the essential amino acids we get from food are named, Isoleucine, Alanine, Leucine, Asparagine, Lysine, Aspartate, Methionine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine, Glutamate,Threonine, Glutamine, Tryptophan, Glycine, Valine, Proline, Arginine, Serine, Histidine, Tyrosine.

None of those end with the suffix "-ose" which is the normal ending for sugars such as sucrose, dextrose, fructose or lactose. Hope that helps. :)

[redness]

by eating so much fat does it still clogg are arteries?

so basically, carbs break down into sugar which make us gain weight...

but fat doesnt have an effect on us unless mixed with carbs? why?

[ElleH]

No, fat does not clog the arteries. It is being shown that excess carbs (and insulin) starts the chain reaction that leads to atherosclerosis. In the presence of carbs fat is very bad b/c of the insulin produced.

I highly recommend the book Good Caloires Bad Calories to clear up all these questions with science-based answers.

[redness]

yes, i think i will get the book actually :)

what i dont understand though...is that if a bunch of people on an internet forum can see how low carbing is a good WOL then why cant professional doctors/dietitians? why wont they admit to it? obvs its not like its something thats totally been made up and goes against nature as this IS how we used to eat in cave men times etc. which i would have thought means theres nothing more natural than the way they lived?

[ElleH]

That is the million dollar question. It baffles me every single day!

[pengu1]

That is the million dollar question. It baffles me every single day!

<cynicism>
That's an easy one to answer. The BILLION dollar diet industry. The BILLION dollar Pharmaceutical industry. The BILLION dollar insurance industry. Not that I think any of them are actually evil incarnate, but each and every one of them has been funding studies that benefit them and they show these to the Congress who pass favorable bills for them and for a few extra dollars per person per year we the people are ending up fat, on pills, paying high premiums, or dead. </cynicism>

ETA: Forgot about the BILLION dollar Farm subsidies given to corporate farmers.

[Kisal]

yes, i think i will get the book actually :)

what i dont understand though...is that if a bunch of people on an internet forum can see how low carbing is a good WOL then why cant professional doctors/dietitians? why wont they admit to it? obvs its not like its something thats totally been made up and goes against nature as this IS how we used to eat in cave men times etc. which i would have thought means theres nothing more natural than the way they lived?Doctors are actually taught very little about nutrition, and few have the time or inclination to study the subject on their own, unless they have personal reasons to do so. IMHO, it was probably Dr. Atkins' personal need to control his own weight and improve his health that lead him to research lc.

[oakdryad]

unfortunately saying this is like saying "newspaper is the preferred energy source for your furnace instead of oil or hard wood."

our livers make glucose out of dietary protein. eating excess carbs to do the same function makes as much sense as drinking human blood in order to fix blood pressure issues.

You're right. And if I hadn't been posting at O'Dark Thirty this morning, I probably would have added something along the lines of "while they may be the preferred source because of the ease of conversion, carbs/glucose are not the only nor are they the best source of energy for the body. Most of the body's functions are readily (and most likely originally) adapted to burning fat and/or ketones for fuel."

After all, these days my primary sources of energy are fat and protein. NOT carbs. :D

[black57]

And if I hadn't been posting at O'Dark Thirty this morning, :D


I love it...O'Dark Thirty. :D :D

[black57]

yes, i think i will get the book actually :)

what i dont understand though...is that if a bunch of people on an internet forum can see how low carbing is a good WOL then why cant professional doctors/dietitians? why wont they admit to it? obvs its not like its something thats totally been made up and goes against nature as this IS how we used to eat in cave men times etc. which i would have thought means theres nothing more natural than the way they lived?

Exactly, which is why it is a good thing that forums like these exist so that we have somewhere to go. What would we do without the internet?

[black57]

by eating so much fat does it still clogg are arteries?

so basically, carbs break down into sugar which make us gain weight...

but fat doesnt have an effect on us unless mixed with carbs? why?

Fat is a natural by-product of the human body. By consuming protein and fat, insulin is regulated. This results in the production of glucagon which keeps blood glucose from dropping too low. You see, glucagon and insulin are the yin and yan of the factories we call our "bodies". Not only does glucagon contibutes to the balance of blood glucose, it alerts the liver to stop or reduce cholesterol production. It also "washes" unneeded fats from the bloodstreamas it relaxes the fine musculature around veins and arteries, resulting in a stabilized blood pressure. Glucagon is what puts the body into ketosis as it enhances lipolysis. When insulin and glucagon are running at top form, goo won't clog the engine.And guess what? When insulin is elevated, glucagon does not exist causing blood lipids and glucose to go whacky. The primary way to control insulin levels is to control all forms of sugar intake. :agree: This is covered in the Eades book, "Protein Power".

[NorthPeace]

Glycerol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol#Metabolism) can be converted to glucose by the liver.

[ElleH]

Well, my understanding is that the body will convert these compounds, glycerol and amino acids, in order to keep the blood glucose in it's tight range, when needed. So the body is not going to be deficient in glucose. It's a protective mechanism.

[oakdryad]

Well, my understanding is that the body will convert these compounds, glycerol and amino acids, in order to keep the blood glucose in it's tight range, when needed. So the body is not going to be deficient in glucose. It's a protective mechanism.


Elle, that's my understanding as well. :agree: The *when needed* is the key.

[ElleH]

That is what Dr Mike Eades told me!