Archive for November, 2009

The Sugar Rush & Crash

November 28th, 2009

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Glucose levels in the blood rise as a result of consuming various candies and/or sweets. Such is evident when one consumes any substance with a substantial amount of sugar in a short span of time. It is also common to feel a sudden rush in energy and euphoria. Many people report feeling considerably more frantic, motivated or jittery during this time. Although one may feel outwardly productive, however, the benefits are fleeting and the consequences of such a rush are also equally felt. After the sugar has entered the blood stream, and before it is processed in the body, is when one feels the jittery effects of the sugar. The blood glucose is then processed in our body and transferred to be stored into our tissues for later use. This causes one to feel the “sugar crash,” or the sudden and obvious effects of a sudden decrease in glucose in the blood. Any excess in glucose, in addition, is a main contributor to weight-gain.

The benefit of using Healthy Curb is that it considerably decreases the effects that a sugar crash has on your productivity and metabolic levels! Healthy Curb aids in appetite suppression by assisting the body in controlling blood glucose. In addition to controlling blood glucose, Healthy Curb also aids to repair the cell wall which in turn produces energy production in a more efficient manner. By creating energy in this healthy and organic manner, it helps to fuel the body and the effects of sugar crashes are effectively avoided. In addition to helping to curb the effects of a sugar crash, Healthy Curb efficiently blocks starch calories from carbohydrates. It is also made entirely of food and food extracts. Healthy Curb is an all healthy and natural alternative to the abundance of toxic diet pills on the market, and it has proven weight loss results.

Food Curb: Episode 2 – Pumpkin Pie is Not A Veggie!

November 24th, 2009
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Easy on the Sweet Tooth

November 24th, 2009

candyOur society’s collective sweet tooth is an adaptive response. It goes back to days of the caveman, and it’s what encourages us to eat foods that are high in energy and nutrients. The problem is that the refinement of sugar has removed all the beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and other plant compounds that give naturally sweet foods their nutritional value.

As mentioned in a previous post, the average American consumes approximately 115 pounds of sugar a year. That’s a lot of sugar considering the recommended daily intake of sugar is 32 grams or 8 teaspoons. This is about 6% of your total daily calories. However, not all sugars are created equally, so be sure to choose healthy sugars rather than empty sugars with little to no actual nutritional value.

Soft drinks are the form in which most sugar is consumed. A 12 ounce soda contains 68 grams of sugar, which is already more than a person needs for their entire day! Sugar is also added to hamburgers to reduce shrinkage and add juiciness, to breading in deep fried foods, or to give frozen fish a sheen. It is also commonly added to canned and frozen fruit and vegetables to maintain bright coloring and succulence.

Rather than getting your sugar from an overly processed meal, be sure to get it from something more natural like low fat milk products including soy milk, fresh fruits, and vegetables. The sugar in these foods are better for the body because they occur naturally in foods and still contain much-needed nutrients.

The Not-So-Sweet-Side of Sugar

November 23rd, 2009

Not-So-Sweet Side of SugarYogurt. Canned Fruits. Ketchup. Breakfast cereals. Cupcakes. What do these popular foods all have in common? They all contain sugar. As a result of massive amounts of processing sugars show up in a lot of the foods we eat. Some sugar can me processed into energy, but too much sugar can result in unwanted weight gain, and there’s nothing sweet about that type of muffin top.

Because sugars are added into a variety of foods we eat, these sugars often carry a high glycemic index rating which in turn means that these sugars will be absorbed quickly within our bloodstream. This then causes the pancreas to give off insulin, which then lowers the blood sugar levels in our bodies. This roller coaster of blood sugar levels puts stress on our body and it can also lead to diabetes and a chance for coronary disease.

The average American consumes approximately 115 lbs of sugar per year. This overconsumption of sugar often results in obesity, and with nearly two-thirds of the US population classified as being overweight, obesity is a major problem.

Photo Credit: SugarStacks.com

Food Curb: Episode 1 – Turkey Tips

November 17th, 2009
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Is Turkey Really to Blame for your Tiredness?

November 16th, 2009

Turkey TiredMost Americans will be eating turkey during their holiday meals. It is common belief that turkey is to blame for the sleepy feeling we experience after our holiday meals, but is there actually any truth behind this turkey tale?

Contrary to popular belief, turkey is not the direct cause for your post-dinner lethargy. Turkey does, however, contain L-tryptophan, an amino acid which has been correlated with sleepiness. L-tryptophan can metabolize into serotonin and melatonin, neurotransmitters that regulate sleep, but to feel the amount of drowsiness often blamed on turkey, you would need to consume L-tryptophan on an empty stomach without any other amino acids or protein.  In fact, other meats like chicken and pork contain the same levels of tryptophan, if not more than turkey. The reason you don’t get drowsy from these foods is because they contain other amino acids that cancel out the lethargic effects. Thus, this myth can be debunked.

If Not Turkey, than What?

That lethargic feeling occurring after a large meal is due to a combination of factors. First, it requires a lot of energy to digest a large meal. Blood will be redirected from other organs and the nervous system to help you digest all the food in your stomach. This same goes for foods high in fat because of the energy required to break it down. Additionally, if you plan on drinking alcohol during the festivities, remember that alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can add to your drowsiness.

The effects of the tryptophan in your turkey are amplified by the consumption of other high carb foods. The mixture of the two causes the levels of amino acids in the brain rise, leading to serotonin synthesis.  The result of which causes your body to produce insulin and causes the amino acids needed compete with the sleep-inducing tryptophan to leave the bloodstream, leaving you with a high level of tryptophan in your bloodstream. In the end, the serotonin synthesis is what gives you that lethargic feeling.

Thus, the drowsiness after your meal is due to a combination of factors, not just the turkey.