Showing posts with label microbes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label microbes. Show all posts

12 December 2011

glocose




When carbs are eaten (both sugars AND starches)
They turn into Monosaccharides.
Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose are the 3 main Monosaccharides.

What about Sucrose?
Where it is in the blood? We eat alot of sucrose!
SUCROSE is made up of Glucose and Fructose.
See how that works?

So the food is eaten.
The Glucose, Fructose and Galactose are sent directly to the Liver
via the portal vein. That's what "portal" means. 
"Portal" has to do with the Liver (link)
In other words, these molecules go right to the blood stream.


The liver takes in most/some of the Monosaccharides.
First, it stores glycogen (link) in the liver. 
Then, some glycogen is stored in the muscles.
Then, if both of those are full - 
the excess is stored as Adipose Tissue.
As FAT! (link)


If there's extra Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose in the system (food)
And the liver can't uptake it all, and the rest goes to the intestines.
Where friendly flora have a hay-day! (link)


Fructose.
Fructose is - of course - from fruit.

And the molecule causes long-term problems
in the liver... in excess. Like high triglycerides.
And obesity.
They say to limit Fructose intake to 50 grams a day.

 Fructose does not affect blood sugar!
That is why people recommend eating fruits.
Blood Sugar readings are usually done via a Glucometer.
Which tests the amount of Glucose in the blood.
Glucose - not Fructose.
Fructose will not strongly affect glucose levels!
But it can sure keep your liver busy for while! (link)


When I see a Nurse recommend fruit for a Diabetic,
or a "Pre-Diabetic," or obese person, I come unwrapped!
Very sad. Berries have less Fructose. Try those!
The serving size of straw berries - is 6 berries, by the way.
Not a bowl full covered in sugar.
Or for fruit - ONE small apple. Or 15 grapes.
Fruit is not an All-You-Can-Gorge upon food.


Galactose.
Galactose  - is from Lactose - from Milk.
It can also be found in Beet Sugar.
And celery. But you'd have to eat a lot of it!
Galactose is another molecule that, in excess, 
can cause problems. Like aging. (link)
Most Galactose is easily converted to Glucose.
IF the person has the converting enzymes!
If not, they can be pretty sick! (link)
Lactose Intolerance is a different thing. (link)
But still causes problems for many people!


Glucose.
The biggie. Pun intended.
Glucose is the primary sugar of the body.
[That, and ketone bodies. (link)]
Glucose is also known as Dextrose.
"Dex" meaning "right" as in "right-handed."
The molecules of Dextrose spiral to the right.
While some others go to the left. 


Glucose is just a sugar molecule.
An abundant molecule.
Now comes the Pancreas. (link)
The very word "pan" means "all"
And "kreas" comes from "flesh."



The Pancreas is a lovely, happy little organ.
Who loves his job, but is no doubt over-worked.


When blood sugar is too low, the Pancreas
releases Glucagon (link)
Even excess protein can get converted to
glucose via gluconeogenisis. (link)
The word means " to make new glucose."


When blood sugar is too high, the Pancreas secretes Insulin (link)
Insulin is a hormone that brings the glucose into the cells.
Without Insulin, the Glucose can not cross into the cells
of the body.
A normal blood glucose (sugar) reading 
may - or may not - indicate a normal insulin response.
In people who are overweight,
it is thought that the response will not be so normal!


When Insulin is secreted, so is Amylin (link)
And Amylin has ties with Leptin (link)
And Leptin is all the "rage" in the diet world right now.
Leptin has direct and indirect ties with glucose
metabolism... and obesity.
Factors that affect Leptin, also affect inflammation.
Maybe that's why fish (N3) have a major role in
Leptin retraining diets. (link)


We all know what happens when Glucose is
eaten in excess. We either use the energy or store it.
Forget about calories and insulin and leptin
and everything else for a minute.
We either use it, or store it to use later.




Very few carbs are actually needed.
In fact - none are actually essential for human metabolism.

Cut back on fat - especially the fatty acids... 
That would be a mistake! Many vitamines are Fat Soluble.
And the Omega Series - absolutely essential!
To cut back on Protein in the diet - same thing.
Many essential Amino Acids there.


Hope this helps...
It's just a clarification of terms
 and in no way under the Sun
is the all-inclusive guide to anything!

resistant starches and gut flora



Have you ever heard of Resistant Starches?
The were first discovered (by accident)
In 1982. And have been making waves ever since.


Resistant Starches are sometimes left over
after the liver gleans the monosaccharides
from the carbs we eat.
They also sometimes bypass "regular" digestion (small intestine)
altogether and go directly to the colon (large intestine)
to be broken down there.

This is a good time to mention gut flora. (link
"WE" don't digest some of our own carbs - per se!
The bacteria and microbes in our intestines do that for us.  
The microbes then excrete Short Chain Fatty Acids, 
which go on to do all kinds of great and wonderful things.
For example. 
Lab Rats who lack this process typically eat 30% more calories.
Lucky Rats who have the process have better lab values 
in almost every area tested. (link)
The work that E Coli (and their Brethren) do is vital to all life and health.
Perhaps this is one reason why some long term 
Very Low Carb or Zero Carb Diets 
can fail after a certain amount of time. My thinking.
They say that artificial sweeteners can change these flora, too.
It takes 2 years for a newborn baby to fully develop the flora.
Maybe this is (in part) why the ever-mystical "Two-Year Fail" 
occurs in Atkins so much. Many LoCarbers and Paleo/Primal people
 eat a Fermented Sauerkraut to help with the process. 
Like Bubbies Brand (link)  or Kimche.

Don't confuse PREbiotics with PRObiotics.
PRObiotics are actual microbes we ingest,
like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.


Learning  all the way!