The Winning Solution
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.
Type II diabetes is the result of blood sugar gone wild. The consumption of highly-processed carbohydrates and refined sugars send blood sugar levels skyrocketing. In response, a healthy pancreas reacts by producing and releasing a larger dose of insulin. Insulin unlocks the body’s cell, allowing it to convert sugar into usable energy. When insulin is released in large doses, the body also releases adrenaline to bring everything back to balance. Unfortunately, this process creates what looks like a hill and valley pattern.
In youth, this pattern is continually repeated with little or no visible consequence. While children may gain a few pounds here or there, the possibility of acquiring diabetes is not usually considered seriously. Healthy systems recover quickly and easily. As we age though, the continued pattern takes its toll on our heart and circulatory system. The body becomes insulin resistant. That is, no amount of insulin works effectively to reduce blood sugar levels. At that point we become pre-diabetic or can acquire Type II diabetes.
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.
The Atkins diet was designed to assist individuals wanting to lose weight, reduce cholesterol levels or control blood sugar fluctuations. The Atkins diet emphasizes a high protein, low carb diet. Carbohydrates have the most impact on blood-sugar levels. Depending on how efficiently they are metabolized, a carbohydrate is ranked with either high or low-glycemic index. The higher the rank, the more insulin the pancreas has to produce to convert the sugar to energy.
In the Atkins diet, proteins are emphasized more in the plan. Proteins have little affect on blood-sugar levels. Therefore they help maintain a more steady balance in the body’s system. Low-glycemic index carbohydrates are incorporated as an energy source. While these still raise blood-sugar levels, it is at a much slower rate than highly processed, refined sugar and carbohydrates.
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.
The Atkins diet helps effectively control blood sugar. The combination of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates will keep your body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity as well as type will help limit the insulin spikes. This will let your pancreas work in the way that it was meant to be, and it will decrease the likelihood of your developing pre-diabetic conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively it produces stable blood sugar throughout the day and helps you stay off the road to diabetes.
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.