Lose weight fast, eat low carbohydrate foods, exercise regularly
Jan 11, 2005
Overweight people need to eat the right carbohydrates to shed excess weight, says Dr. Ruth Kiboneka, a senior nutritionist at Mulago Hospital.
By Titus Sserunjogi
Overweight people need to eat the right carbohydrates to shed excess weight, says Dr. Ruth Kiboneka, a senior nutritionist at Mulago Hospital. Several studies suggest that a constant diet of potato chips and soft drinks will increase blood sugar levels and the risk of obesity, diabetes or heart disease. Whole grain cereals and unsweetened lemon juice lower cholesterol. They also speed up the digestion of fats.
The body changes most of the carbohydrates we eat into glucose, the sugar that our cells burn for energy. Once glucose enters the blood stream, the pancreas releases insulin to help the cells absorb it. One should eat only enough carbohydrates. For the body converts any excess sugars into fat and stores it beneath the skin.
Researchers at the University of Toronto showed that potato chips, white rice, juice concentrates, cakes, macaroni and cheese all deliver excess glucose into the blood stream. However, oats, whole grain maize, beans, and bananas deliver just enough. The basic rule is to avoid processed or junk food. When fruits are preserved as juice or grains ground into extra-fine flour, they become the equivalent of sugar water. They press the body to secrete excess insulin and may lead to diabetes. Junk food also increases bad cholesterol in blood, leading high blood pressure and heart disease.
Junk foods also trigger off overeating. According to Dr. Jonathan Ogwang of Mulago Hospital, they “suppress the activity of glucagons, the hormone that signals the cells to burn stored glucose for energy.†The brain cells grow weaker an, in search for a quick solution, they send out hunger signals. Most people will respond by eating the same high-sugar processed foods. This repeats the whole process over again and leads ultimately to obesity.
Dr. Robert Atkins, the late American heart surgeon, popularised the low carbohydrate diet 30 years ago. Researchers today believe that he was at least half right. The Atkins diet is as good as the low fat diet in helping obese people shed off extra kilos. Research has shown that people can tolerate a low-carbohydrate diet longer.
Diabetes often occurs in people who’re overweight or physically inactive. Their tissues cannot absorb all the glucose from the blood stream. So whenever they take high sugar foods, their brain cells signal the pancreas to secret excess insulin. The only trick to shedding off extra kilos is to eat low-carbohydrate foods and to exercise regularly.
Ends
Overweight people need to eat the right carbohydrates to shed excess weight, says Dr. Ruth Kiboneka, a senior nutritionist at Mulago Hospital. Several studies suggest that a constant diet of potato chips and soft drinks will increase blood sugar levels and the risk of obesity, diabetes or heart disease. Whole grain cereals and unsweetened lemon juice lower cholesterol. They also speed up the digestion of fats.
The body changes most of the carbohydrates we eat into glucose, the sugar that our cells burn for energy. Once glucose enters the blood stream, the pancreas releases insulin to help the cells absorb it. One should eat only enough carbohydrates. For the body converts any excess sugars into fat and stores it beneath the skin.
Researchers at the University of Toronto showed that potato chips, white rice, juice concentrates, cakes, macaroni and cheese all deliver excess glucose into the blood stream. However, oats, whole grain maize, beans, and bananas deliver just enough. The basic rule is to avoid processed or junk food. When fruits are preserved as juice or grains ground into extra-fine flour, they become the equivalent of sugar water. They press the body to secrete excess insulin and may lead to diabetes. Junk food also increases bad cholesterol in blood, leading high blood pressure and heart disease.
Junk foods also trigger off overeating. According to Dr. Jonathan Ogwang of Mulago Hospital, they “suppress the activity of glucagons, the hormone that signals the cells to burn stored glucose for energy.†The brain cells grow weaker an, in search for a quick solution, they send out hunger signals. Most people will respond by eating the same high-sugar processed foods. This repeats the whole process over again and leads ultimately to obesity.
Dr. Robert Atkins, the late American heart surgeon, popularised the low carbohydrate diet 30 years ago. Researchers today believe that he was at least half right. The Atkins diet is as good as the low fat diet in helping obese people shed off extra kilos. Research has shown that people can tolerate a low-carbohydrate diet longer.
Diabetes often occurs in people who’re overweight or physically inactive. Their tissues cannot absorb all the glucose from the blood stream. So whenever they take high sugar foods, their brain cells signal the pancreas to secret excess insulin. The only trick to shedding off extra kilos is to eat low-carbohydrate foods and to exercise regularly.
Ends