2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
Many people are very fond of sweets and other carbohydrate-rich foods, but after dessert they immediately begin to hate themselves, and at the same time such products for the extra centimeters at the waist and for the abs, the cubes of which are there, but are not visible due to the "layer of carbohydrates". However, we have good news! Carbohydrates for humans are energy, and any energy can be directed in the right direction and even turned into muscles.
Low-carb diets tend to work great for weight loss, but they aren't for everyone. Due to the low carbohydrate content, you may feel tired and sleepy, and some people develop stomach problems - the options vary.
Is it really impossible to turn carbohydrates, if not into a best friend, but at least not into an enemy?
What Happens When We Eat Carbohydrates
Our body breaks down carbohydrates to the level of monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, lactose, galactose), which then enter the bloodstream. This results in increased levels of insulin, which transports glucose to cells for storage or use as fuel, depending on the body's needs. If the store of energy reserves is still full, the body has to redirect glucose for storage elsewhere and it turns into fat.
The ideal option is when our body stores glucose stores exclusively in the form of glycogen, but this process proceeds differently for each person. Fortunately, there are many scientific studies and reports out there that shed light on this issue. It turns out that certain natural foods can help prevent carbohydrate intake from raising blood sugar and preventing glucose from being converted into fat stores.
What Helps Convert Carbs to Muscle
Fenugreek (fenugreek)
Fenugreek is an annual plant whose seeds are used for medicinal purposes. In Chinese medicine, for many centuries it has been considered one of the best remedies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Also, raw materials are used to obtain the drug "Pasenin", which has an anti-sclerotic effect. Modern research has shown that fenugreek lowers blood sugar levels by slowing the rate of absorption of carbohydrates.
In another study in India, it was found that daily consumption of 100 g of fenugreek seeds significantly reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. In addition, fenugreek is included in some sports nutritional supplements to increase muscle mass and facilitate the proper absorption of carbohydrates by our body.
The lightly toasted seeds and their powder are often used as spices in Indian cuisine, and the leaves are usually used in curries. You can add lightly toasted fenugreek seeds to vegetable, fish, or meat dishes.
Banaba leaves or corosolic acid
Corosolic acid is an extract from banaba leaves. Like fenugreek, banaba leaves have been used as a medicinal plant and a culinary supplement for centuries. The corosolic acid in the leaves lowers blood sugar levels immediately after you eat a carbohydrate meal. It slows down the rate at which our bodies break down sugars and starches and also improves metabolism. You can get this magic supplement only in the form of dietary supplements ("Modelform", "Glucofit", "Reglucol" and other drugs that contain corosolic acid).
Before deciding to take supplements, we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor or dietitian, as all of these drugs have contraindications!
Cinnamon
New research shows that cinnamon not only lowers blood sugar, but in isolated cases even reverses type 2 diabetes. This is due to the fact that cinnamon mimics insulin quite well in the body, thereby improving the sensitivity of your cells to insulin. In the course of one of the studies, it was found that within a month after the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of the subjects, there was a decrease in fasting glucose by 18-29%. The experiment involved 60 men and women.
The permissible dose of cinnamon for diabetics is no more than one teaspoon per day. It is also undesirable to abuse this spice for pregnant and lactating mothers, people with high blood pressure and liver problems, as well as children under three years old.
Bitter melon (momordica)
Another medicinal plant from the East is bitter melon, or momordica. It is known for its ability to lower blood sugar and simultaneously increase the body's insulin sensitivity, suppress appetite and increase glucose tolerance. This means that eating bitter melon roughly halves your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Since momordica is an exotic fruit, in our latitudes it can be obtained in the form of dietary supplements. Before that, you need to make sure that you have no contraindications to their use.
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