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Processed carbohydrates

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pastaFor tens of thousands of years humans have existed on a diet of primarily wild animals and vegetation. Our genes have changed very little in the last 100,000 years.

It is estimated that the first grain mill was produced around 5,000 years ago. As a result we have not had time to evolve our current high consumption of processed grains and sugars.

Any meal or snack high in grains or refined sugar generates a rapid rise in blood glucose. When there is more sugar than your body requires for its current needs your pancreas secretes insulin to store the sugar for future requirements. Some sugar is stored in the liver and muscles but not as much as most people think. In fact the amount of sugar stored in muscles and the liver is not even enough for one active day. Anything over and above that is stored as fat. This is your body saving for rainy day (a drought or famine). In our modern society and with our western diets, these famines never come. We always have more sugar and carbohydrates than we need available to us. The increased insulin rapidly removes the sugar from the blood stream, leading to lowered blood sugar. If ignored long enough, this will lead to a "crash" as a result of hypoglycaemia and low blood sugars.

If these eating habits are maintained over time, the cells will try to protect themselves from the toxic effects of high insulin and hence their receptors become resistant. Your body has to "yell louder" to get the cells to listen. This of course is a vicious cycle, with more resistance leading to more insulin leading to more resistance.

Insulin resistance has many effects in the body. High insulin levels leads to decreased metabolism of fat and sugar, increased hunger, lowered immunity, muscle cramps, increased blood pressure and heart rate, osteoporosis, decreased thyroid function and increased ageing.

Of course your body needs carbohydrates. The best way to get these "good" carbs is from fruits and in particular vegetables. Eat them as whole and as raw as possible so that the fibre and body stays intact, ensuring a steady release of carbohydrates.

So get your carbohydrates from fruit and vegetables (and limited whole grains), and you will improve your health and vitality in more ways than one.

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