During the digestion process, these complex carbohydrates break into simple sugar, which is released into the blood and is called blood glucose.
With the help of insulin, this glucose is then pushed into the various cells of the body.
Within the cells, it is utilised as an energy source for various body needs and activities.
Any excess availability of glucose beyond the energy needs gets stored as Glycogen and fats.
If ready energy is not available for the body's needs, stored fats are converted into energy and utilised.
Carbohydrates are classified into simple and complex types depending on their nature. Complex Carbohydrates, also have fibre are slower to digest and have less impact on post meal blood sugar spikes as compared to the refined or simple types. During the digestion process, these complex carbohydrates break into simple sugar, which is released into the blood and is called blood glucose. With the help of insulin, this glucose is then pushed into the various cells of the body. Within the cells, it is utilised as an energy source for various body needs and activities. Any excess availability of glucose beyond the energy needs gets stored as Glycogen and fats. If ready energy is not available for the body's needs, stored fats are converted into energy and utilised. The main reason behind opting low-carb diet is that it enables the human body to burn the stored fat for the fulfilment of energy, eventually leading to weight loss.
Ways to boost your health with carb cutting
As per the ICMR dietary guidelines for Indians, a balanced diet should include 50-60% of total calories from carbohydrates, 20-30% from invisible and visible fat and 10-15% from protein. Excessive carbohydrates place a large metabolic load on the body resulting in multiple health issues like weight gain, poor digestion, and increased risk of heart disease. Chronic, high sugar diets can also cause inflammation in the GUT and can derail the process of digestion , absorption of nutrients and can lead to ‘Leaky GUT Syndrome’.
According to Dr. Lalitha Palle, Founder, Moder/ate, “It's true that the brain primarily uses glucose as fuel and this much glucose is available in the food that we consume even on a low carb diet. In cases of significant carb deprivation ( which anyway is not advisable on a long term basis), glucose is generated in the body from amino acids and fatty acids ( Gluconeogenesis) and the brain also may begin to use other sources as fuel.”
To counter the problems mentioned above, here are some ways that can work as solutions:
