The main energy source for the central nervous system is glucose. Thus blood glucose level, which is often referred to as blood sugar is a key part of the human physiology. In case blood sugar levels drop below a set point for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to fainting, comas and even death. Extremely elevated levels of blood sugar are also harmful, although the short term issues which are related to diabetes are generally less dramatic.
Blood Sugar
Blood sugar levels have a highly important effect on the aging process. Glucose is not just a key fuel for cellular use but it is also a potentially damaging substance when it comes to tissues as well as cells. Glucose can react with DNA, proteins as well as other important molecules. This reaction is known as glycation. The most severe consequence of glycation are known as cross linking, when chemical bridges are formed between large molecules as well as proteins. A substance that has been cross linked is generally harder, and more likely to tear or crack as well as sustain a loss of elasticity. Cross linking is a symptom of aging in the body. It can cause hardening of the arteries, besides stiff joints and wrinkles. Thus it is not surprising that people with diabetes suffer from high levels of cross linking because of their elevated levels of glucose. In diabetics this cross linking can be identified as increased levels of skin damage, and heart damage. Even blood sugar levels which are raised in small amounts can cause signs of aging. Glucose intolerance, also known as carbohydrate intolerance means that a person is a border line diabetic. Carbohydrate intolerance is a very common condition which affects nearly 50% of the populations of developed countries. In the majority of carbohydrate intolerant people, blood sugar levels which are normal between meals rise to unacceptably high levels immediately after eating.
It has been proven scientifically that correcting carbohydrate intolerance can be one of the most important treatments in order to slow down the aging process.
In order to find out if you have carbohydrate intolerance, there is a test known as Oral Glucose Tolerance test (OGTT) which will enable your doctor to know if you have carbohydrate intolerance. The first step is to measure your fasting blood sugar level. Next you have a meal that has a normal level of glucose in it. Once you eat this meal your blood sugar levels are measured at half hourly intervals over the next two to three hours. This allows your Doctor to determine how fast your glucose levels returns to normal after you eat carbohydrates. Being overweight as well as being over 40 are the key factors for carbohydrate intolerance.
Improving carbohydrate intolerance
The rate of carbohydrate metabolism can be improved which will in turn slow the aging process besides reducing the possibility of diabetes. It is a good idea for most people over the age of 30 to follow these steps in order to significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes or carbohydrate intolerance.
Reduce the negative effects of eating on blood sugar
When we eat, the enzymes which are present in the gastrointestinal tract are broken down into simple sugars, peptides as well as amino acids. These are by-products which are comprised of relatively small molecules
. Foods high in sugar such as cake, pizza or ice cream are converted into glucose when you eat them. Glucose is a kind of starch. It is a branched polymer comprising of multiple parts of glucose and sucrose which is a sugary substance made up of one glucose and one fructose molecule. When food is digested, the glucose gets absorbed by the bloodstream which raises the blood sugar levels, and this is also referred to as the glycemic effect. How large this rise is will depend on a number of factors such as the level of glucose in the food, the kind of glucose, as well as other ingredients in the food which will assist with the rate of glucose absorption. Meals which don’t produce a large rise in blood sugar levels will be healthier for the carbohydrate metabolism. While deciding between foods that are of the approximately equivalent nutritional value, those with a lesser glycemic effect should be favoured. Thus it is better to eat whole grain bread than white bread.
Healthy eating and Fibre
Earlier, research showed fibre as being fairly useless, non-nutrient filler which can be found in plant derived foods. But it is now an important part of the food that as it promotes longevity and good health. The chemical basis of fibre is in the plant polymers. It is based on polysaccharide chains. Though starch is also a kind of polysaccharide, but unlike starch, fibre cannot be easily digested by humans. Fibre generally tends to pass through the digestive system partially or even fully intact. High levels of fibre in the diet make stools large as well as soft.
Fibre became popular in the scientific community when it was noted that in the developing nations of Africa there is a lower incidence of health issues such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, colon cancer, besides haemorrhoids and diverticulitis, all of which are quite common in the developed world, as the average diet in the Africa was much higher in fibre. This led scientists to hypothesize that fibre prevents obesity and disease. Many studies have followed on this subject. The preventative effects of fibre in cases of carbohydrate intolerance and type II diabetes have been proved now by scientific studies. Besides, fibre decreases the rate at which glucose from food gets absorbed into the bloodstream, hence giving the body more time in order to process carbohydrates. This results in better carbohydrate metabolism as well as lowers blood sugar. The effects of fibre on colon cancer are yet to be proved.
People in developed countries tend to consume only one third of the daily recommended amounts of fibre, on an average. It is quite simple to increase your fibre intake without the need for supplements. You need to understand that fibre supplements, particularly in case they are used improperly can lead to intestinal obstruction which can be a serious health issue. Intestinal obstruction cannot occur due to eating high fibre foods.
Carbohydrate intolerance can be improved with exercise
Carbohydrate tolerance can be greatly improved with regular exercise. Regular exercise can give a variety of other health benefits also, besides being enjoyable. In case you exercise outside you need to use products that will protect you from excessive wind and sun.
Carbohydrate intolerance can be improved with supplements
Many nutrients as well as botanicals tend to have a positive effect on the carbohydrate metabolism rate. Lipoic acid can be used in order to lower glucose levels in the blood. Certain adaptogens improve carbohydrate intolerance as well as reverse the beginning stages of type II diabetes. They can be used in order to allow the body to adapt to different kinds of stress as well as to regulate certain physiological aberrations. The majorities of adaptogens are made from natural plants and are very safe in case they are used in recommended dosages.
Drugs to combat carbohydrate intolerance
There are drugs that can be used in order to lower the levels of blood sugar in the body, but a majority of these can have bad side effects. For people who are confirmed diabetics, the trade offs of the drugs are worth using, but it is not a good idea to use drugs in order to lower blood sugar levels in case you only have mild carbohydrate intolerance as there are much safer ways to dealing with the problem.