Copyright 2006 Kristy Haugen
Low carb diets restrict the consumption of carbohydrates. The
difference between the Atkins and the South Beach diet is within
the amount of restriction. The induction phase of the Atkins
diet restricts most carbohydrates while the South Beach diet
allows 'good' carbohydrate consumption. These diets can really
put one's will power to the test. Why?
The human body's primary source of energy is glucose. Glucose is
derived from the breakdown or hydrolysis of carbohydrates that
are consumed. Limiting carbohydrate consumption forces the body
to use fat or protein as an energy source. Decreased
carbohydrate consumption may leave you feeling tired and easily
fatigued until the body adjusts to the change.
The word carbohydrate arose because molecular formulas of these
compounds can be expressed as hydrates of carbons which yield a
basic carbohydrate empiric formula of (CH2O)n. Carbohydrates
consist mainly of the combination of two chemistry functional
groups: the carbonyl and the hydroxyl group. Carbohydrates exist
in different forms such as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides,
and polysaccharides.
Monosaccharides are usually called simple sugars. These simple
sugars cannot be broken down or hydrolyzed into a simpler form
(glucose). A complex carbohydrate refers to one or more linked
simple sugars that require digestion for absorption.
Oligosaccharides contain at least two monosaccharide units.
Oligosaccharides may be referred to as disaccharides or
trisaccharides depending on how many units of monosaccharides
the compound contains. Maltose and sucrose (table sugar) are
considered disaccharides.
Polysaccharides contain many monosaccharide units. In order for
the body to use polysaccharides, these compounds must be broken
down into a simpler monosaccharide form. Examples of
polysaccharides are starch and cellulose (fiber).
Dietary carbohydrate digestion occurs mainly in the mouth and
small intestine. During mastication (chewing) the salivary
glands secrete the enzyme alpha-amylase which is referred to as
ptyalin. Alpha-amylase briefly acts on dietary carbohydrates in
the mouth to hydrolyze starch into simple sugars such as
glucose. In fact, if you chew on a carbohydrate long enough you
may taste sugar. This is a result of salivary amylase
hydrolyzing the carbohydrate into a simpler sugar.
Mastication increases the surface area of the food for
alpha-amylase to act upon. This allows the enzyme alpha-amylase
to work more efficiently in carbohydrate digestion. However, the
food does not remain in the mouth for a long time so only a
small portion of starch is hydrolyzed there.
Once the chewed food has been swallowed into the stomach,
carbohydrate digestion halts temporarily. This occurs because
alpha-amylase is inactivated by the high acidic environment of
the stomach. However, carbohydrate digestion will resume once
the chyme (food mass and gastric juices of the stomach) enters
the small intestine.
The acidic contents emptied into the small intestine are
neutralized by bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas. The
pancreas will then secrete alpha-amylase to continue
carbohydrate digestion. Carbohydrate digestion is finished when
the mucosal lining of the upper jejunum and duodenum absorb the
bulk of the dietary sugars in the form of monosaccharides.
Now that we have a good understanding of what a carbohydrate is
and the importance of the carbohydrate in the body, maybe an
extreme low carb diet isn't the answer for weight loss. Extreme
diets whether they are low carb or high protein can put the body
to the test. Carbohydrates may be a necessary evil, but the body
relies heavily on carbohydrates for energy. Instead of testing
one's will power, using a weight loss supplement called a carb
blocker may be a better option.
Carb blockers are a weight loss supplement recently introduced
into the weight loss world. Carb blockers claim to block the
enzyme alpha-amylase. If the enzyme alpha-amylase is blocked,
then carbohydrate hydrolysis is affected. By blocking the
enzyme, you block the breakdown of the carbohydrate which
affects absorption of the monosaccharide. How so? If the
carbohydrate is of complex origin, the enzyme must be secreted
to break down the carbohydrate into a simpler form for
absorption. In theory, the carb blocker should indeed help to
block carbohydrates from being absorbed.
Phaseolus vulgaris is the active ingredient in carb blockers
that comes from the white kidney bean. Phaseolus vulgaris
interferes with the pancreas' ability to secrete the enzyme
alpha-amylase. Subsequent studies do prove that Phaseolus
vulgaris does in fact inhibit the enzyme alpha-amylase.
Carb blockers are another option for weight loss. However,
permanent weight loss requires you to make changes to your
lifestyle. If you do not change your lifestyle then no matter
what diet or supplement you choose, weight loss is temporary and
short lived. This also means that if you choose a low carb diet,
make sure that this diet can be done. Many people fail the low
carb diets because of extreme commitments.
About the author:
Kristy Haugen is a mother and an experienced nurse. She also has
a bachelor degree in Biology and Chemistry. She writes to inform
consumers about nutrition and health topics. Learn more about
weight loss at http://weightlossarticles.vitaminmaniac.com .
Learn more about vitamins and your health at
http://blog.vitaminmaniac.com .
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