Learning about carbohydrates

It has been almost ten months since Tony surprised me with our very own grain mill. And we have joyfully consumed lots of fresh ground flour since then. Bagels, breads, cakes, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, crackers, gnocchis, and much more. What first attracted us to grounding our own flour was the healthy benefits. After all, those little wheat kernels are filled with over 30 vital nutrients and vitamins.

But only recently have I learned that there really is such a thing as grain overload, especially when they are not properly prepared. These grains (among other food) contain carbohydrates - a simple sugar that is vital to our well-being. Our bodies are constantly converting these simple sugars into glucose, aka brain food. "The brain is a virtual glucose hog, gobbling more than two thirds of the circulating carbohydrates in the bloodstream while you are at rest."1 Carbs that are not used immediately are stored as glycogenin in either our liver (can hold 60-90 grams) or our muscles (can hold 300-400 grams).

But what happens when these storage areas our full? The extra carbs are then turned into fatty tissue, aka extra weight. In relation to this, when we consume a meal or snack high in carbs, it provokes a rapid rise in blood glucose. In defense, our pancreas emits insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin suppresses the burning of fat and sugar, restrains our growth hormones (which are used for muscle development), evokes hunger and cravings (usually for more carbs). Insulin tell's our body to store fat and never let it go (that's what we all want, right ladies?). Other symptoms of a high carb diet are as follows: exhaustion, brain fogginess, dizziness, low blood sugar, bloating, sleepiness, increased fat storage, excess weight, high blood pressure, moodiness, and depression.

With this new knowledge, Tony & I realized that we've been consuming too many carbs. So this week has been set aside to detox and tweak our ever changing diet. I look forward to writing more about this in future posts. As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of our bodies, and that is just what we are seeking to do - for God's glory.