Why most diets don’t work part 2 – Blood sugar regulation for weight loss

Why most diets don’t work part 2 – Blood sugar regulation for weight loss

When considering ways to Fat loss, It is first necessary to consider the way out bodies regulate Blood sugar. The term Blood sugar is used to refer to the concentration of the sugar glucose in the blood. Note that Glucose, which is transported through the bloodstream, is the primary source of energy for the body's cells. Glucose level is strongly regulated in our bodies. Usually, the blood glucose level is maintained between about 4 and 8 mmol/L (70 to 150 mg/dL). The total amount of glucose in the circulating blood is therefore about 3.3 to 7g (assuming an ordinary adult blood volume of 5 liters).

Glucose levels tend to rise following meals and are usually lowest in the morning, just before the first meal of the day. Failure to maintain the blood glucose in the normal range cause to conditions of persistently high (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia) blood sugar. Diabetes mellitus, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia of several causes, is the most prominent disease related to failure of blood sugar regulation.

glucose levels are regulated via two very important hormones insulin and glucagon.

Insulin is produced in the "Islets of Langerhans" in the pancreas. It is an anabolic hormone that regulates sugars and fat metabolism. Apart from being the primary agent in carbohydrate (sugars) homeostasis, it has effects on fat metabolism and it changes the liver's activity in storing or releasing glucose and in processing blood lipids, and in other tissues such as fat and muscle. Note that the amount of insulin in circulation has extremely widespread effects throughout the body.

Glucagon is also an important hormone involved in carbohydrate (sugars) and fat metabolism. Glucagon is produced by the pancreas, and released when the glucose level in the blood is low (hypoglycemia), causing the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. So, the action of glucagon is opposite to that of insulin, which instructs the body's cells to take in glucose from the blood in times of satiation.

So these two hormones are vital to the people seeking fat loss since they actually control the way the body store or burn fats and sugars.

Blood sugar levels are regulated by a mechanism called negative feedback with the purpose of keeping the body in homeostasis. The glucose levels in the blood are constantly monitored by the pancreas. In case the blood glucose level falls (as in very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), the Alpha cells of the pancreas release the hormone glucagon, whose effects on liver cells act to increase blood glucose levels. They convert glycogen storage into glucose. The glucose is released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels. There are also other causes for an increase in blood sugar levels. Among them are the 'stress' hormones such as adrenaline, several steroids, infections, trauma, and of course, the ingestion of food.

When the levels of blood sugar rise, like after digestion of a meal, a Insulin is released from the pancreas. Insulin causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen and fat, and to force about 2/3 of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thus decreasing blood sugar levels, and increasing body fat. Insulin also provides signals to several other body systems, and is the chief regulatory metabolic control in humans.

In case of starvation or intense physical activity, the immediate action will be decrease in blood glucose, releasing of glucagon, and burning fat. A good first action for fat loss. However, The quick rise in blood glucose duo to glucagon, will enter the system into immediate stress, which cause a quick release of insulin and fast conversion of glucose into fat. So if you starve yourself, or exercises in a too intense way, raising the blood sugar levels, then the first meal you will eat will immediately convert into fat… a bad consequence for weight loss goal.

Considering this, it is obvious that fasting and exercising cannot be a good dieting program.

I'll discuss this more in the next part.
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