Carb Blocker, A Solution to Weight Loss?
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Author: 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
about vitamins and your health at
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