Carbohydrates and blood sugar regulation are so tightly intertwined that it’s nearly impossible to write about one independently of the other.

Glucose is the name for blood sugar. Glucose is what is measured to help determine if your body is able to manage what you are eating.

Blood sugar is ultimately governed by your Central Nervous System (CNS) – specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. With the help of a few organs, our bodies are able to regulate the ebb and flow of incoming, use, storage, and disposal of glucose – among other waste products of metabolism.

Organs Involved

• Pancreas

• Adrenal Glands

• Adipose (fat tissue)

• Liver

• Muscles

The organs above use 5 hormones to help with glucose regulation

• Insulin

• Glucagon

• Epinephrine

• Norepinephrine

• Cortisol

Glucose is not only sweets and desserts.

Glucose is the final product of any carbohydrate that is broken down.

Choosing the most nutrient dense form of carbohydrate is one key to healing your body’s organs and  systems.

Think of your digestive system as a banker

The human body handles food much like a banker handles money.  An experienced banker handles money for roughly 8 hours a day. They get use to what real money looks like, feels like, and in some cases – smells like. After enough time the banker can easily discern real from counterfeit money. A banker must also balance his till. The banker must make sure he is not overdrawn or retained too much, thus cheating another.

Our bodies are like a banker. When it gets the real deal, nutrient dense, whole food source of carbohydrates in the proper amount it runs smoothly.

Fraudulent sources of carbohydrates include refined sugar, baked goods, grains, corn and oats. You want to avoid these much like a banker would avoid a fake $100. I’m sure a few of those options caused you to question my reasoning.

When it comes to any of the macronutrients, choosing ‘better’ over ‘just okay’ will always include more benefits than just the macro itself. Fruits and vegetables have enzymes and cofactors that grains lack. Those cofactors and enzymes are needed for hundreds of chemical reactions necessary to keep us running on all of our available cylinders. Consider swapping out rice, whole grains, and oats for 60 days with a variety of veggies and fruits and see how you feel.

Removing all grains does not need to be a lifetime commitment, but will benefit your health. Grains provide little to no nutrition – regardless of their “whole grain” status or not. Removing potential offending anti-nutrients from grains gives your intestinal tract time to heal. Sometimes healing nutrients specific to areas of your GI system is needed. 

Once a period of healing time specific to your personal needs is achieved, testing is appropriate.

I’ve had several patients, clients, family, and friends over the years tell me they are sure they don’t have problems with grains because they eat them daily without side effects. This is rarely the actual case.

Nutrient-deficient carbs like bread, pasta, and oats don’t only cause digestive discomfort or issues when not tolerated.

Do you have any of the following symptoms:

• allergies

• achy joints

• arthritis

• brain fog

• headaches

• migraines

• unexplained rashes

• and the list goes on

Eating whole food sources of carbohydrates gives your body the necessary nutrients, enzymes, and cofactors needed to build, repair and dispose of waste. Yes, we need the right nutrients to filter, decontaminate, and rid our bodies of cellular, food and hazardous waste.

If you don’t give your body the right nutrients, it essentially gives up and goes into survival mode.

When you start giving your body what it needs, it is then equipped and strong enough to tell you it doesn’t like something.

This is why some people will complain that a healthier, more nutrient-dense food plan caused problems.

This conclusion is illogical in itself.

When a more nutrient-dense diet is adopted, changes occur in shifts in the microbiome, sometimes an increase in the original symptoms for a short period of time, shedding of unwanted aspects, and with proper healing agents – a fully functional intestinal tract.

It is that healed and smoothly-running digestive system that can protest against preservatives, refined sugar, and overly-processed foods.

For more information on how you can heal your digestive system, contact me or book a discovery call.