Read any internet forum on health and invariably some participant will ask the group to explain the difference between a sugar, a starch and an carbohydrate. Often as not the information provided by the person answering will be inaccurate, even misleading. Not that this is critical in any way, but since it is part of the common lexicon of most chronic diseases, and since separating them is easy, the information needs to be more easily attainable. Pre-diabetics need to know about this. Especially when the terms polysaccharides, glucose, etc are interchanged as is often found.
When you read a label and it says this item contains 100 calories of carbohydrate do you understand what that means? It means the number of calories from both sugar and starch combined.
A carbohydrate means the item is either a sugar or a starch. Sucrose is the traditional table sugar made up of glucose and fructose. All sugars, for our purposes, are simple units of similar construction, which are called simple carbohydrates. Link them in a chain or widen them into a many unit matrix and you have what is called a complex carbohydrate, or starch.
Even the most elaborate carbohydrate is far less complex than a protein. That means a carbohydrate can be disassembled faster than a protein making it more available for immediate energy.
A balanced meal provides protein, carbohydrate and oil, and for a reason when it comes to energy. Carbohydrates are utilized for the first two hours, then protein takes the helm and finally oil.
You will notice that when energy is discussed carbohydrates take center stage. The common reason is that sugar is the only fuel for energy.
One of the most ignored and under appreciated facts is that acetic acid, or acetate, which is derived from oils, is necessary for burning sugar. There are individuals who find oil more energy producing than sugar and certainly it satiates appetite. Pre-diabetics rarely ask about this.
Half your calories should come from carbohydrates, 30 percent from oils and the rest from proteins, according to the authorities on diabetes. Without any doubt there are individuals who are metabolically better balanced with another formula.
The focus is always on carbohydrates when it comes to controlling the blood sugar. Without taking any of the importance away from that, it’s important to call attention to other factors in the diet, and outside the pre-diabetic and diabetic diet, that need attention too.
As to carbohydrates, it’s time a clear and concise view pre-diabetes and blood sugar and diet #1
