Our bodies need a certain amount of carbohydrates in the diet to fuel biological processes like respiration, digestion, and even more so during physical activity and exercise. The brain requires a continuous flow of glucose for normal function. Before you go grab a bagel or bag of crackers, be aware that when you eat more carbohydrates than the body needs to use, that extra amount will be stored in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles. If intake of carbohydrates increases and the glycogen levels are filled in both the liver and muscles, what happens to that excess carbohydrate? It gets converted into fat and stored in the body as fatty tissue. Carbohydrates have another way of causing weight gain. Any food high in carbohydrates releases glucose into the blood rapidly. To keep blood glucose levels normal, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin. The problem lies in that insulin is a hormone and will affect other hormonal systems in the body, and insulin sends messages to the body to actually store more fat, and decreases the rate at which stored fat is used up and lost. The good news is that not all carbohydrates cause such a spike in blood glucose levels that results in high secretion of insulin. Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index are rapidly converted into glucose, low in fiber, and will trigger a rapid insulin response. Over eating and snacking on carbohydrates with a high glycemic index may be your reason for weight gain and difficulty in losing weight. On the other hand, carbohydrates with moderate or low glycemic indexes can be eaten in moderation without fear of weight gain. __
