If you want to lose weight, it is a must that you avoid sugar. This has been the prevailing sentiment of fitness and wellness experts recommending the restriction of sugary foods to help in the reduction of body weight. However, for those who are trying to lose weight, but without necessarily sacrificing completely their sugary cravings, there might be some good news. Nestle has just unlocked the secret to incorporating a healthier version of sugar into your favorite sweets.
Sugar and Weight Loss
There’s a prevailing dictum whereby individuals who want to lose weight should avoid consuming sugary and starchy foods at all cost. Even some of the world renowned diet programs like the Atkins specifically recommends limiting daily carbs or sugar intake by a mere 20 grams from the usual recommended daily allowance of 50 grams. But, why is sugar so bad for weight? And why do most weight loss programs call for a reduction of either the sugar intake or the overall calorie intake?
The answer is in how the body is actually wired to process this sweet molecule.
The body requires energy, this we already know. This energy is found in the food that we eat. Each molecule of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide energy amounting to 4 calories, 9 calories, and 4 calories per gram, respectively. The body processes these molecules rather differently, however. Sugar is known as the simplest form of carbohydrate. When this is processed by the body, it is made into glucose which is what is absorbed in the bloodstream. As the glucose levels in the bloodstream start to rise, the body’s pancreas starts releasing insulin to help mobilize the glucose found in the blood and into the different cells of the body. If your body’s cells require energy, glucose is utilized as fuel. So, the more active your cells are, the greater the need for energy, and the greater the amount of blood sugar that is utilized.
Unfortunately, many individuals don’t have hyperactive cells or cells that require tremendous amounts of energy because of a rather sedentary lifestyle. In order for a weight loss program to work, it must also include exercise to stimulate the body’s cells to increase their energy demands. If not, then glucose will be left in the blood as these are not used by the cells. When this happens, the body tries to compensate by increasing the levels of insulin.
Regrettably, since the body’s cells don’t need the energy from glucose, these molecules will have to be converted into a storable energy forms known as glycogen. These molecules are stored in the muscles and in the liver. However, the body can only process and store a certain amount of glycogen at a time. When the limit has been reached, excess glucose is then converted into fat and stored in other parts of the body such as the abdominal region and the inner layer of the skin. And this is where most of the problems lie. Fat cells are known to produce certain chemicals that induce chronic inflammation. This is also one of the reasons why a diet program almost always include foods with anti-inflammatory properties.
Excess sugar has also been linked to increased sugar cravings. The more you eat sugary foods, the greater is the excesses in the blood, and the greater is your cravings for it. Studies have shown that excess sugar can promote feelings of contentment by affecting the reward center in the brain. That’s why you generally feel happy after eating sweets. It is this link that invariably leads to weight issues.
The Healthier Sugar
Individuals who are seeking a comprehensive Memphis diet program will be glad to learn that Nestle has just discovered a scientific breakthrough in sugar synthesis. In an official report from the company itself, Nestle has just unlocked a particular chemical process whereby the structure of the sugar that’s often used in many of the company’s products has been altered giving it a much faster rate of dissolution. Researchers say that this chemical restructuring resulted in the use of fewer sugar molecules in each of their products without significantly altering the sweet taste that people have come to love about these Nestle treats. In effect, what the company has discovered is that you can now enjoy the same delicious chocolatey and sweet tastes of its delicacies without feeling guilty about the amount of sugar contained in the product.
With any luck, soon you will be able to indulge in these sweets without necessarily inducing the insulin spikes that is associated with excess sugar in the blood. As to the safety of the discovery, Nestle promises that they only used natural products to make the necessary alterations in the chemical structure of sugar.
But here’s the problem. While this scientific discovery is indeed a breakthrough especially for those who want to lose weight but don’t like the idea of giving up their sweet tooth, the company is still in the process of patenting the findings of its research. The reduced-sugar product will not be available to the public until around 2018. Additionally, since the taste testing has been done in a controlled environment, it’s more of a wait-and-see game whether the supposed unchanged sweetness of the product holds water or not. The good news is that, it’s not only Nestle that’s venturing into this waters. Mars, Inc. is also testing such ideas.
The Bottom Line
Until these reduced-sugar products are made available to anyone and everyone who wants to lose weight but don’t want to give up the sweets of his or her life, there can only be one sure way to lose weight: obtain professional weight loss help. If you’re in Memphis, you can call MediPlan Diet Services to get started with a comprehensive approach to your weight issues while also addressing some of your possible health concerns. The important thing to understand now is to limit the intake of simple sugars to help you lose weight.
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