Last but not least! Let’s talk about something that I recent..

Last but not least! Let’s talk about something that I recently changed my mind on! SUGAR & CARBS! Hear me out. Carbs are super cool because they are the primary energy source of the body. But carbs also require a ton of energy to be burned and utilized, which I really, really like about carbohydrates. Carbs are what fuels every single cell in your body, including the cells in your ovaries, your thyroid, your liver, your skin…they all require this energy source because carbs are so good at sparing protein and sparing our tissues and our structures. They are a metabolic powerhouse that not only protects us against stress but also keeps our body going in the best possible way. And before you were like, okay, carbs are good, but sugar is bad, right? I want you to know that sugar is a card and carbs are sugar. Every single carbohydrate breaks down into individual sugars.  so if sugar is bad and carbohydrates are bad and therefore every single cell that your body is made up of might as well be running on something “bad” right? NEGATIVE! There are different types of sugars. Let’s start with glucose. Glucose is pure sugar. It's what the cells will actually uptake as energy. We have to remember that starches are pure glucose. So things like potatoes, white rice, pure starches are going to be pure glucose. They have no other sugars in them. The thing you have to understand about glucose is glucose requires insulin secretion. So it requires that hormone, that hormone insulin, that acts as a key to allow that glucose into the cell. So it requires every time you eat glucose, it requires you to secrete insulin.  Now, if you're insulin resistant like most of us are, your cells are not going to respond to that. Insulin is going to respond poorly and not allow as much glucose into the cell. if you can't utilize the glucose and starches very well, it will probably go into the storage containers, AKA the fat cells. And that's when we gain weight when we're insulin resistant or we're not using carbohydrates properly.  Now, this doesn't always mean we can’t eat starches at all. It just means we have to eat them smarter, which is why I’ve added in fructose when I eat my starches. Hear me out. Fructose is a sugar that's mostly found in fruits and honey, and this does not require any insulin to get to where it needs to go. Fructose is often going to be stored as something called glycogen in the liver and the muscle tissue, which is just simply glucose saved for later. So once the body stores our glycogen, the body can then turn that into glucose as it NEEDS and let the rest steadily stream into the blooodstream. So fructose is really, really good because it doesn't require any insulin. Fructose can actually help the body use glucose better, which is why it can be very helpful to actually pair our starches with fructose. It actually helps us metabolize carbohydrates and use carbohydrates better. And so I recommend combining all of your starches like potatoes, especially grains with some type of fruit to help you utilize it. Fun fact, raw honey, in particular, has an insulin-like substance that helps the cells take up bloood glucose without actually having to release insulin. This is why bears when they come out of hibernation, super insulin resistant, they're actually in an almost diabetic state from their hibernation. They will be on the hunt for fruit and honey, because it's going to help them regain insulin sensitivity and get out of that diabetic state. Now, let’s talk sucrose. Sucrose is actually a combination of both glucose and fructose, and it's very easy to use as energy because like we just talked about: glucose and fructose paired together as kind of like the perfect duo. It helps the body utilize glucose a lot better. And it also stores energy in the liver and the muscles to be used as a steady stream in between meals, which contrary to what society says. Is really great for bloood sugar! If you're eating enough protein and enough good fats, some simple sugars like white sugar and moderation will actually help you and not hurt you in any way, as long as it's paired with an all-around nutrient-dense diet. Sugar isn’t bad! It’s really the hydrogenated oils, the polyunsaturated fats, and the food additives that are TERRIBLE for us! Or so im learning. Context matters! Portions sizes matter. Obviously don't go downing cups and cups of white sugar, but I've been adding maple syrup into my coffee each morning to help my metabolism and I'm feeling great! I will keep you updated on the process of course but i wanted to share the science behind why sugar isn't actually the devil. sidenote: i don't drink coffee on an empty stomach. I eat a full breakfast THEN i have my maple syrup coffee (: it's better on the adrenals this way. I'm less shaky and sweaty this way too! references: https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/sugar-issues.shtml http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/glycemia.shtml