| By
Kent
Rieske
Carbohydrates cause nearly all age-related diseases. Age-related
diseases are thought of as unavoidable. Many people consider
it normal to get one or more of these diseases as they age.
They rationalize that they are simply unlucky or that others
have "better genes," neither of which is true. Their
health problems are most likely caused by their belief in
the many popular myths and distortions about nutrition. Most
likely they got hooked by the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet
craze and are now suffering as a result.
The most common excuse used instead of identifying the real
culprit, carbohydrates, is heredity. People flippantly say,
"It runs in my family," or "My mother also
had diabetes," or "My father also had high blood
pressure and heart disease." Age-related diseases could
best be described as "Excessive Carbohydrate Consumption
Syndrome."
The scientific evidence is clear. Carbohydrates are a sinister,
sly food category that has been getting away with murder.
Carbohydrates have powerful allies. They grow, manufacture
and market thousands of different carbohydrate products made
from fruit, grains and starchy-vegetables. The supermarket
floor space allotted to these manufactured carbohydrate foods
is about 80 percent of the store, and yet the scientific minimum
requirement for carbohydrates in the diet is ZERO.
Carbohydrates are not an essential element for health. In
fact, optimal health lies in keeping the amount of carbohydrates
in the diet to a minimum. The supermarket departments that
contain the healthy essential proteins and essential fats
are the fresh meats, fresh fish and seafood, dairy and non-starchy
vegetables. Everything else in the store is very high in carbohydrates,
which turn to glucose, hype the metabolism and trigger the
release of disease-causing hormones like insulin, cortisol
and adrenaline.
A low metabolism is ideal for long life and good health.
A high metabolism excites hormones in the body that eventually
cause age-related diseases. A low metabolism is analogous
to diesel engines that are known for longevity and high mileage
without a breakdown. Diesel fuel is an oil that the engine
uses for energy similar to fats in the diet. A high metabolism
is analogous to a nitro-methane drag racer that gives a tremendous
burst of energy but explodes after a few races. The nitro-methane
fuel is fast burning similarly to sugar in the diet.
The pathogenic effects of carbohydrates are slow but sure.
The "20-year rule" was coined to describe the length
of time between the start of the high-carbohydrate diet and
the onset of disease. The number of diseases, severity and
time to develop are directly related to the percentage of
carbohydrates in the diet. In the advanced stage many diseases
are prevalent in the sufferer before death occurs.
Carbohydrates displace essential protein and essential fats
in the diet to cause a double health reversal. The carbohydrates
themselves cause disease, and the deficiency of protein and
fats contribute or cause other diseases.
The consumption of carbohydrates generally begins showing
the disease effects in either one of two directions.
- Body fat accumulation leads to obesity, diabetes, heart
disease, cancer, gallbladder disease, degenerative bone
diseases and many others.
- Damage to the intestinal tract leads to leaky gut syndrome,
inflammatory bowel diseases and a medical textbook listing
of autoimmune diseases. These illnesses generally make the
sufferer underweight and deficient in vitamins and minerals
caused by poor digestion.
The primary high-carbohydrate foods to avoid are sugars,
honey, flour, grains, legumes, fruit, milk and starchy-vegetables.
Whole grains cause disease in both humans and animals. Whole
grain breads and bagels are not the healthy food as people
are lead to believe. All grains have a very high level of
omega-6 fatty acids, which are pro-inflammatory. Grains are
a poor source of protein. Grains are the most allergenic of
all foods. Multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
are rare in populations where no grain products are consumed
such as the Paleolithic (hunter-gatherer) diet.
The Awful Truth About Eating Grains
Grain fed to feedlot steers makes them fat and causes intestinal
diseases. The feedlot diet given to steers is almost identical
to the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Both diets are very high in
grains. The feedlot operator is deliberately making the steers
fat. Fatty beef is given higher grading, receives the best
price and has the best flavor. The time in the feedlot is
short and the steer is sent to slaughter prior to developing
any serious health problem. People get fat and develop disease
for the very same reasons. Grains are worse for humans because
we are omnivores. Steers are herbivores, but the grains still
make them fat and give them diseases.
Primitive cultures that primarily ate meat from the hunt
lived in relative good health. Those people who switched to
a grain-based diet obtained from the cultivation of grains
suffered poor health, diseases and a smaller stature.
Fruit is Not as Healthy as Many
Claim
Fruit is not the healthy food many claim. Fruit is mostly
fructose sugar with some vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
Those vitamins and nutrients are easily obtained from meat
and non-starchy vegetables without the fructose. The body
processes fructose from fruit in the same way as it processes
fructose from soft drinks. There is no difference. Fructose
is fructose no matter what the source. Fructose causes insulin
resistance as proven in scientific tests. Fructose is highly
addictive and most people simply refuse to give up fruit no
matter how sick they become. This is identical to lung cancer
patients who continue to smoke cigarettes. See links below
for more information:
Carbohydrates Trigger Disease-Causing
Hormones
The hormones involved in the carbohydrate disease loop are
not the sex hormones but rather metabolism hormones. The process
starts when carbohydrates are eaten in the form of sugars
such as sucrose, fructose, lactose and others. Simple carbohydrates
are molecules made by chains of glucose that are short. Longer
glucose chains form carbohydrates that are classified as complex.
The body breaks the chains apart until individual molecules
of glucose are released into the blood stream. Then the problems
start. The body is very sensitive to the amount of glucose
in the blood, commonly called blood sugar. A small part of
the brain called the midbrain that is about 1 inch (25 mm)
long and red blood cells require glucose as they lack mitochondria
(powerhouse of the cell) and cannot use fatty acids for fuel.
The lack of glucose (hypoglycemia) as energy for the brain
can cause symptoms ranging from headache, mild confusion and
abnormal behavior, to loss of consciousness, seizure, coma
and death. The body can maintain an ideal level of glucose
by creating it in the liver from amino acids derived from
protein and/or from triglyceride fatty acids in a process
called gluconeogenesis. The low-carbohydrate diet results
in a perfectly controlled and stable blood glucose level in
this way. On the other hand, the high-carbohydrate diet results
in the body's constant attempt to prevent blood glucose swings
both to the low-side (hypoglycemia)
or the high-side (hyperglycemia).
This control is regulated by the hormone insulin to reduce
the glucose level and the hormone adrenaline to act as an
emergency method of raising the glucose level.
Hypoglycemia is the train whistle signaling the diabetes
train is coming down the track. The diabetes engine is powered
by carbohydrates and gaining speed. Nibbling complex carbohydrates
throughout the day to control the blood sugar swings will
do nothing more than slow the train a year or two. The diabetes
train can be stopped dead on the tracks only by avoiding all
carbohydrates. The condition of uncontrolled blood sugar swings
is called diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, and has become
epidemic in all English-speaking countries. It will soon become
a catastrophe.
Younger people appear to handle carbohydrates without a problem
because the cells of the younger body readily accept the glucose
with a small insulin response and turn the glucose into energy.
However, the cells get resistant to this constant bombardment
of glucose, and increasing levels of insulin are necessary
to maintain a normal blood glucose level. As the cells become
resistant, the insulin assists in the conversion of the extra
glucose into triglycerides, which raise the triglyceride level
in the blood and are deposited as body fat. Carbohydrates
cause obesity, not fat. The high carbohydrate diet is a natural
killer for many reasons.
Insulin is a Disease-Causing Hormone
Insulin is a hormone made by the beta cells in the islets
of langerhans in the pancreas. Body cells require insulin
in order to use blood glucose.
A high level of blood insulin causes many unhealthy body
reactions, which eventually lead to diseases of all types.
Glucose from the excessive consumption of carbohydrates is
turned to body fat by the high insulin level and is also deposited
in the arteries and organs causing arterial diseases, heart
disease, strokes, blood clots and other diseases. High blood
glucose signals increasing insulin production until the pancreas
becomes fatigued after many years, making the disease seem
age-related. Glucose rises uncontrollably when insulin production
drops. The result causes diseases of the eyes, kidneys, blood
vessels and nerves.
Carbohydrates drive insulin production that causes cardiovascular
heart disease (CHD). Many heart attack patients first learn
they are diabetic in the hospital emergency room, but they
may not be told about the close relationship between their
two conditions. Blood insulin reaches high levels and remains
high as one progresses from hypoglycemia to Type II diabetes
where insulin production collapses. Insulin is a very strong
anabolic hormone. It pushes blood glucose into cells. It turns
blood glucose into triglycerides and stores them as body fat.
This sudden appearance of heart disease has been described
by the author as the "Instant Atherosclerosis Cycle"
(IAC).
Insulin also pushes small dense LDL molecules into the artery
wall to start the atherosclerosis process. Animal research
with insulin has proven many years ago that the artery will
plug with atherosclerosis just downstream from the point of
injection.
Carbohydrates cause the LDL molecules to be the unhealthy
small, dense variety. The high-fat, low-carbohydrates diet
causes the LDL molecules to the safe large fluffy light density
variety. Higher LDL blood levels on the low-carbohydrate diet
do not present the same CHD risk as do LDL levels on the USDA
Food Guide Pyramid diet of 60 percent carbohydrates.
High-Insulin (Hyperinsulinemia)
Increases Cancer Risks
Carbohydrates drive blood insulin production that causes
cancer. There are strong associations between a high-carbohydrate
diet and many diseases that present a secondary cancer risk.
Cancer risks are greatly increased with diabetes, inflammatory
bowel disease and many other unhealthy conditions caused by
the high-blood glucose and high-blood insulin levels.
High-Insulin (Hyperinsulinemia)
Increases Cardiovascular Disease Risks
The only way to prevent diseases caused by insulin spikes
and plunges is to eat a low-carbohydrate diet. Many primitive
societies have lived with very few carbohydrates in the diet
and have proven diabetes and all the diseases of consequence
do not exist. A great example is the Eskimos of the far north
prior to the introduction of white-man food.
The bad effects of insulin do not end here. High insulin
spikes signal the body to release cortisol and adrenaline
hormones, which also contribute to disease.
Cortisol is a Disease-Causing Hormone
Cortisol is the major stress hormone of the natural glucocorticoid
family, which regulates metabolism and provides resistance
to stress. Glucocorticoids are made in the outside portion
(the cortex) of the adrenal gland and are chemically classified
as steroids. Glucocorticoids increase the rate at which proteins
are catabolized (broken down) and amino acids are removed
from cells, primarily muscle fiber, and transported to the
liver.
Glucocorticoids cause amino acids to be synthesized into
new proteins, such as enzymes. They also raise blood pressure
by constricting vessels, which is a benefit in case of injury.
They are also anti-inflammatory. All of this is well and good
in a healthy individual with normal glucose and insulin levels.
Unfortunately, high cortisol levels cause many unhealthy reactions.
Understanding Adrenal
Function
"An excessive ratio of carbohydrates to protein results
in excess secretion of insulin, which often leads to intervals
of hypoglycemia. The body, in an attempt to normalize blood
sugar, initiates a counter-regulatory process during which
the adrenals are stimulated to secrete increased levels of
cortisol and adrenalin. It follows that an excessive intake
of carbohydrates often leads to excessive secretion of cortisol."
Excess cortisol:
- Diminishes cellular utilization of glucose
- Increases blood sugar levels
- Decreases protein synthesis
- Increases protein breakdown that can lead to
muscle wasting
- Causes demineralization of bone that can lead
to osteoporosis
- Interferes with skin regeneration and healing
- Causes shrinking of lymphatic tissue
- Diminishes lymphocyte numbers and functions
- Lessens SIgA (secretory antibody productions).
This immune system suppression may lead to increased susceptibility
to allergies, infections, and degenerative disease
High-cortisol levels caused by excessive carbohydrate consumption
and high-insulin levels cause the body to extract high-tensile
strength collagen protein fibers from bones, remove the mineral
matrix by demineralization and weaken connective tissue at
the joints. The protein loss is accelerated by a low-protein
diet, and the bone minerals are lost in the urine. One is
literally peeing his/her bones away. The result is a rapid
and shocking diagnosis of osteoporosis and degenerative disk
disease where the spine can lose as much as one inch (25 mm)
in height in as little as one year. Bones fracture more easily,
and the dreaded hip fracture is much more likely to occur.
Women are told to drink lots of milk and eat plenty of yogurt
to get additional calcium with the promise it will prevent
bone loss, but the advice is based on faulty logic. The additional
lactose in the milk and yogurt plus the additional sugar and
fruit added to yogurt only serve to increase the dietary carbohydrate
load. The net result is harmful to the bones as many are discovering.
All of this can be prevented by eating a high-protein, high-fat,
low-carbohydrate diet.
Adrenaline is a Disease-Causing
Hormone
Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the "fight-or-flight"
stress hormone. Epinephrine is a neurotransmitter secreted
by the adrenal gland that is associated with sympathetic nervous
system activity. It prolongs and intensifies the following
effects of the sympathetic nervous system.
- Causes the pupils of the eyes to dilate
- Increases the heart rate, force of contraction,
and blood pressure
- Constricts the blood vessels of nonessential
organs such as the skin
- Dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow
to organs involved in exercise or fighting off danger, skeletal
muscles, cardiac muscle, liver, and adipose tissue
- Increases the rate and depth of breathing and
dilates the bronchioles to allow faster movement of air
in and out of the lungs
- Raises blood sugar as the liver glycogen is converted
to glucose
- Slows down or even stops processes that are not
essential for meeting the stress situation, such as muscular
movements of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive secretions
All of these effects are great if one is being chased by
a lion or attacked by an intruder into the home. However,
these effects are unhealthy to a person sitting in an office,
watching a football game or simply going about his everyday
life.
The last item on the above list is very disruptive to the
intestinal tract and leads to intestinal diseases. People
are advised to eat more high-fiber whole grains and high-fiber
fruit to overcome the constipation resulting from this slow
down of the intestinal system, but this advice is backward.
These are very high-carbohydrate foods, which cause a surge
in insulin and adrenaline that shut down the digestive processes.
(Bowel
Diseases and Candida--News You Can Use.)
High-insulin and hypoglycemia (low-blood sugar) cause adrenaline
to increase when no fight-or-flight stress situation exists
and thereby causes unhealthy body changes. The helpful body
responses to adrenaline become a health hazard when adrenaline
is elevated over a period of time. The long-term elevation
of adrenaline is very unhealthy and leads to many diseases.
These changes include effects to the cardiovascular system
that increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The low-fat,
high-carbohydrate diet as recommended by the USDA Food Guide
Pyramid is disease causing because it promotes hypoglycemia,
hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperadrenalemia.
Prolonged elevated adrenaline has the following effects on
the cardiovascular system:
- Increases in the production of blood cholesterol, especially
the undesirable LDL
- Decreases the body's ability to remove cholesterol
- Increases the blood's tendency to clot
- Increases the deposits of plaque on the walls of the arteries
Adrenaline addiction is very common. Type-A personalities
become addicted to their excessive activity by the stimulation
and arousal of adrenaline. People who are constantly angry,
fearful, guilty, or worrisome arouse their adrenaline hormone
even though they may sit around doing nothing else. People
who are excessive in their participation in jogging, exercise,
bodybuilding, aerobics, sports, skiing, mountain climbing,
car racing or flying aerobic airplanes become addicted because
of the adrenaline rush from their activity. They describe
the "rush" they get from their activity and feel
depressed when they can't participate for some unexpected
reason.
James F. Fixx was addicted to running and wrote the famous
jogger's book, The
Complete Book of Running. He was a marathon runner and
vegetarian on a diet of high-carbohydrates and low-protein.
These were a perfect setup to arouse and maintain a high level
of adrenaline. He died on his daily run of a massive heart
attack proving to the world that exercise does NOT prevent
coronary heart disease. Fixx admitted in his book that his
own research showed the athletes from his university alumni
had a shorter life span than the "couch potato"
students. This difference may have been caused by the difference
in adrenaline between the two groups. Hypoglycemia and stress
are a deadly combination.
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