2. Why Sugar Turns Into Body Fat

Carbohydrate, carbohydrate, carbohydrate - We need you!  But everything in moderation please.  Our bodies need carbohydrate for energy, our bodies are designed to move, the internal body is working all the time (metabolism) and therefore energy is required to fuel it.  How much carbohydrate do we need?  Your daily intake of calories - that lovely food we enjoy- should contain approximately 55% of carbohydrate. NHS UK recommends an average daily calorie intake of 2000 Calories for women and 2500 Calories for men, less if you are overweight, so get your calculators out!
The carbohydrate in our food is turned into glucose and used by the body to replenish the stocks of energy stored away in your muscles and liver ( approximately 1700 Calories worth of glucose)  for energy bursts or if you miss meals and a small amount is left floating in the blood stream and the brain to keep your metabolism ticking over - the fine balance is controlled by the pancreas, by pushing out insulin in response to foods eaten, it ensures that there's not too much glucose in the blood stream causing toxic effects on the body and not too little so that the body can function normally.
When there is excess glucose in the blood stream ( too many carbohydrates eaten) the insulin released in the blood stream diverts the glucose straight to the fat cells where they will stay, keeping blood sugar levels safe and the body functioning normally - until the next high level of carbohydrate intake! In Type 2 Diabetes, the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin and so glucose is not stored efficiently, it stays in the blood stream with levels of glucose getting higher and higher until your body cannot function adequately.
We will look at why some carbohydrates are better for us than others, later...
Love food, Love yourself!

Club MotiVita is keeping it real

1. Why am I gaining weight?

"I don't seem to eat much, I can't eat any less than I am without feeling weak and wobbly"  You might not be eating much food, but it's possible that it's the type of foods that you are choosing that are making you gain weight and yet still feel hungry and weak.  The foods that we put inside our bodies have different effects on the organs, tissues and hormones that are working hard to keep this complicated piece of magnificent machinery working correctly.
Our bodies need certain amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat daily and a good supply of fibre, vitamins and minerals that should ideally be found within those food types.  Other than plenty of water, that's all you need.  Sounds simple doesn't it, but no it's complicated by the availability of pre-packaged and pre-prepared foods found in our supermarkets.  "Low Fat"  usually means added sugar and more calories.  Fruit juice, a small amount of 100mls contains all the vitamin C you require in a day, sounds healthy "one of our 5 a day"  but it is packed with fructose, which goes straight to your liver and is converted into liver fat.  Fruit juice may look and sound healthy, but fructose is toxic on your liver.  Fructose is a natural sugar, right?  Yes, but remove the fibre and you are left  with a high concentration of sugar, 80%, and when you drink it, it spikes your insulin levels high and fructose is sent straight to the liver for conversion to fat.  You are left feeling tired, possibly slightly shaky and hungry.  This is the effect of fructose on the internal body and your well-being.  If you want to do one thing today to help you lose weight and become more healthy; avoid fructose, look at food labels, limit fruit juice intake.

Have a look at this video featuring Doctor Lustig and the University of California.

Kick start your weight loss at Club Motivita