Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets

What are Sugars & What are Starches? Article 1 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. All of us living the Low Carb lifestyle use the words carbohydrate, sugar, and starch on a daily basis. But although we use the words freely, not everyone is clear on just what those words mean, how the substances relate to one another, or how they relate to other things we eat.

What Is Dietary Fiber and The Glycemic Index? Article 2 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. Non-digestible carbohydrates are variously called dietary fiber, crude fiber, indigestible residue, gums, and roughage. Although the fiber doesn't contribute to our nutritional needs directly, it is essential to our bodies because it causes the action necessary to clear the intestinal tract.

What Are Enzymes? Article 3 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. Enzymes are protein substances that are normally produced by the body to cause or allow specific actions. Dr. Beth Gruber explains the function of enzymes.

Digestion Of Simple Sugars & Supplemental Digestive Enzymes. Article 4 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. Those of us who are trying to lose weight, sometimes lose track of the fact that the body wants to take in food and use it to our best advantage. It does this by digesting the food, thereby making it ready for transfer into the body's tissue cells. The necessary factors are enzymes, which are produced in our bodies for this purpose. Only simple sugars can be absorbed into the cells of the body, and enzymes are necessary to break down the complex carbohydrates to the simple sugar stage.

Let's take a look at the anatomy of the small intestines. Article 5 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. The small intestines are variously called small intestines, small intestine (with no final S), upper bowel, and small bowel. It is the part of the digestive tract that is located just below the stomach. It is, of course, a tube, but the walls of the tube are folded many, many times.

There is another small subject concerning carbohydrates that needs to be addressed before we move on to discussing protein. Article 6 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. What about all the forms of actual sugar? Are they different? Is it safer/better to eat certain ones? Well-meaning friends and relatives often say, "But, this is made with a 'special' sugar that has vitamins and minerals! It is good for you." Do you know what to tell them? No? Well, then read on.

Today we are starting our discussion of protein. Article 7 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. We will be looking at such subjects as what is protein, why protein is necessary, what the functions of protein are in our bodies, where we get protein, what happens if we don't have enough or the right kinds of protein, and how and where in the system is protein digested. There will be a few surprises down the line.

Protein Digestion and Protein Absorption. Article 8 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. The protein parts of every cell in the body are being destroyed continually. As a result, our bodies need to replace these protein structures constantly. This requires that we eat protein every day. Fortunately, those of us who follow a low carbohydrate lifestyle, don't have any problems getting enough needed protein.

Excess protein is transformed into glucose in the liver in a process called gluconeogenesis. The glucose turns into glycogen by the liver. Article 9 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. The CHO portion of the protein is transformed into glucose in the liver in a process called gluconeogenesis (gluco-NEO-genesis; gluco=sugar; neo=new; genesis=creation). The glucose is then available to be transformed into glycogen by the liver, just like the glucose from "regular" carbohydrates.

Dr. Beth Gruber talks about how protein works in the body. Article 10 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. The liver converts an average of 58% of the protein we eat into carbohydrates, and that the carbohydrates-from-protein are handled by the body just like "regular" carbohydrates. It is broken down into glucose by the simple water-related steps of hydrolysis; it is used for fuel to run the body; it is converted to glycogen and stored. If there is too much of it, it is converted into body fat.

Article 11 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series. Since some of the protein I eat converts to carbs, can I eat only protein if I take supplements to provide what I'm not getting in veggies?

Dr. Beth Gruber reviews all she has previously talked about in regards to sugars, starches, fiber, enzymes, and carbohydrate digestion. Article 12 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.