As seen from the above table, of the three basic constituents of food, Fat, Protein and Carbohydrate – Carbohydrate makes the most profound change in insulin, because it makes the most profound change in blood sugar level. Fat doesn’t do anything; as far as insulin is concerned fat doesn’t exist, while protein has a much lower effect. The combination of Carbohydrate and Protein, especially large amounts of Carbohydrate with small amounts of Protein, causes the greatest increase in insulin. (Rice with Meat – Biryani, or Bread with Meat or Eggs – Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and with fries and such). Lots of carbohydrates and some fat (Doughnuts, Cookies, Cakes) are also problematic. You may select a high fat, moderate protein and low to very low carbohydrate, or protein with fat, as a preferred combination in your diet.

Carbohydrates with Low Glycemic Index (GI) should be preferred over those with high GI. Even on ‘Feast’ days. Rice, itself having a moderate GI, should preferably be mixed with dal or sambar and ghee to further lower its GI or converted into a resistant starch before eating (See – ‘Probiotics – Resistant Starch’).

It is therefore carbohydrates that we need to control in our diet. Hence the Low-Carb Diet.

Children do not show an immediate effect of high carbohydrate diet as in childhood the insulin – blood sugar regulation mechanism works perfectly, but such regulation comes at a price – gradually developing the loss of sensitivity to insulin or insulin resistance which shows its effect some years later.

The only answer is to follow a proper diet regimen, the Low-Carb Diet. However, it is important to remember that even though the regimen works rapidly to return insulin sensitivity to normal in most people, it works only as long as you follow it. A return to your former eating habits will soon return you to your former problems.

The Low-Carb Diet programme is successful because it works with your metabolic system instead of counter to it.

There is a significant and ever growing body of literature that supports the recommendation of a severely restricted carbohydrate diet to get diabetic patients off their medications, including insulin, and resolve, rather than just control, their diabetes. (See – ‘The Ketogenic Diet Regimen’).

A small study by Dr. Kevin Hall and his colleagues at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases showed that insulin secretion dropped 50 percent with the very low carbohydrate diet, meaning that much less insulin was required to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Of course the resultant weight loss in obese patients also matters.

Such a diet is by far the best nutrition plan and calls for elimination of grains, potatoes, sugars and all processed foods.

As individuals also have unique responses to their Diet it is necessary that in order to maintain their health, they each learn how to manage their own Low-Carb long term eating habits by gradually including only such low GI grains and starchy vegetables into their diet as will not cause any real adverse effect on their health and weight.

The ‘Understanding’ sections in this Guide will help them to settle on such a Low-Carb Life style or preferably a Ketogenic Life¬style, that best suits each and which can be continued for life.

Drink more water:

When you burn body fat or dietary fat for fuel in the absence of an abundance of carbohydrate, some of the fat may be burned incompletely. These partially burned fat-byproducts are called Ketones (not to be confused with Ketoacidosis), and are used as fuel by most of the body’s tissues including the brain. The heart and kidney’s infact, prefer ketones to glucose and all other fuels. The body releases the excess ketones via the urine, stools and breath and this is not something to worry about as long as your kidneys are otherwise not impaired. To do so efficiently the body needs to be properly hydrated. (See – ‘Need for Proper Hydration’).

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