| Carb
Blocker, A Solution to Weight Loss?
by Kristy Haugen
Low carb diets restrict the
consumption of carbohydrates. The difference between
the Atkins and the South Beach diet is within
the amount of restriction. The induction phase
of the Atkins diet restricts most carbohydrates
while the South Beach diet allows ‘good’
carbohydrate consumption. These diets can really
put one’s will power to the test. Why?
The human body’s primary
source of energy is glucose. Glucose is derived
from the breakdown or hydrolysis of carbohydrates
that are consumed. Limiting carbohydrate consumption
forces the body to use fat or protein as an energy
source. Decreased carbohydrate consumption may
leave you feeling tired and easily fatigued until
the body adjusts to the change.
The word carbohydrate arose
because molecular formulas of these compounds
can be expressed as hydrates of carbons which
yield a basic carbohydrate empiric formula of
(CH2O)n. Carbohydrates consist mainly of the combination
of two chemistry functional groups: the carbonyl
and the hydroxyl group. Carbohydrates exist in
different forms such as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides,
and polysaccharides.
Monosaccharides are usually
called simple sugars. These simple sugars cannot
be broken down or hydrolyzed into a simpler form
(glucose). A complex carbohydrate refers to one
or more linked simple sugars that require digestion
for absorption.
Oligosaccharides contain at
least two monosaccharide units. Oligosaccharides
may be referred to as disaccharides or trisaccharides
depending on how many units of monosaccharides
the compound contains. Maltose and sucrose (table
sugar) are considered disaccharides.
Polysaccharides contain many
monosaccharide units. In order for the body to
use polysaccharides, these compounds must be broken
down into a simpler monosaccharide form. Examples
of polysaccharides are starch and cellulose (fiber).
Dietary carbohydrate digestion
occurs mainly in the mouth and small intestine.
During mastication (chewing) the salivary glands
secrete the enzyme alpha-amylase which is referred
to as ptyalin. Alpha-amylase briefly acts on dietary
carbohydrates in the mouth to hydrolyze starch
into simple sugars such as glucose. In fact, if
you chew on a carbohydrate long enough you may
taste sugar. This is a result of salivary amylase
hydrolyzing the carbohydrate into a simpler sugar.
Mastication increases the
surface area of the food for alpha-amylase to
act upon. This allows the enzyme alpha-amylase
to work more efficiently in carbohydrate digestion.
However, the food does not remain in the mouth
for a long time so only a small portion of starch
is hydrolyzed there.
Once the chewed food has been
swallowed into the stomach, carbohydrate digestion
halts temporarily. This occurs because alpha-amylase
is inactivated by the high acidic environment
of the stomach. However, carbohydrate digestion
will resume once the chyme (food mass and gastric
juices of the stomach) enters the small intestine.
The acidic contents emptied
into the small intestine are neutralized by bicarbonate
secreted by the pancreas. The pancreas will then
secrete alpha-amylase to continue carbohydrate
digestion. Carbohydrate digestion is finished
when the mucosal lining of the upper jejunum and
duodenum absorb the bulk of the dietary sugars
in the form of monosaccharides.
Now that we have a good understanding
of what a carbohydrate is and the importance of
the carbohydrate in the body, maybe an extreme
low carb diet isn’t the answer for weight
loss. Extreme diets whether they are low carb
or high protein can put the body to the test.
Carbohydrates may be a necessary evil, but the
body relies heavily on carbohydrates for energy.
Instead of testing one’s will power, using
a weight loss supplement called a carb blocker
may be a better option.
Carb blockers are a weight
loss supplement recently introduced into the weight
loss world. Carb blockers claim to block the enzyme
alpha-amylase. If the enzyme alpha-amylase is
blocked, then carbohydrate hydrolysis is affected.
By blocking the enzyme, you block the breakdown
of the carbohydrate which affects absorption of
the monosaccharide. How so? If the carbohydrate
is of complex origin, the enzyme must be secreted
to break down the carbohydrate into a simpler
form for absorption. In theory, the carb blocker
should indeed help to block carbohydrates from
being absorbed.
Phaseolus vulgaris is the
active ingredient in carb blockers that comes
from the white kidney bean. Phaseolus vulgaris
interferes with the pancreas’ ability to
secrete the enzyme alpha-amylase. Subsequent studies
do prove that Phaseolus vulgaris does in fact
inhibit the enzyme alpha-amylase.
Carb blockers are another
option for weight loss. However, permanent weight
loss requires you to make changes to your lifestyle.
If you do not change your lifestyle then no matter
what diet or supplement you choose, weight loss
is temporary and short lived. This also means
that if you choose a low carb diet, make sure
that this diet can be done. Many people fail the
low carb diets because of extreme commitments.
Copyright 2006 Kristy Haugen
About The Author
Kristy Haugen
is a mother and an experienced nurse. She also
has a bachelor degree in Biology and Chemistry.
She writes to inform consumers about nutrition
and health topics. Learn more about weight loss
at http://weightlossarticles.vitaminmaniac.com.
Learn more about vitamins and your health at http://blog.vitaminmaniac.com
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