As you may know our body can
run on three different fuel, namely Carbs (glucose), Protein (amino acids) and
Fat (fatty acids). The body decides its fuel based on the food we eat. However,
let’s see which is the most preferred fuel for the humans.
Until
the agriculture era, humans (hunter-gatherers community) do not know to store
or preserve food and mostly depended on the meat by hunting (fat and protein) for
their energy needs. Also limited amount of carb’s thru roots, nuts and berries.
Hunter-gatherers
community were constantly in search of food, (the only reason they were spread all
over the globe, by crossing the continent’s) they were not having the privilege
like us to have 3 times food plus 2 tea break! They were lived in a condition
where, always uncertainty of the food existed. (they were celebrated their hunt,
by singing and dancing. because, they weren’t sure about the next food). Therefore,
they were habituated to feast following the fast. They fulfilled their (majority)
calorie needs from fat, NOT from carb’s.
Since
the Hunter-gatherers society occupying at least 95% of the human history, where
their genes were fully evolved, developed and adopted to the feast / fast cycle
with high fat and low carb life style. We
also have the same genes of hunter-gatherers! (note: a small change in gene
structure may take several millions of years. mosquito gene may takes around
1000 years to adopt to something. Human gene is “much more” complex than
mosquito)
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If we plot the entire human history in 24 hours scale for the sake of convenience, we (according to our genes) stared eating grains and cereals (high carb’s) just 10 min ago! Our gene may need at least a day (in time scale) to evolve further to the present high carb environment. (again, it’s not mandatory)
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Since
Hunter-gatherers community don’t have knowledge, to store or preserve food, their
body evolved or equipped to store the fuel inside the body in the form of glycogen (for
short term) and triglyceride (for long term) to support in times of starvation.
Thanks to the hormones Insulin (to trigger the storage or support the feast) and Glucagon (to support the starvation / fast)
Bear
in mind, though they consumed roots, nuts and berries, they were seasonal (not
available, throughout the year or in large quantities) whereas meat being available
(by hunting) irrespective of season. In other words, their carb’s consumption
is naturally restricted.
Even
after the Agriculture era, Farming done by the families using organic farming techniques
without machinery's. Hence, the yield of carb’s (cereals, grains) were minimal
and consumed without any further modification or refining process.
But
over the past 100 years, farming shifted from farmers to corporate's and it
became an industry. Particular crop grown in hundreds and thousands of acres
with modern techniques and machinery's to obtain the maximum yield, GMO seeds
can ensure the yield throughout the year (no seasons) and further processed for
its by-products to maximize the profit. (note: hunter gatherers community must
haven’t seen groups of apple / banana trees together or acres of paddy or
wheat grown)
We
humans were evolved with our own internal storage to subdue starvation (don’t
know to store the food) But today, we have a technology to store food
externally and everywhere. Food available in our kitchen, super markets shelves,
restaurants, food courts and joints, fast food chains etc. food even available
on the go, mid-air !
Since
from 19th century on-wards we started to over consume the high carb’s
food, more than our body need and continuously increase our internal storage
limit. Now you must be having a clue as to why we gain weight and become obese.
Our
body is designed to handle about 50g of carb per day. But we have been
overloading with 250 – 300g more than its capacity and eventually become obese,
diabetic, hypertensive....etc.
Let
us see now, how high carb’s triggers the storage mechanism. When we eat high
carb food, is broken down into glucose by carbohydrate metabolism and absorbed
by blood stream. Immediately your blood sugar “spikes” beyond the normal range.
(note: when there is a spike, “crash” can’t be avoided. will see in a detail
later)
High
blood sugar is toxic and beta cells of the pancreases secrete the hormone
insulin to bring down the blood sugar level to normal range, by “pushing” the
glucose into cells to produce energy. (cell metabolism) and the excess sugar
converted into glycogen to be stored in the liver (to support starvation)
Insulin
triggers the conversion of fatty acids into triglyceride and stored in the
fatty acid (to support starvation). Also prevent the fatty acids (fats) to use as
fuel. (note: Insulin also have several other function, Will see in a detail
later post)
During
starvation, the blood sugar level hits the lower normal (no or minimal insulin
levels) the hormone glucagon release by the alpha cells of the pancreas and covert the stored glycogen back
into glucose and brings the blood sugar into normal range. Note: In this
process there is no blood sugar SPIKE or CRASH. Hence, there is to insulin
need.
Also,
glucagon trigger the breaking down process of triglyceride and use the fatty
acids to meet the energy requirements. This is how the hunter gatherers were
balancing their energy needs. By controlling the carb’s. they never spike/crash
the blood sugar or over dose the insulin in the system.
Today,
we are having by 3 high carb meal per day (about 300 – 350 g of carb’s/day) and
creating the blood sugar spike / crash 3 times a day. Thus by forcing the
insulin also to spike 3 times a day. This is the mere misuse of the pancreas /
insulin. (note: Calories from carb cannot give satiety and we forced to eat 3
meal and between snacks. Whereas, calories from fat provides complete satiety. Hence,
we don’t feel hunger)
Our
pancreas is not designed or capable to produce “so much” of insulin per day. Over
the period it will “give-up” and when that happen, you become diabetic (will
discuss in detail later in diabetic post)
Since
you keep spiking the insulin throughout the day, you keep storing fat (without
spending) Over the period you become obese. Our body is not habituated (organs are
not compatible) for high carb diet. Eating high carbohydrates is not
physiological nature. Consuming high carb’s along with fat put us in even the
worst situation.
Eating
saturated fat like, butter, coconut oil, red meat, eggs, full fat cheese along
with low carb’s is a healthy life style (which is close to our gene and more
physiological in nature) But, our system will crash if you do the reverse. Cardio
vascular and coronary artery disease are not because of fat or cholesterol, but
of carbohydrates (will discuss in detail later in diabetic post)
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Though
we claim to be a part of ultra-modern human society, but our genes are still remains
as a hunter gatherers society.
Further readings on Human history:
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