Can cutting Carbs help you?

One of the most common symptoms of Lupus is fatigue. There isn't a pill they can give you for Lupus fatigue, you just learn to manage it. Like I said before, my doctor did not give me any info about diet, since there isn't a "Lupus Diet". So, as I began looking for a way to lose weight I stumbled on the low-carb way of eating.

Here is some basic info about Carbs.....

~Simple carbohydrates are composed of 1 or 2 sugar units that are broken down and digested quickly. Recent research has shown that certain simple carbohydrate foods can cause extreme surges in blood sugar levels, which also increases insulin release. This can elevate appetite and the risk of excess fat storage.

~Complex carbohydrates (also referred to as starch) are made up of many sugar units and are found in both natural (brown rice) and refined (white bread) form. They are structurally more complex and take longer to be broken down and digested. Complex carbohydrate foods have been shown to enter the blood stream gradually and trigger only a moderate rise in insulin levels.

Example of Carbs....

Sugar, syrup, candy, honey, jams, jelly, molasses, and soft drinks contain simple carbohydrates and little if any nutrients.

Fruits contain primarily simple carbohydrate but also valuable vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water.

Vegetables contain varying amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water.

Legumes such as beans, peas, lentils and soybeans contain complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.

Milk products contain simple carbohydrates along with protein, calcium and other nutrients.

Grain products contain complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein. The amounts vary depending on the type of grain used and the amount of processing. Selecting whole grain options whenever possible is recommended.

So, when you eat simple carbs it is digested quickly and you get a burst of energy! Then, your insulin falls and you crash! So, with Lupus I don't think we need to eat to make us have even more fatigue! We need to eat so we can fight fatigue! So, complex carbs over simple is the way to go! In my next post I am going to go over what the Glycemic index is, plus talk about some low-carb foods!