Tag Archives: Carbohydrate

More on Gastric Emptying Rate and Glycaemia

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Robert Barrington

nowledge of the differing digestion and absorption characteristics of carbohydrates has lead to the construction of the glycaemic index. The glycaemic index is a value given to carbohydrate foods that is a measure of the rate of blood sugar rise … Continue reading →

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Fasting: Why Does it Help Weight Loss?

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Robert Barrington

here is a common misconception that weight gain and obesity are caused by a positive energy balance. This ‘eat-too-much, do-too-little’ theory of weight gain states that overconsumption of food or underperformance of physical activity causes a positive energy balance that … Continue reading →

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Low Fat Diets: More Problems

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Robert Barrington

ow fat diets have become popular because of the false belief that saturated fat is able to cause detrimental changes to plasma lipoprotein levels. In addition dietary fat is seen by many as the cause of weight gain, and this … Continue reading →

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Refined Carbohydrates and Cancer

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Robert Barrington

vidence is accumulating that refined carbohydrates are a cause of the lifestyle diseases that plague the Western health care system. In contrast, consumption of whole grain carbohydrates are considered protective of the same diseases. Refining the grains removes much of … Continue reading →

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Fructose: More on Rats and Insulin Resistance

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Robert Barrington

That fructose can cause insulin resistance has been demonstrated in the nutritional literature. Because sucrose (table sugar) contains a moiety of fructose, sugar is known to cause insulin resistance in mammals. Many experiments have been performed in rats showing that … Continue reading →

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Starch: A Complex Subject

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Much is made of the improved health outcomes from consuming whole grain starch compared to refined starch. Whole grains are believed to improve health because they have their original fibre and micronutrient content and thus increase intakes of both when … Continue reading →

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More Benefits to High Fat Diets

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease claims that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat are the cause of elevated plasma lipoproteins. Proponents of such an idea claim that these elevated level of lipoproteins are the cause of atherosclerosis, which in turn … Continue reading →

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Fructose and Insulin Resistance: Evidence from Rats

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Fructose is thought to be the cause of the obesity epidemic currently engulfing Western nations. Traditionally, the human diet has contained carbohydrates in their unrefined forms. Although processed through milling, the final grains product still retained the original constituents of … Continue reading →

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Increased Meal Frequency and the Liver

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Research suggests that increased meal frequency may contribute towards improved body composition. For example, researchers1 used a ten year longitudinal study to investigate the meal frequency of girls aged 9 to 19 years, and determined the association with body mass … Continue reading →

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Why Does Protein Increase Alertness?

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Robert Barrington

arbohydrates can cause drowsiness because they increase the uptake of L-tryptophan to the brain which subsequently causes an increase in the production of melatonin (here). Protein can counter the calming effects of carbohydrates and increase alertness for a number of … Continue reading →

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