Simple Carbohydrates & Weight Gain
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says the main purpose of carbohydrates is to fuel the body with energy, with special emphasis placed on the brain and the nervous system. Depending on the chemical makeup of the food and how rapidly the sugar is digested and soaked up, carbohydrates are labeled as either simple or complex. The NIH says approximately 50 percent of your total daily calories should come from complex carbohydrates (whole grains, pasta, brown rice) as they provide fiber, minerals and vitamins.
Simple carbs are contained in table sugar, candy, and some syrups and non-diet soda. These so-called "empty calories" can quickly lead to weight gain when eaten in excessive amounts. In addition, a wide assortment of foods with a high sugar content such as chocolate, pastries, donuts and cakes are also high in fat or prepared with fat, making it easier to pack on the pounds when consuming simple carbs.
Carbs, Glucose & Insulin
According to www.DiabetesHealth.com, regardless of whether carbohydrates are from fruits and vegetables or sugar and bread, they all digest rapidly and are quickly converted to blood glucose. Glucose in your bloodstream shoots up shortly after consuming a high-carb meal.
Insulin removes glucose from the bloodstream once it's converted into a starch called glycogen (chief carbohydrate storage form of glucose in the liver and in muscles). Since the body is able to store a certain amount of glycogen, excess glucose accumulates as body fat, resulting in extra weight. As the level of glucose in your blood falls below normal, a vicious cycle is created, because you'll soon become hungry, prompting you to consume even more carbohydrates.
Water Weight
A carbohydrate-loading diet involves maximizing carbohydrates and minimizing your physical activity a few days prior to an athletic activity that requires stamina. But according to the Mayo Clinic, a side effect of carbohydrate may include weight gain that is due in large part to water retention. As you reduce your intake of carbohydrates, you body will burn glycogen which contains a lot of water. Burning glycogen results in more frequent urination and that causes weight loss.
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