Do We Really Need Carbohydrates? A Mini Review on Obesity and Diseases

Carbohydrates are among the main food groups, along with proteins and fats. Many food groups fall into the carbohydrate group, such as sugars or starches, and are composed primarily of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. One of the most important functions of carbohydrates is energy production. Where, after digestion, it turns into mono-glucose. Which in turn nourishes the cells of the body. As carbohydrates convert faster and easier to glucose than proteins and fats, so they are the main source of energy that the body needs to carry out vital functions. The prevailing belief persisted by people who consider it as the main body’s food source of energy [1]. No one can deny the importance of the presence of carbohydrates in the human diet for the body to perform its vital functions, just as we cannot also deny that carbohydrates have serious harm that threatens human life. With the rapid development and change in lifestyle and the resort to fast and ready-made foods containing high levels of carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates such as bread, sugars and starches [2,3]. We have seen many unknown-source diseases, symptoms and infections that have recently appeared on the human body and its health, which disturbed and bothered him. As in recent years, the introduction of high rates of processed carbohydrates has increased in food products in the world markets. Whether are candies, starch, or local corn syrup, with juices, drinks sweets and baked goods, which led to an increase in diseases and infections that now we see a day even in children and young people. Diseases such as overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, fatty liver [4,5], high triglycerides, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, gout [6], cancers [7,8] and the list goes on. One of these dangerous and causative factors is insulin resistance [9]. The majority of people with accumulated belly fat have a condition called insulin resistance [9]. A condition precedes diabetes in which the body’s cells reject or block insulin. Since the cells’ sensitivity or sensing to insulin is low, it will stimulate the work of the pancreas to make more. People who have insulin resistance have four to five times the amount of insulin in their bodies even when they are fasting. One of the symptoms of insulin resistance is cravings for sweets, dissatisfaction after eating that cannot last for long without hunger [10,11]. Good mood with eating, fluid retention, frequent urination at night, polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovaries [12]. On the other hand, dietary factors play an important role in the development of chronic heart disease through their effects on body weight and serum lipid levels [13-15]. It is widely accepted that dietary carbohydrate intakes increase the risk of stroke. Recently, several studies have raised the issue of the relationship between carbohydrate related factors (Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL)) and chronic heart disease risk factors [16]. In general, more refined or processed carbohydrates have a higher GI. This in turns makes cells in muscles, fat, and liver do not respond well to insulin and cannot use glucose from blood for energy. Over time, the blood sugar levels go up and the pancreas makes more insulin ending to insulin resistance.

So far, dealing with insulin resistance seems the only way to fix a slow and stubborn metabolism, and the solution is to follow a lowcarb diet and stay away from substances that would raise the blood sugar level [17]. However, the body still needs very little complex carbohydrates that come from vegetables, green leaves and grains such as legumes and seeds, not simple carbohydrates such as sugars and starch, which quickly turn into blood sugar and thus lead to the health problems we see today [18]. Things do not stop here, as “Covid-19” the virus that baffled the world in 2020 is still spreading rapidly among people, causing shortness of breath and severe acute pneumonia that leads to death. Covid-19 affects patients who complain of obesity are more likely to die from complications from the disease compared to people who are of a healthy weight [19]. As a recent study revealed that obesity, increases the risk of death by nearly 50 percent among “Covid-19” patients who suffer from obesity and the prospective vaccine may be less effective in protecting them from infection with the emerging corona virus [19]. The excessive intake of carbohydrates downregulate the anti-aging gene with implications to increased risk of COVID-19 and success of vaccines [20-22]. In addition, its severity linked to age, chronic diseases and the strength of the body’s immune system; all of these factors increase the risk. Thus, the nutritional diets, lifestyles and exercise are required to activate the anti-aging gene that is critical to prevent obesity and diabetes [22]. This mini review comes as a number of international research efforts are continuing to combat obesity, given its worrisome health consequences.

Despite the many benefits of carbohydrates and being the main source of energy in the human body, excessive intake of carbohydrates may cause some damage that may negatively affect human health, so carbohydrates must be consumed in quantities appropriate to the body’s energy needs. The serious damage that carbohydrates may cause is weight gain and diabetes. It may cause insulin resistance of cells and thus the survival of sugar in the blood, which increases the possibility of diabetes, so it is necessary to eat complex sugars that raise sugar slowly in the blood and lower it slowly, which maintains the level of sugar normally and avoids the risk of diabetes and what follow of diseases. Hence, the need for a revolution in the world of nutrition and the re-concept of nutritional science has become an urgent and necessary matter. In addition, need to understanding the importance of carbohydrates and reducing their intake, especially in children and young ages. It has become a very important matter to modify the food culture and return to nature to build healthy bodies free from diseases and infections. Increasing or boosting the immune system to fight the disease by decreasing insulin and sugar levels in the blood Whereas, carbohydrates divided into two types, simple and complex. Through our understanding of the classification of carbohydrates, obtaining complex carbohydrates such as vegetables and green leaves is necessary for the metabolism of the body and brain cells to obtain the necessary vitamins and not for the carb itself. Through ancient and modern studies, it became important for nutritional scientists to introduce natural healthy animal proteins and fats that ancient man used to eat since the beginning of creation, before he knew factories, manufacturing and refining of sugar and salt. It is necessary to change the lifestyle and the rapid return of nature to rectify the matter and repair what can be repaired for our bodies and the bodies of our children so that they become more intellectually and physically active, as the problem is global and is not limited to specific societies or countries. In addition, efforts should focus on raising awareness about harmful eating habits and the high demand for fast food, as well as encouraging exercise as an activity necessary to maintain fitness.

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