PHYSCI 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Glycemic Load, Blood Sugar, Glucagon

• School: UCLA
• Department: Physiological Science
• Course: PHYSCI 5
• Professor: Esdin, J.

Document Summary

Carbohydrates are a preferred source of energy due to them being a quick source of energy. Fluctuation is normal - glucose levels increase after a meal, decreased by insulin. Glucagon increases blood sugar if levels are too low. Only rare genetic diseases associated with glucagon. The key to losing weight is not necessarily calories, it is about not triggering the release of insulin. The amount of insulin released in the blood is proportional to the amount of sugar found in the blood. For example, let"s say you drink a 150 calorie can of soda, which releases 10 units of insulin. Let"s compare that to a bag of baby carrots with the same amount of calories of sugar. This is why quality of food over quantity of food is important. Protein also releases insulin, but less than carbohydrates.