Why it's protein NOT carbs that's making you put on weight - and how to stop it, revealed by top scientists By Cara Lee for the Daily Mail Published: 20:30 EST, 4 November 2024 | Updated: 20:30 EST, 4 November 2024 e-mail View comments Carbohydrates are seen by many as ‘the enemy’ of healthy body weight. The mantra ‘no carbs before Marbs’ (from TV’s The Only Way Is Essex – about holidaying in Marbella) reflects a widespread view that carbs lead to fat gain. This is based on the fact that carbohydrates – such as bread, potatoes, pasta, cakes and biscuits – are broken down into glucose in the body – which can raise blood sugar levels; over time, this can lead to weight gain and health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
But has our understanding of this been wrong? A study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, suggests that in some people it’s actually fat and protein, rather than carbs, that cause high blood sugar. Levels are generally kept in check by insulin, a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas that helps cells mop up glucose and use it for energy. Insulin also assists the body in storing extra glucose in the form of glycogen, mainly in the muscles and liver (it’s then returned to the blood when blood sugar levels are too low).
Testing blood sugar levels at home with a glucometer is often carried out by people with, or at risk of, diabetes But if the cells stop responding to insulin, excess glucose circulates in the bl.