Slow Carbs - What Is SoLo Bar

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Slow Carbs Optimum Fuel for
the Human Engine BY SAUL KATZ
Feeling drained when it comes
to your energy and stamina?
You’re not alone. Market
researchers have identified
“The Energy Deficit” as the
foremost concern across
most demographics. People
often comment, “I don’t have
enough energy to get through
the day” or “my blood sugar
crashes between meals“. Poor
blood sugar management is
a likely culprit to insufficient
energy. Other contributing
factors may include stress,
lack of quality sleep and
depression. Since energy and
mental concentration follow
blood sugar, maintaining a
healthy blood sugar level also
helps people stay focused and
alert for longer periods of
time.
The Cost of Free Sugars
Recently, the World Health
Organization (WHO) has
recommended the public
reduce “free sugar” intake
to less than 10% of total
energy intake to reduce
the risk of overweight,
obesity and tooth decay. The
WHO expert committee is
concerned with “free sugars”
or empty “nutrient-void”
calories that are digested
rapidly, contributing
excessive calories that lead
to weight gain and increased
risk of disease. Instead, the
WHO experts recommend
carbohydrate energy from
foods that are nutrient-dense
and nutritionally balanced.
The WHO also cites a
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particular concern with
“sugar-sweetened beverages”.
Without the associated fibre,
protein and fat to slow their
digestion, the free (unbound)
sugars in such beverages
spike blood sugar and insulin
levels promoting fat storage
and insulin resistance.
Also, refined carbs in the
absence of fibre fail to satisfy
hunger levels and can cause
a physiological spike, crash
and crave cycle contributing
to “Diabesity” and the energy
deficit. Not great if you’re
looking to increase your
energy levels, manage your
weight and prevent disease!
Fill up your tank with
premium Slow-Release
Carbs, not “Free”
Sugars
Your body is like a high
performance vehicle and
it needs the right fuel. You
can think of carbohydrates
as gasoline for your brain,
central nervous system and
muscles. If you maintain
your “vehicle” and use
premium fuel (fuel injected
slow-release carbs), you can
expect superior performance
and longevity. On the other
hand, if you miss service
appointments and fill up
your tank with the wrong fuel
(free sugars, fast-absorbing
carbs), you will void your
warranty and experience poor
performance, be sidelined
and unable to enjoy life’s daily
pursuits.
Eliminating or reducing
carbs is like trying to run
your vehicle with little or
no gasoline in the tank. By
switching from a low-carb to
a slow-carb diet, we can fuel
the human engine efficiently,
as nature intended.
The SLOW Down on
Carbs
Carbohydrates are arguably
the most misunderstood
nutrient of today. It is
important to remember
that carbs are the essential
and preferred fuel for your
brain, central nervous
system and muscles. Carbs,
including starches and sugar,
are converted to “glucose”,
which is blood sugar. But it is
“the rate” at which your body
converts carbs into glucose
that is key. While the WHO
addressed “free sugar” they
did not address the hidden
menace – refined starches.
Many people don’t realize
that most refined starches
can spike blood sugar and
insulin levels - faster than
table sugar!
The lower and slower
your body raises blood
sugar and insulin levels,
the better for managing
your weight, sustaining
your energy and preventing
disease. Just as consumers
learned not all fats are bad,
they are learning not all
carbs are created equal. The
answer is not to eliminate
carbs but rather to manage
them. Substitute rapidly
digested, blood sugar
spiking (high glycemic)
carbs with slow-release
carbs that lift blood sugar
more gently (low glycemic).
This recommendation
is supported by health
professionals and the
Canadian Diabetes
Association 2013 Clinical
Practice Guidelines.
More than just Simple
and Complex: The
Glycemic Index
The Glycemic Index is the
only true scientific measure
of how fast and how high
a carb-containing food
raises blood sugar. High
GI foods contain carbs
(“gushers”) that break
down quickly giving a quick
boost in energy that soon
fades, followed by a craving
to gorge on more food to
keep you going, commonly
known as the “spike crash
and crave”. Low GI foods are
better as they contain slow
release carbs (“tricklers”)
that are converted to
glucose (blood sugar) more
slowly, fueling the body and
brain with lasting energy
and reducing cravings.
Selecting snacks with a lower
glycemic response helps to
stabilize blood sugar levels.
Consumers should source
products that carry the
service mark of a qualified
laboratory such as Glycemic
Index Laboratories that
certifies the product has
been clinically validated low
GI. “An energy bar
shouldn’t leave you “hangry”
shortly after eating it”
Slow Carbs for
Sustained Energy
Get off the blood sugar and
energy roller coaster. Fuel
your high performance
engine with slow carbs and
you’ll experience sustained
energy and optimum
performance. Substitute
rapidly digested, blood sugar
spiking (high glycemic) carbs
with slow release carbs that
lift blood sugar more gently
(low glycemic). Unlike fast
acting high GI carbs (the
kindling) that spike blood
sugar and cause cravings,
slow acting low GI carbs (the
logs) burn steady and longer,
sustaining energy without
wild blood sugar swings.
Treat your body like the high
performance engine it is: use
premium fuel - low GI carbs daily. Slow carbs will sustain
your energy, enhance your
concentration and keep you
functioning at your best all
summer long! 
Saul Katz is a leading authority in
functional food development and
founder and President of New Era
Nutrition, Kelowna, BC, developers of the
award winning SoLo GI® Bars.
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