Is Carbohydrate Tolerance a myth?

Understanding Your Carbohydrate Tolerance

Whenever we decide to start a new diet plan or fitness regime the food that always seems to get chucked in the bin first is those dreaded carbohydrates. It?s well documented that the over indulgence of white pasta and bread are detrimental to your waistline, but why does it effect some more than others? Why do we always have that skinny friend who scoffs themselves with carbs everyday and never gains weight?

Well the answer could actually be relatively simple ? our genetics. Over at Precision Nutrition, there is an interesting blog post on a study conducted which looked at this very issue. Although it takes a bit of time to get your head around some of the scientific terms banded about, it makes for compelling reading. One of the main findings of the research was the key role enzymes play:

2. Genetic Polymorphisms

Recently, researchers found a correlation between obesity and a person?s ability to make amylase, an enzyme that?helps to break starch down in your mouth. But why would amounts of this enzyme differ from person to person? After all, as humans we evolved to eat a varied diet including a wide range of macro- and micronutrients. You?d think we?d all be roughly equal in terms of our digestive abilities. And yet, we?re not ? or not necessarily. There?s even a term for why this happens:?genetic polymorphism.?Most polymorphisms are small, involving a single base pair.?But sometimes the differences are much bigger ? involving a complete chromosome. That?s more like gaining or losing an entire chapter of a book. Differences like that result in very obvious variations between individuals.

So if you want to learn more about the importance of genetic polymorphism or how to get lean based on your genetic inheritance, then click on the link above. It may just help you get that slimmer figure or six pack you’ve always wanted.