Glycemic Index of the Foods You Eat

I've been doing a lot of reading and talking with other professionals lately about nutrition. I have long believed that the foods we eat play a huge role in how we feel day to day, how our bodies age, development (or not) of disease, etc.



You may or may not be familiar with the glycemic index. It is a guide of how fast and high a food produces insulin in response to eating a carbohydrate. Quick and dirty...eat food, the hormone insulin is released to get the sugar from the carbohydrate into the cells of our body. Depending on the food, the insulin either does a slow drip (good) or spikes (bad). This is important because how the insulin responds has a great deal to do with things such as weight gain/loss, energy levels, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.



Eating foods with a low glycemic index is better for your health and for those interested in losing weight. Think of the glycemic index as a speedometer. Table sugar is 100 (mph), that's fast! A peeled and boiled yam is (25), that's slow.

What are the Benefits of the Glycemic Index?

Eating a lot of high GI foods can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true if you are overweight and sedentary. Switching to eating mainly low GI carbs that slowly trickle glucose into your blood stream keeps your energy levels balanced and means you will feel fuller for longer between meals.

Low GI diets help people lose and control weight
Low GI diets increase the body's sensitivity to insulin
Low GI carbs improve diabetes control
Low GI carbs reduce the risk of heart disease
Low GI carbs reduce blood cholesterol levels
Low GI carbs can help you manage the symptoms of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
Low GI carbs reduce hunger and keep you fuller for longer
Low GI carbs prolong physical endurance
High GI carbs help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise

Check this web site for more information on the Glycemic Index, glycemic load and to find the GI of foods you eat.

www.glycemicindex.com

Good luck and there will definitely be more discussion about nutrition and weight loss so keep following!