Insulin resistance is extremely common in the United States today, as is type-two diabetes. Yet both of these conditions can quite easily be avoided of one makes the right lifestyle choices. An important consideration here is the kind of snacks one eats. By eating low glycemic snacks one can keep one's energy levels up and also help maintain stable blood glucose levels.
There are plenty of fresh, nutritious foods one can graze on that are far more healthy than the foods we often think of as snacks. Many people mistakenly believe that eating low-GI foods means limiting oneself to bland, uninteresting foods. This is simply not the case, and one can make a huge step towards better health in general by avoiding the kind of processed products that are promoted by the food industry.
These kinds of foods are at best less-than ideal choices. They are often highly processed, with most of their nutritional value stripped away. They are also usually high-GI and therefore have a very negative impact on blood sugar. Products like cookies, cakes, grain bars, potato chips, and donuts are loaded with salt or sugar (or both) and do nothing for the body's nutritional needs.
Excess salt can have a negative impact on blood pressure, and excess sugar can of course spike blood sugar. An additional concern with these foods is the artificially altered fats they usually contain. Hydrogenated fats (also known as trans-fats) are finally becoming recognized as a serious threat to health. They are ubiquitous in processes foods and contribute to elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol, reduced HDL (good) cholesterol and to cardiovascular disease. In short, they should be completely avoided.
One must be careful about certain fruits (like blueberries, for example), as they can be high in fructose. This is of course a sugar, and can boost one's blood glucose levels. That is not to say that they should not be consumed at all, on the contrary. They should however be consumed in relatively small quantities, or combined with other foods that will slow down their glucose elevating effect.
The two principle ingredients that will slow down a food's glucose-raising effect are fat and soluble fiber. Fats slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, and soluble fiber becomes a gel when inside the digestive tract which traps sugars and again, slows down their absorption. One should not be too concerned about eating high-fat foods, since it is not the fat itself that makes one fat.
Many people are mistakenly wary of high-fat foods. In fact, it is high-GI foods that are the primary cause of weight gain. High-GI foods are rapidly turned into glucose by the body which it then has to manage with the hormone insulin. Insulin will direct this glucose to be used as energy or stored as glycogen. However, the body's capacity to store glycogen is limited, so any remaining glucose is stored as fat.
Some high-fat foods make excellent low glycemic snacks. Avocados, nuts, cheese, and eggs all make tasty and convenient snacks that are a vastly superior alternative to the salty/sugary items most people consume. By making a commitment to eat only low-GI foods and drinks, one can be sure of maintaining steady blood sugar levels. This in turn will help to maintain steady energy levels as well as good health in general.
There are plenty of fresh, nutritious foods one can graze on that are far more healthy than the foods we often think of as snacks. Many people mistakenly believe that eating low-GI foods means limiting oneself to bland, uninteresting foods. This is simply not the case, and one can make a huge step towards better health in general by avoiding the kind of processed products that are promoted by the food industry.
These kinds of foods are at best less-than ideal choices. They are often highly processed, with most of their nutritional value stripped away. They are also usually high-GI and therefore have a very negative impact on blood sugar. Products like cookies, cakes, grain bars, potato chips, and donuts are loaded with salt or sugar (or both) and do nothing for the body's nutritional needs.
Excess salt can have a negative impact on blood pressure, and excess sugar can of course spike blood sugar. An additional concern with these foods is the artificially altered fats they usually contain. Hydrogenated fats (also known as trans-fats) are finally becoming recognized as a serious threat to health. They are ubiquitous in processes foods and contribute to elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol, reduced HDL (good) cholesterol and to cardiovascular disease. In short, they should be completely avoided.
One must be careful about certain fruits (like blueberries, for example), as they can be high in fructose. This is of course a sugar, and can boost one's blood glucose levels. That is not to say that they should not be consumed at all, on the contrary. They should however be consumed in relatively small quantities, or combined with other foods that will slow down their glucose elevating effect.
The two principle ingredients that will slow down a food's glucose-raising effect are fat and soluble fiber. Fats slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, and soluble fiber becomes a gel when inside the digestive tract which traps sugars and again, slows down their absorption. One should not be too concerned about eating high-fat foods, since it is not the fat itself that makes one fat.
Many people are mistakenly wary of high-fat foods. In fact, it is high-GI foods that are the primary cause of weight gain. High-GI foods are rapidly turned into glucose by the body which it then has to manage with the hormone insulin. Insulin will direct this glucose to be used as energy or stored as glycogen. However, the body's capacity to store glycogen is limited, so any remaining glucose is stored as fat.
Some high-fat foods make excellent low glycemic snacks. Avocados, nuts, cheese, and eggs all make tasty and convenient snacks that are a vastly superior alternative to the salty/sugary items most people consume. By making a commitment to eat only low-GI foods and drinks, one can be sure of maintaining steady blood sugar levels. This in turn will help to maintain steady energy levels as well as good health in general.
About the Author:
You can enjoy the best low glycemic snacks by going to www.solo-gi.com today. Get more information on quotes and offers from professionals by visiting http://www.solo-gi.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment