How the Glycemic Index Helps Weight Control
The Glycemic Index (GI) Measures How Carbs
Affect Blood Sugar
The new carbohydrate-classification system
known as the Glycemic Index rates the carbohydrate quality in foods according
to its immediate effect on blood glucose level. Thus carbs that break
down quickly into glucose during digestion, causing a rapid rise in glucose
levels, have a High GI value. Those carbs that break down more slowly,
are given an Intermediate or Low GI value.
Designed For Diabetes Treatment
Invented in 1981 by David Jenkins and Thomas
Wolever of the University of Toronto, as a tool for the treatment of diabetics
who need to maintain stable blood sugar,the Glycemic Index (GI) has now
replaced the older method of classifying carbohydrates according to their
"simple" or "complex" chemical structure.
GI Shows Us Which Foods Are Best or Worst
For Blood Sugar Levels
- In order to "use" food, our
body first converts it into glucose. This glucose then enters our bloodstream
and can be used as needed.
- We have a safety mechanism to ensure
our glucose level remains relatively balanced. It works like this. If
levels fall too low, the brain makes us feel hungry, so we eat food
that is turned into glucose. If levels rise too high, the brain tells
the pancreas to release insulin into the blood to "mop up"
excess glucose.
- So far so good. However, the human body
was designed in prehistoric times - long before the existence of modern
super-refined carb-foods. Some of these refined carbs are converted
into glucose very fast - too fast for comfort. As a result, our blood-glucose
shoots up (called a "sugar-spike"). This fools the body into
releasing too much insulin.
- The huge amount of insulin mops up too
much glucose and our level falls so low that the brain makes us feel
hungry again!
- Thus, not only do we overeat, but also
we can experience excessively high levels of insulin which can, over
time, cause significant health problems such as insulin
resistance.
The glycemic index helps us to understand
which foods are best and worst for controlling our blood glucose levels.
Back to Weight
Loss Help
|