vendredi 7 février 2014

Live Better By Choosing Low Glycemic Snacks And Foods

By Jerri Perry


The term 'low glycemic' may not be known by many people, however, it is important to learn the definition so that healthier foods can be chosen. In basic language, a food that is classified as the above-mentioned term will not cause an immediate rise in blood sugar levels. Low glycemic snacks and foods are therefore a much better choice for the whole family.

Foods are measured by the glycemic index, or GI, which is a numerical indication of how fast or slow a food causes blood sugar levels to rise. The GI starts at 0 and goes up to 100. Foods that are listed with numbers higher than fifty are considered as worse to eat, while those under fifty and closer to naught will have a more desirable effect on the body's system. Some foods are rated in between the higher and lower GI indications, between 56 and 69.

Someone who is diabetic will know the importance of choosing foods with a lower GI. Those who have been determined by their doctors as being at risk of diabetes will have also been recommended a diet of foods with lower GI. However, this sort of diet is beneficial to adults and children of all ages regardless of their risk for diabetes.

A lower GI diet will help someone to lose weight, as the foods that fall into the 'good' category do not contain many calories. These types of foods are also considered as healthy for many other reasons, such as for the vitamins and minerals that they provide. A lower GI diet can be especially necessary for children as well.

The quantity of foods a child eats that is categorized in the high GI range should be carefully watched. Higher quantities of sugar will get in the way of their ability to work well at school, and to behave in an acceptable manner. Children who struggle at school should definitely be on a good diet to ensure that they are receiving a steady supply of nutrients.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell which types of foods to buy, because they are not all sufficiently labeled. As a general rule, however, you can assume that highly processed foods will have a higher GI, and that raw or less processed foods will have a lower GI. Be careful though of prepackaged snacks, as they may have a good GI, but are still unhealthy due to their salt and saturated fat content. Whole wheat bread will have a lower GI than white bread, therefore do not assume that all similar foods have the same GI.

The types of lower GI foods you choose will depend on the reason why you are eating them. Some with lower GI may surprise you, such as pizza and candy bars. However, this sort of snack does have a high fat content, and is therefore not suitable for someone who wants to lose weight.

If you are interested in eating low glycemic snacks, you may need to do some research so that you know what to buy. Fruits and vegetables are good foods, as well as meat products such as fish and chicken. Don't expect high protein foods to label their GI, because they have such little carbohydrate content that they often have no labels in this regard, but they should be included in your diet.




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