The discipline of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams, models, acronyms, and abbreviations; more than the average person can memorize. People often end up becoming annoyed and exhausted at having to attempt to keep track of what they’re consuming in terms of fat and calories and other forms of measurements of diet. There is an overkill of useful data within the nutrition field, and it could ironically provoke one to grow weary and exhausted, tune out, and go grab a fast food burger. The nutrition field sometimes comes up with an idea that really ought to be studied and understood by the general public. At least ten years ago the USDA came out with a “Food Pyramid” that helped eaters uncover the right way to fill the gaps within their current diet. The Food Pyramid also began to evolve and nutrition became an essential part of the health care industry and nutritionists also invented the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index (GI) has existed for over twenty years yet it has not gotten a lot of exposure. The GI is often only reserved for discussions regarding diabetes. The Glycemic Index indicates how “high” or “low” blood sugar levels change in response to carbohydrate intake. A “low” Glycemic index indicates that the carbohydrates are undergoing a gradual and slow breakdown while the “high” Glycemic Index indicates that the carbohydrates are undergoing a quick and rapid break down. Diabetics have to know which foods have a high Glycemic Index and low so that they can balance them equally within their diet. Indeed, the Glycemic Index itself isn’t new, however its application far beyond the borders of a diabetic dialogue is notable; particularly for dieters. People striving to lose weight often face a nemesis much tougher than establishing an exercise regimen or introducing healthier foods into their diet. {The downside is one of energy}. Many dieters set out to lose weight. Many dieters find out that their diet program is also causing them to lose energy. Many diets push aside the complaints that their customers get when they say that they feel exhausted all the time or they find it laborious to stay awake. This is commonly expressed as a complaint, as in “I’m feeling weak”, and even “I can’t stay awake”. They say that it’s just a weak attitude rather than an actual lack of energy. The plain truth is that many dieters have been oblivious to the Glycemic Index, and hence, to the fact that many of the diet foods they’ve eaten – or are eating right now – score very high Glycemic Index levels. As such, these foods are providing a quick boost to blood sugar levels, and then setting up the dieter for the inevitable fall. This is because excessive GI foods typically increase blood sugar values, which in turn set off the hormone insulin to clear sugar from the blood. This glucose (blood sugar) can dramatically affect the body’s energy levels and will produce an increase in blood sugar levels with a dramatic decrease within just a few hours. This quick rise and fall or roller coaster effect may cause individuals to at first feel good and ready for the day to feeling as if they’re about to faint and ready to go to bed. Regrettably for a lot of dieters, that stimulant is usually more high Glycemic Index foods, such as sugary snacks or soft drinks. The individual can quit their diet after having experienced one too many of those energy roller coasters. The dieter would rather experience weight gain rather than exhaustion. Not only that but the dieter will most likely gain weight as a result of the roller coaster effect. Either way, they’re actually doing themselves good by quitting the diet. The above situation only takes place, nevertheless, when a dieter unwittingly eats high Glycemic Index foods. These individuals should instead use low Glycemic Index foods which will raise your blood sugar levels more gradually than high GI foods. This is extremely helpful for those on a diet because they are going to be less likely to be tempted by sugary foods because their blood sugar levels are more stable. Low Glycemic Index foods are also more efficient energy sources because the body uses less insulin in order to convert the food into energy [iii]. Despite the growing awareness that low Glycemic Index foods are useful, the world of diet foods has not kept pace. This is because many manufacturers are searching frantically to find low Glycemic Index carbohydrates sources for their products, and overlooking a primary, simple fact: the lowest possible Glycemic Index is no carbohydrates at all. Nutritional supplements that contain no sugar or carbohydrates are uncommon and won’t deliver sugar to the bloodstream. As a result, dieters do not have to worry about riding the “roller coaster” of energy spikes and pitfalls. Yet there’s an even greater benefit for dieters who select a ‘zero sugar’ nutritional supplement. If that low Glycemic Index nutritional supplement is rich in complete protein, then it’ll act as a form of antidote to high GI foods by helping to combat their adverse consequences. Dieters who eat high Glycemic Index candy bars can manage their roller coaster effects by also including low Glycemic Index foods into their diet that also includes lots of protein. The protein will mix with the high Glycemic Index products and lower the general Glycemic Index that the body will experience. The body uses up the carbohydrates rather than storing them as fat inside the body. Currently, only a handful of nutritional supplements are designed to offer zero carbohydrates and thus score as little as possible on the Glycemic Index. Some of this product will contain a good, nutritional source of protein for the body and help counter high Glycemic Index foods. The Glycemic Index is becoming an important tool for dieters and has helped millions of people get back on track to a healthier lifestyle. All kinds of dieters can benefit from knowledge concerning the Glycemic Index. REFERENCES [i] Source: “The G.I. Diet: A Food Drill”. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/04/earlyshow/living/main604138.shtml [ii] Source: “The Glycemic Index”. The Healthy Weight Forum. http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/articles/glycemic-index/ [iii] Source “Glycemic Index”. WebMD. http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/uq2846.asp
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