Why is Your Glycemic Index So Important? Articles | Nutrition

By: Joe Dively

We are what we eat.  Who hasn’t heard that phrase before? But, if that were true there’s be an awful lot of Oreo Cookies and packages of French fries walking around out there.  Take another look – there are!  Americans are fatter and sicker than ever before and our food is to blame.  As we grow older, most of us grow bigger, which is not good for our health.

The trick to staying healthier longer is eating a well balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals.  Still, many of us still seem to be growing fatter by the year.  What we eat and how we eat are all to blame.

So, what’s the answer?  Some say it’s in our glycemic index?  Glycemic Index… it seems to be the new buzzword for eating right and controlling your weight.  So, what’s it all about?

We all have the tendency to gain weight as we grow older, even if we continue to eat the same types and amounts of food as we always did before.  So why the mid-life spread?   The average person’s metabolism slows by a half percent every year after the age of 26 (yes, 26!).  That means that we have to eat 4% less every decade in order to simply maintain our current weight.

Although it may seem like a losing battle, there is help.  One way to fight gaining weight as you age is to take a good look at your personal glycemic index and the way the foods you eat may be affecting your blood glucose levels. 

When you eat things like breads, pastas, rice, cereal and baked goods (all high glycemic foods), your blood sugar levels rise and fall quickly and erratically.  As your body is bombarded with an excess of sugar it releases high levels of insulin for a temporary fix. This phenomena can actually make you feel hungrier more often, thus making you eat more throughout the day.

Eating sugars low in sugar (especially high fructose sugars) like fresh fruits, all types of cut veggies, and whole grains can all help to keep your blood sugar levels stable all day long, which will ultimately control your appetite – and your weight

While supporters of the low-glycemic way of eating usually report an increase in energy and a decrease in weight after just a few days, some critics claim that it’s just another “fad diet.”  Whether or not following a low glycemic diet can actually help you lose (and maintain) weight is still being studied by the scientific community,. One things for certain: most experts agree that filling up on more fresh fruits and vegetables, and fewer processed sugary snacks and fatty foods is sound nutritional advice  that can only lead to a healthier heart, stronger bones and maybe, if you’re lucky, a smaller waistline.