long for firmer muscles and smaller waist. Everybody does. Do you think you can’t lose weight? Yes, you can. But the truth is you can’t lose weight without a diet – a plan.
Low Carb Diet
Weight-loss experts and diet plan authors all agree that much of our excess weight comes from the carbohydrates we eat, especially the highly refined or processed ones such as potatoes, baked goods, bread, pasta and other convenient foods. To aggravate the problem, few of us get enough exercise to ward off excess pounds.
The basic science behind the low carb diet is to limit the consumption of foods with a lot of carbohydrates. The low carb diet includes many popular weight-loss programs such as the Atkins, South Beach, Zone and Carbohydrate Addict Diet.
Does It Really Work?
One of the food groups which the body needs to survive are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates also referred to as carbs come in two types – sugars and starches. Sugars are simple carbs usually sweet tasting like biscuits and sweets and easily digested. Whereas, starches are complex carbs found in bread, pasta, noodles and rice and take longer to digest.
The body transforms all these digestible carbs into glucose, the sugar that our cells use as fuel or energy. When glucose molecules pass from the intestine into the bloodstream, the pancreas releases insulin, a hormone that mobilises cells to absorb it. Muscle, fat and other cells then absorb the excess glucose from the blood and insulin levels return to normal.
After a meal high in glycemic index (ranking of foods according to how fast their sugars are released into the bloodstream), blood-sugar levels rise higher and rapidly. The insulin needed to fill all that sugar into muscles and fat cells also weaken the activity of glucagon, a hormone that signals the body to burn stored fuel when blood-sugar levels fall below a certain point. Glucose level drops so low leaving the body starved for energy. The brain and intestine then send out hunger signals. New cravings are created requiring more carb intake. We, then overeat that leads to more fat, rise in blood insulin level, more hunger, and more weight gain and the cycle goes on.
On the contrary, adhering to a low carb diet puts an end to this cycle. Reduced carbohydrates would mean decreased insulin level, increased glucagon level, weight loss, improved triglycerides (fats carried in the blood which are necessary but when excessive cause coronary damage), decrease in LDL (bad cholesterol), increase in HDL (good cholesterol).
The bottom line – Give refined or processed carbohydrates which cause rapid changes in blood sugar, trigger hunger, thereby encouraging overeating that ultimately leads to obesity smaller spots on your plate. Anyway, nobody ever died from skipping potatoes, pasta, rice and white bread.
That said; go get yourself a few good low carb cookbooks. Better still, leaf through this site’s 1,000+ low carb recipes – a seemingly endless variety of recipes. Try every recipe imaginable and make this diet as enjoyable and diverse as possible.
Yes, you can diet. Lose weight! Live longer!
What You Should Know About Glycemic Index
Applying GI to real-life diets is complex, weigh all information before relying on glycemic index.
If you check different sources on the GI of foods, the numbers don’t always match.
The glycemic index takes into account only the type of carbohydrate, not the amount of carbohydrate, in a usual serving. Some foods are more concentrated sources of carbohydrates than others. For example, chocolate cake has 52 grams of carbohydrate in a usual serving, while carrots deliver only 6 grams of carbohydrate in a serving. So even though the glycemic index of carrots is higher (47, vs. 38 for cake) chocolate cake is going to have a much greater total effect on blood sugar, because it takes 81 servings of carrots to equal the carbohydrate in a serving of cake.
The GI in a given food can vary, depending on where it is grown and how it is processed and cooked. Australian potatoes have a higher GI than American potatoes. In general, the more processed the food, the higher the GI.
Even cooking pasta for a longer time can raise the GI.
Generally, whole grains have a lower GI than refined grains. But glycemic index rankings are often confusing:
Bran flakes and Cheerios have a GI of 74. Shredded wheat is 75, and Fruit Loops, 69.
Long-grain white rice averaged 56 in 10 studies (it ranges between 41 and 64), while brown rice averaged 55 (50-66).
The average GI of white bread in six studies was 70 and of whole grain bread was 71.
And, ironically, sugars have a lower GI than starches, because starches are made up totally of glucose molecules, and sugars are not. So Coca-Cola has a lower GI than Grape-nuts flakes.
Studies that establish the GI of foods measure the response to a food consumed all by itself. But most of us don’t eat like that. What’s important is predicting the effect of the food as part of a meal.
Experts disagree on the value of the glycemic index.
The American Diabetes Association says that “the relationship between glycemic index and glycemic load and the development of type 2 diabetes remains unclear at this time.”
The Canadian and Australian Diabetes Associations have endorsed GI as a tool for improved blood glucose control. Some dietitians who work with people with diabetes recommend that their clients address other diet issues first, such as total carbohydrate and meal spacing, then try the GI concept to see if that improves blood sugars further.
There’s no doubt that different foods produce different glucose responses,but the total carbohydrate has much more of an effect than the GI.
If you have hard time using GI diets, a better approach is to eat close to the farm. Avoid highly refined foods and focus on lean meats, beans and legumes, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetable
The Low Glycemic Index Diet And Its Benefits For Diabetic
The popular Low Glycemic Index Diet is certainly nothing new and is proven to work both as a weight loss plan and in controlling diabetes. An astounding number of Americans currently suffer from diabetes, a good majority of which experience symptoms due to improper weight management.
This Lower GI Diet is especially helpful to diabetics because it incorporates foods with a low Glycemic Index to control the amount of sugars and carbohydrates your body is forced to regulate. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or are looking to create a healthy lifestyle and manage your weight, speak with your primary physician about beginning a proper Glycemic Index Diet.
The best benefits of starting a Glycemic Index Diet for diabetics include:
The inclusion of some carbohydrates:
Individuals with diabetes are severely discouraged from beginning a diet that restricts the intake of carbohydrates. Even though your carbohydrate level should be monitored since your body turns most carbs into sugar, every adult diet should include at least 130 grams of carbohydrates each day. These carbohydrates work as fuel for the body, providing you with much needed vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The controlling of your diabetes with a Glycemic Index Diet alone:
If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, usually associated as a major side effect from being obese, you may be able to control your condition without medications or injections. By carefully monitoring your Glycemic Index, you can work to control what food items your body must work to process. Since this diet only includes foods that can be successfully processed by a diabetic’s body, your body will not have to try to process foods that can be potentially harmful.
The quality foods included on the Glycemic Index Diet:
The foods allowed on the Glycemic Index Diet are wholesome and healthy. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are included in the diet, as well as whole grains and lean meats. This diet will allow you to eat healthy, and therefore to lead a healthier lifestyle. Furthermore, many of your favorite foods are on the Glycemic Index Diet list, so you can still enjoy the occasional treat.
The prevention of other diseases:
The Low Glycemic Index Diet also affects the body in the prevention of other diseases besides diabetes. Many individuals at risk for heart disease should look into starting a Low Glycemic Index Diet to protect themselves against this deadly disease. Researchers have found that a Low Glycemic Index Diet works better against preventing heart disease than a traditional low fat diet, and it is much more effective than the popular low carbohydrate fad diets.
Before you begin any diet or lifestyle change, be sure to contact your primary care provider. Speaking with this professional individual will allow you to completely understand the correct way of beginning the diet and ensure the diet will work best for someone in your situation. Furthermore, you will want to address any potential medical problems that may result from beginning a Low Glycemic Index Diet to ensure that you will remain healthy while seeking to begin a better lifestyle.
Remember, the Low Glycemic Index Diet is not a typical diet. Instead it is a lifestyle change. Once you begin your trip down this road, you should strive to remain on the diet on a long term basis. If you are a diabetic, you may not be able to allow yourself binges on unhealthy foods without paying a costly penalty, so use this diet to your advantage in controlling your condition.




