Glycemic Index Can Help You Lose Weight
This article will explain what the glycaemic level is and how it can benefit people trying to lose weight.
The glycaemic index is a method for comparing the blood glucose response of carbohydrate based foods. It was developed to aid individuals with diabetes in controlling their blood sugar levels while consuming a low fat, higher carbohydrate diet.
The glycemic index can potentially be used as a guide for pre and post exercise nutrition for people trying to lose weight.
The rate of oxidation of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) can stay elevated for a few hours succeeding exercise. However, if insulin levels are increased the fatty acids will be reconverted to triglycerides and stored. Is was determined that plasma FFA use was lower following a high glycemic index meal than a low glycaemic index meal. It was also determined that the high glycaemic index meals greater insulin responses than low glycemic meals.
Ingesting a low glycemic index meal following exercise, in people who want weight loss, may help FFA oxidation levels stay elevated for several hours succeeding exercise. In addition a diet which stresses the ingestion of low glycemic index foods may help decrease the storage of fat ingested with the meal.
The stretch receptors in the stomach and blood glucose levels are the two main controls of appetite. The decrease in blood sugar that often comes with high glycamic index foods may increase appetite causing an increased energy intake making weight loss more difficult.
Some foods that would be considered high on the glycemic index would include standard glucose drink,french bread, carrots, parsnips and mashed potatoes.
Foods like skim milk, peas, chick peas, sweet potatoes are considered to be low on the glycemic index.
You can buy a book on the glycemic index at your local book store that will go into the different glycemic levels of foods in more depth.
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