Tips on
maintaining
a low-GI diet
• Eat lots of vegetables
and choose whole
grains (brown bread,
pasta and rice)
instead of refined and
processed products.
• Stock your cupboard
with low-GI items such
as beans, nuts, seeds
and low-GI cereals and
snack bars.
• To satisfy a sweet
craving, eat fresh fruit
(berries, apples, pears)
or dark chocolate.
• Add cinnamon to cereals
and breakfast shakes,
as it has been shown to
help improve the action of
insulin to promote better
blood sugar control.
• Always include a lean
protein and a healthy fat
in every meal, because
that helps lower the
glycemic impact.
• For optimal energy and
blood sugar control, eat
small, frequent meals
throughout the day.
• Enjoy a wide variety of
different foods, but be
aware of portion size.
Overeating and consuming more than your
body needs can lead to
weight gain.
• Alcohol is loaded with
empty calories, so limit
your intake to no more
than two glasses per day
(red wine is best because
of the antioxidants).
• Exercise is absolutely
critical for weight loss
and optimum health. Aim
for 30 minutes to one hour
of moderate-intensity
activity each day.
• The right supplement can
help control blood sugar,
neutralize carbohydrates,
prevent fat storage, boost
metabolism and curb
your appetite. One easily
accessible supplement is
green tea, which offers a
number of health benefits,
such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure,
protecting against certain
cancers, blocking bacteria
and viruses, improving
digestion and helping to
support weight loss.—ST
Spring
into shape
JUPI TER IMAGES
for your
he alth
with the
GI diet
By Sherry Torkos
PEOPLE WHO SPEND the winter
hibernating and eating comfort foods are
faced with the sometimes uncomfortable prospect
of donning their shorts and bathing suits when
spring and summer arrive. Luckily, there is a new
weapon in the battle of the bulge; it’s called the glycemic index (GI).
Following a low-GI diet is a healthy way of eating that can support weight loss, increase energy and
vitality, and, in the long term, reduce the risk of diabetes and other chronic health problems. While it
does not offer a quick weight-loss fix, a low-GI diet
can help you slim down and revitalize for summer.
Introduced in the 1980s by a Canadian
researcher, Dr. David Jenkins, the GI is a system of
ranking all forms of carbohydrates on a scale of
zero to 100 based on how they affect blood sugar
levels and consequently insulin levels.
Foods that are slowly broken down into sugar
during digestion and do not cause sudden blood
sugar spikes are ranked low on the GI and provide
sustained energy for the body. Examples of low-GI foods include green leafy vegetables, most
beans, apples, pears, berries, oat bran and pumpernickel bread, brown rice and pasta, plain yogurt
and dark chocolate.
Foods that are rapidly broken down into sugar,
causing sudden blood sugar spikes, are ranked high
on the GI and provide bursts of energy followed
by periods of fatigue. Examples of high-GI
foods include baked potatoes and French fries,
white rice, sugar-rich candy and soda pop,
and products made with refined white flour
products, such as white bread, bagels and
crackers, and most pastries and doughnuts.
Eating high-GI meals causes blood
sugar to rise rapidly. When blood sugar
and insulin levels are high, the body
stores more fat, particularly around
the belly. In response to high blood
sugar, the pancreas overproduces insulin,
causing blood sugar levels to drop low. When
blood sugar is low, you feel tired and sleepy and
have more cravings.
This vicious circle of unhealthy food cravings
and fat storage can be stopped with a low-GI diet.
The first step is to learn the difference between low-and high-GI foods. Visit
www.glycemicindex.com for
a comprehensive list of foods and their GI rating. As
much as possible, choose low- or moderate-GI
foods and avoid high-GI foods.
A low-GI diet can be easily implemented without having to buy separate food or cook separate
meals; it poses no health risks, making it a safe and
smart choice for men and women, children and
teenagers, pregnant women and nursing moms,
seniors and those with existing health concerns such
as heart disease and diabetes.
Taking the time and effort to spring into shape
with the low-GI diet, combined with regular exercise
and smart supplementation, will yield a better outcome than the temporary results of a fad diet. C
Sherry Torkos, B.Sc.Phm., is a pharmacist,
certified fitness instructor and the author of nine
books, including The Glycemic Index Made
