How and Why You Should Choose Low-Glycemic Foods

Eating foods low on the glycemic index has proven health benefits.

When it comes to diet, we obviously know that what we eat has a huge impact on our overall health. There are a lot of different rules and ideas out there on what not to eat, but if you look at the big picture, three huge things we all want to avoid (which are also consequently leading causes of death in women) are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

The glycemic index, in laymen’s terms is a measure of the blood sugar potential in foods. This means that foods higher in glucose will have a higher rating on the glycemic index, and be more likely to raise your blood sugar and cause health problems down the line. Other health problems that can arise from eating foods high in glucose are stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, and vision issues.

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As well all know, carbohydrates are necessary for the body to make energy, but the problem arises when we eat too many carbs, and the excess glucose cannot be processed, so it ends up in the blood.

Maintaining a healthy level of glucose can lower your risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes, and it can even have positive effects on your skin and help you lose weight. So then the question becomes, how do you choose foods that are low on the glycemic index?

Basically you just want to stay away from highly-processed foods and sugars such as:

Anything made with white flour, such as white bread.

Super-sweet foods like candy, cookies, and donuts.

White pasta, rice, and bagels

Potato chips

Sugary cereal

Starchy white potatoes

When faced with the decision of what to buy or order, choose wholegrain products instead. Balance your diet with sweet potatoes instead of white ones, vegetables, bran-based cereals, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits.

Making these small substitutions in your diet can end up improving your diet, and possibly saving your life, so its never too early to start eating low-glycemic foods, and instilling those habits in your children.