The key is to satisfy your appetite by controlling your blood sugar levels and everything else will take care of itself.
When we think of the word 'Dieting' most of us conjure up a picture
in our heads of hunger, being deprived of the foods we want most, not
being able to socialise because we cannot eat or drink the same as other
people, a period of time in which we have to suffer for the end result,
ironically this is rarely achieved!
However, losing weight does not have to incorporate any of these things.
The key to
weight loss
Balance your blood sugar levels so that you do not feel hungry and
therefore eat less.
At the same time you will be eating delicious foods
high in vitamins and minerals and thes
weight los will take care of
itself.
Blood Sugar Levels
When we eat our blood sugar levels rise, the body then produces
insulin to lower this to it's normal status. This is a healthy function
of the body.
However, if we consume too much refined, sugary, processed
food the blood sugars rise unusually high, the body produces too much
insulin and the blood sugar levels crash.
If we do this over a prolonged
period we become insulin resistant, and our levels remain constantly
out of whack!
If you are a sweet eater you will know what it is like to get a
craving for chocolate, the desire is so strong you have to have some.
After you have eaten the chocolate you will be on an energy high for a
short period of time, often followed by a crash in energy where you feel
lethargic.
The desire for more sweet food becomes strong and you start
the yo-yo process of highs and lows in blood sugar.
This also applies to people who call themselves savoury eaters.
You
sometimes hear of people who say 'I don't get the sweet, sugary thing'
or 'I don't have a sweet tooth'. Their preference is for crisps etc.
However, there is hidden sugar in most processed or refined foods and
the effect is the same for them.
Carbohydrates and how they are used in the body
Carbs are turned into Glucose.
Glucose is then u sed as energy,
however, if the levels are too high it can be dangerous so the body
works fast to remove it from the blood by producing insulin.
This excess
sugar is then turned to fat and stored in the body.
Based on this you may assume that you should cut this food group to a
minimum, however, carbs should form the largest food group in your
diet.
The answer is to eat the right carbs so that the glucose is released
slowly throughout the day. This way you will feel full and satisfied,
eat less, and lose pounds/kilos without even thinking about it.
So how do you know good Carbohydrates from Bad!
The Glycaemic Index (GI) compares the rate that carbs are absorbed
from the gut and the effect that they have on blood glucose levels.
This
index has a score system of 1-100 The higher the score the faster the
glucose is absorbed and blood sugars rise.
Therefore you should be
eating foods with a low GI
However, this is only part of the picture as research has taken this a step further.
The Glycaemic Load (GL) measures the amount of available carbs in the
food multiplied by the Glycaemic Index (GI).
This gives you both the
quantity and quality of the carb content and is a much better guide to
weight loss/control and the feeling of wellbeing.
How do you feel now?
* Tired most of the time
* More than 7 pounds / 3.2 kilos over your ideal weight, and rising
* Prone to mood swings or PMS
* Suffering from poor memory and concentration
* Quite often low or depressed
* Plagued by dry skin, in need of daily moisturisers
* Having difficulty sleeping
* Often feeling anxious or stressed
* Prone to indigestion or bloating after food
* Often constipated (rarely go twice a day)
* Worried about your dry, dull or oily hair
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