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Food: Glycemic Index
I've recently been reading Michel Montignac's Eat Yourself Slim, which has some very eye-opening information on the Glycemic Index and the different effects different sorts of carbohydrates can have on a body. The Glycemic Index measures the quantity of glucose that a food causes the body to produce.
The pancreas will secrete insulin to eliminate an excess of glucose in the blood and to store it elsewhere in the body (the liver and muscles.) "Under the insulin's effect, the glycemia level becomes lower until it finally returns to normal."
"In a thin person the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas is always exactly proportional to the level of glycemia. On the other hand, for those who are overweight and especially for obese people, things happen differently."
"In overweight people, as soon as the glycemic peak is attanined, the pancreas begins to secret insulin. But instead of releasing it into the blood in the exact quantity necessary to bring glycemia to its normal level, it will secrete an excess. Hyperinsulinism is caused by a pancreas that works overtime, and in turn, causes fats to be stored."
Montignac advises eating carbs that are low on the glycemic index, and entirely banning high GI carbs (white flour, potatos, rice, corn) (just like Oprah advises!) - and eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, high fiber grains (whole wheat is good, barley is good). The book is inspiring me to pay a lot more attention to what kind of food I'm eating. (It's sad because I love potatos and corn - but apparently, they are only good for me if I want to gain weight and risk diabetes and heart disease.)
The pancreas will secrete insulin to eliminate an excess of glucose in the blood and to store it elsewhere in the body (the liver and muscles.) "Under the insulin's effect, the glycemia level becomes lower until it finally returns to normal."
"In a thin person the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas is always exactly proportional to the level of glycemia. On the other hand, for those who are overweight and especially for obese people, things happen differently."
"In overweight people, as soon as the glycemic peak is attanined, the pancreas begins to secret insulin. But instead of releasing it into the blood in the exact quantity necessary to bring glycemia to its normal level, it will secrete an excess. Hyperinsulinism is caused by a pancreas that works overtime, and in turn, causes fats to be stored."
Montignac advises eating carbs that are low on the glycemic index, and entirely banning high GI carbs (white flour, potatos, rice, corn) (just like Oprah advises!) - and eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, high fiber grains (whole wheat is good, barley is good). The book is inspiring me to pay a lot more attention to what kind of food I'm eating. (It's sad because I love potatos and corn - but apparently, they are only good for me if I want to gain weight and risk diabetes and heart disease.)
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Plus then Dr. Atkins had a heart attack.
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Rice isn't bad for normal-weight, active people who eat it in combination with a healthy variety of vegetables, legumes and meats.
The problem is for people (see above, how overweight people generally produce too much insulin in response to a glycemic peak) who can't deal well with that degree of pure starch. Eggs and meat and cheese can be okay for some people, too, eaten according to a plan that also assures that they are getting a good combination of other foods during the day - obviously not for anyone with cholesterol issues.
I imagine there are lots of people who hear pieces of information on Montignac's diet recommendations, taken out of context and without reading the parts about balanced nutrition. That approach doesn't give a fair representation of the plans at all.
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