Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Most people diagnosed with diabetes these days are advised to consider the Glycaemic Index (GI) of the food they eat. Low GI theoretically converts to glucose in the bloodstream more slowly and evenly than its high GI equivalent, and so helps to maintain an even and stable blood sugar level with fewer spikes or lows. However, in many weays GI is a rather artificial and misleading approach to diet, as it is based on a standardised formula looking at each food in isolation, and with a specific amount consumed. For example, carrots have a high GI rating but this is based on the consumption of a portion of carrots containing 50 grams of carbohydrate ? about 800 grams or 1.5 pounds! It?s unlikely that anyone would sit down and eat such a plate of carrots by themselves, or as part of a meal. This is where the Glycaemic Load (GL) comes in. By taking into account portion size ? the amount you might reasonably consume with a meal ? it turns out that carrots do not place a significant stress on the digestive system. This is important, because it means that high GI foods that are highly nutritious, such as carrots, do not need to be excluded from the diet of a person looking to maintain good blood sugar levels and a healthy weight.
This book is a lucid and comprehensive explanation of the concepts of both GI and GL, which the author combines into the concept ?Glycaemic Factor?. It begins with a survey of many of the popular diets followed by millions over the past few decades, with a brief explanation of the pitfalls and deficiencies of each. The book is not written specifically for people with diabetes, although the disease is acknowledged many times as it is clearly very much concerned with the need to maintain good blood sugar levels, but takes a broader view, explaining the benefits of GI and GL in achieving and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that can also help with weight loss for those who are overweight. Informative yet not overly technical, the author provides a logical progression from understanding the need for a healthy diet, to explaining GI and GL, includes a comprehensive overview of major food groups, and finally goes on to describe the best approach to developing a ?Glycaemic Factor? eating plan that can be maintained easily and for life.
It?s a relatively short book, but packed with information that will give a firm foundation to anyone wishing to understand how the body works with food to produce optimum health and vitality ? highly recommended!
The Glycaemic Factor: How to Balance Your Blood Sugar (amazon link)
This book is a lucid and comprehensive explanation of the concepts of both GI and GL, which the author combines into the concept ?Glycaemic Factor?. It begins with a survey of many of the popular diets followed by millions over the past few decades, with a brief explanation of the pitfalls and deficiencies of each. The book is not written specifically for people with diabetes, although the disease is acknowledged many times as it is clearly very much concerned with the need to maintain good blood sugar levels, but takes a broader view, explaining the benefits of GI and GL in achieving and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that can also help with weight loss for those who are overweight. Informative yet not overly technical, the author provides a logical progression from understanding the need for a healthy diet, to explaining GI and GL, includes a comprehensive overview of major food groups, and finally goes on to describe the best approach to developing a ?Glycaemic Factor? eating plan that can be maintained easily and for life.
It?s a relatively short book, but packed with information that will give a firm foundation to anyone wishing to understand how the body works with food to produce optimum health and vitality ? highly recommended!
The Glycaemic Factor: How to Balance Your Blood Sugar (amazon link)