Glycemic Index; Lowering Your Risks for Disease

Glycemic Index; Lowering Your Risks for Disease

01/22/05

The Glycemic Index - What Is It?
The glycemic index ranks foods on how they affect our blood glucose levels. This index measures how much your blood glucose increases in the two or three hours after eating.

The glycemic index is about foods high in carbohydrates. Foods high in fat or protein don't cause your blood glucose level to rise much. The glycemic index is about the quality of the carbohydrates, not the quantity.

A lot of people still think that it is plain table sugar that people with diabetes need to avoid. The experts used to say that, but the glycemic index shows that complex carbohydrates, like baked potatoes, can be even worse.

When you make use of the glycemic index to prepare healthy meals, it helps to keep your blood glucose levels under control. This is especially important for people with diabetes, although athletes and people who are overweight also stand to benefit from knowing about this concept in good nutrition.

Recent studies of large numbers of people, especially those with diabetes, show that those who keep their blood glucose under control are at less risk for heart disease.

The recommendations to exercise and eat more fiber and less saturated and trans fats is excellent advice—as far as it goes. The real problem is carbohydrates.

Not all carbohydrates act the same. Some are quickly broken down in the intestine, causing the blood glucose level to rise rapidly. These carbohydrates have a high glycemic index.

Taking responsibility for your own health is the missing link in our currently out-of-control and overpriced health care system.

U.S. health expenditures rose by 7.7% in 2003 to nearly $1.7 trillion, and for the first time exceeded 15% of the gross domestic product. Health spending grew by 9.3% in 2002.

Right now, those of you who are already taking responsibility for your health are paying for the guy, or gal, who is sedentary, continues to eat thoughtlessly, and is at high risk for heart disease, cancer and many other health issues that we can control.

Medicine Plants™ encourages those who take responsibility, by exercising, monitoring weight and thus reducing their risks for heart disease, cancer and diabetes, to write to their health insurance providers and request a reduction in your health care premiums. Tell them that you are one of those consumers who won't be costing them as much money as someone who isn't doing these things. Car insurers do it - why can't the health care industry?

If you aren't insured ask your physician for a discount! When I had a health care practice in New York I gave my patients a 15%-20% reduction in the cost of their visits to me if they had attended a class on nutrition, meditation, yoga, tai chi or had taken responsibility for their own health care in any other way. Ask your health care provider to do the same!

If enough health conscious consumers begin to demand this cost reduction it may begin to happen.

Self responsibility and education are, without a doubt, the missing keys to reducing health care costs in our current system of health care.

Be well always.
Stephanie Sulger, RN, MS
Medicine Plants™

Health Disclaimer! The information presented on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. You should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

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