Understanding the Glycemic IndexWritten by Robert Adams
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what foods are high on glycemic index scale and what effects your blood sugar production. I have focused a lot of my diet around eating lower glycemic index foods, but more importantly understanding that even when you eat high glycemic foods you can help reduce blood sugar impact, by eating a combination of both high and low glycemic index foods together, that overall helps slow down insulin production in your body. What I mean would be following example :
Say you’re hungry for toast in morning. Your first and worst option would be to grab a couple slices of plain white bread and put jelly and butter on them. You have three sets of problems with this scenario. One is bad carbohydrates in over processed white bread and next is saturated fat levels in butter, and third is sugar content in jelly that factors into spiking your insulin production. So many people eat something simple like toast in morning and this is just one example of a choice that could be improved upon. Let’s look at another way to eat more healthy: So you’re hungry for toast in morning. How about this option : Select whole wheat pita bread that is all natural. I get mine from Trader Joe’s!! I love this store. Next you slice pita in half and put NO FAT or reduced fat cheese in between pocket and toast away. Now you have incorporated a lower glycemic index carbohydrate that provides more fiber and added a protein in NO FAT or low fat cheese, that in combination with consumption of good quality carbohydrate, produces a mucher lower effect on spiking your insulin production.
So Make your choices wisely when it comes to selecting right types of foods that have an impact on raising and lowering your blood sugar levels quickly.
Remember it takes less than an hour to metabolize carbohydrates, between 2-3 hours for proteins, and over 3 hours to metabolize fat in your diet. Ever get that hungry feeling less than an hour after chowing down on a bag of Doritos or potato chips. Ever feel hungry less than an hour after eating a plate full of oriental food that was all vegetables. It is because your body starts metabolizing almost right away, when it comes to carbohydrates. Now just imagine those carbohydrates are made up of simple carbohydrates (sugar-like in regular soda, potato chips or other over processed snack foods, or French fries- deep fried potatoes that are loaded with saturated fat and heavy on high glycemic index scale of carbohydrates.) Also there have been some recent studies that have stated that high fructose corn syrup- found in many foods produced for children that include fruit drinks, fruit snacks, and things like ketchup, are helping enormously to contribute to huge increases in childhood obesity. A BAD COMBINATION THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT A HEART HEALTH LIFESTLYE Here are some other great options : One of keys to a lean, sexy, healthy body is controlling insulin production and blood-sugar levels. The easiest way to do that is by eating healthy low-glycemic foods -- things like vegetables, fibrous fruits, whole grains, seeds, nuts, lean proteins, etc. Generally, it's a good idea to avoid most foods that contain high-glycemic ingredients like white flour, white sugar, corn syrup, etc. These are those 'bad' foods that wreak havoc on your insulin levels and increase your body fat levels in process. They can also damage your health over time.
| | Pharmaceuticals: The Next Frontier in America's War on DrugsWritten by David Westbrook
Pharmaceuticals: The Next Frontier in America's War on DrugsAmerica's war on drugs, which has been fought in opium fields of Afghanistan and cocaine plantations of Columbia, will have to reinvent itself to combat what is set to be America's biggest drug abuse problem, pharmaceuticals. One in five American's, nearly 48 million, have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes at least once in their lives. The current past month misuse rate among Americans is 6.2 million. According to a recent white paper by Carnevale Associates, this rate of use is already higher than historical highs of both cocaine and heroin epidemics. For some, road to illicit use of prescription medications starts innocently. After a car accident, back injury, or, even, a mental/emotional breakdown a physician prescribes medication for a legitimate use. Over time, tolerance builds up so that more and more of drug is needed until a state of dependence is reached. At this point, there is no easy way to get off drug, and stopping can involve painful withdrawal symptoms. Some doctors have been known to become afraid and cut their patients off at this point. Patients have been known to steal prescription pads, or visit numerous doctors to get drugs they have become addicted to. However, contrary to popular belief, it is not older adults or any adults who are most likely to abuse pharmaceuticals. In past decade, abuse of prescription meds among youth has been growing at an alarming first-time use rate of more than fifty percent each year. In 2002, latest year for which there are statistics, approximately 2.5 million American's misused prescriptions for first time and 44% of them were under age of 18. Unfortunately, as media fixes its gaze on methamphetamine problem; and Office of National Drug Control Policy spends much of its time focusing on Marijuana opportunity to address pharmaceutical addiction and abuse is being missed. While certain steps have been taken they have been tentative. The ONDCP has drawn up a strategy for addressing synthetic drugs, but no serious media campaign to educate Americans about problem has been undertaken. Nor has any pharmaceutical company been brought to heel for manufacturing drugs with high abuse potential even when alternatives may exist. The next battle in America's war on drugs must draw a bead on pharmaceuticals. The ONDCP must be willing to launch same type of hard hitting ad campaigns against prescription drug abuse as it has against, marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine. The FDA must not be afraid to sanction drug manufacturers who continue to make unsafe drugs where safe alternatives exist. Pharmaceutical manufactures must become better citizens and spend research and development dollars to make safe and effective drugs, rather than taking easy way out.
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