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What is the Glycemic Index?

If you have diabetes or you are watching your weight, it may be wise to pay some attention to the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index ranks how much a particular food raises your blood sugar level after you eat it. It is really all about carbohydrates and how they raise blood sugar, since foods high in protein and fat have little effect on blood glucose. The carbohydrates that break down quickly in the digestive process have a higher glycemic index than those that slowly release glucose into the blood stream.

Illustration of a glycemic reading.

The Glycemic Index is starting to get some attention in the health care arena based on the fact that more than 17 million Americans suffer from diabetes, with millions more in the making. Several of the popular diet books are also based on the Glycemic Index approach to losing weight, including Sugar Busters (Ballantine), Eat Yourself Slim (Erica House) and the South Beach Diet (Rodale).

According to the Glycemic Index, mashed potatoes, ice cream, and cornflakes raise blood sugar levels higher than pure table sugar! While fruits, vegetables (other than potatoes) and grainy breads have a low glycemic index.

What are some of the benefits of eating foods with a low glycemic index?
  • Weight loss
  • Feeling of "fullness" for a longer period of time after eating
  • Lower rise in blood glucose levels
  • Lower risk of diabetes

For a listing of more than 750 international foods, along with their glycemic index and glycemic load (how much of a carbohydrate is in the particular food), go to www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm.

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Dr. Josh Asks some important questions of interest to Scottsdale residents - Chiropractor Scottsdale Dr. Josh Asks...

What is the purpose of pain?
Pain prompts many Scottsdale folks to begin chiropractic care. But pain isn't the problem! Pain is just how your body alerts you that a limit has been reached (or exceeded), that something isn't working right and that some type of change is needed. As a chiropractor, my job is finding the underlying cause and recommending the changes needed to bring your body back into balance.
Why are frequent visits advised when starting chiropractic care?
Consistent visits at the beginning of your chiropractic care help create the momentum necessary to correct and retrain unhealthy spinal patterns. Later, Scottsdale patients find that continued care on a less frequent visit schedule can help preserve their progress and avoid a relapse.