blood sugar levels

[Missklp27]

I have a question about ones blood sugar levels. How does this work and with what foods? And how does it tie into a healthy workout and diet? I read a lot of people talking about their blood sugar level and Im a bit confused in how and why this is important. Me personally, Im not trying to lose weight but to gain muscle so how does this affect me and my everyday workout? I probably should really know this answer, but unfortunatly I don't. (sorry).

Karen

 

[candi]

I took this from a South Beach Diet website:


"The higher the Glycemic Index of a carbohydrate, the greater the blood sugar response. So a low GI food will cause a small rise, while a high GI food will trigger a dramatic spike blood sugar and impairing insulin ability to do its jobs of processing fats and sugars properly. This leads to weight gain and waist line expansion."

I know from my own experience that foods that spike my blood sugar level also leads to me craving more sugar. I'm certainly not an expert but it would make sense to me if fats and sugars are not processed properly, they will turn into fat, thereby negatively affecting muscle definition.

I'm sure you will continue to get more knowledgeable responses.

 

[Bobbi]

Combining high glycemic foods and low glycemic foods can balance blood sugar spikes out. Protein and fat as well as acidic foods do too. When I eat potatoes, I eat a salad with vinegarette and they are usually eaten with a form of protein. Slows digestion. I eat pasta with beans which also keep things fairly level. Pasta gets a really bad rep and it's definitely acceptable, even the white pasta. Insulin resistance is not brought about by eating high glycemics and if you watch your diet and exercise, you needn't be particularly concerned with blood sugar. For people who eat few complex carbs, blood sugar spikes can increase hunger since simple or highly processed carbs are taken up and stored very quickly and easily and the whole process, blood sugar rise and fall, can make one hungry again soon after a food is eaten and the cycle can make one fat! Obesity, of course, can lead to diabetes, yada, yada, yada! If your diet is balanced, you need not worry. I eat white rice, pasta and tortillas on occasion but as part of a very nutritious and balanced diet. Strive for overall balance and you can have your cake and eat it too and your blood sugar will be just fine!

There's a wealth of information on the web regarding the glycemic index and it's great to have a rudimentary knowledge of the index but it's by no means necessary. Eat lean proteins and healthy fats along with mostly complex carbs and an indulgence every now and again and your blood sugar will take care of itself!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"