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Many of us would like to lose some weight, to look and feel better; and some people need to lose weight for the sake of their health. You don't need a scientist to tell you that what you eat plays a huge part in whether or not you are overweight, and it's also one of the factors in determining if you are going to be able to lose weight. We all know that foods high in saturated fats for example, are generally bad for us, but over the last couple of decades we have been introduced to the concept of high-glycemic foods and the impact they can have on our bodies. So what are high-glycemic foods, and why do we need to worry about them if we want to lose weight?
The Glycemic Index, or GI, of the foods we eat, is a measure of how fast they increase the body's sugar levels after they've been eaten. High-glycemic foods contain carbohydrates that release glucose quickly, and therefore have an immediate impact on the body's sugar levels. The impact of low-glycemic foods is slower, as the these carbohydrates release their glucose over a longer period of time. Knowing which foods have a high or low glycemic value is helpful in managing diabetes, but there are also implications for people who are trying to lose weight.
Low-glycemic foods will release their sugar more slowly, which will give you energy for longer, and consequently stop you from feeling hungry. This can be good for managing or losing weight. High-glycemic foods on the other hand, mean the energy is released quickly and could leave you wanting to eat again a lot sooner, meaning you're more likely to put on weight than lose it. It gets a little more complicated when you are exercising, as the sudden energy release from high-glycemic foods can be useful in helping to recover from strenuous exercise more quickly; and low-glycemic foods provide a more constant energy release in preparation for more sustained exercise
Some health professionals question whether choosing not to eat high-glycemic foods in order to lose weight is an effective strategy, as a food's glycemic value can be different from one person to another, and is affected by a number of things, including the person's age, level of activity, how the food was cooked, and even the time of day. However, most would acknowledge that choosing which foods to eat based on whether they have a high or low glycemic value could be a useful tool for managing your weight.
Understanding high and low glycemic foods might be one way to help control your body shape, and may even assist with weight-loss. However, it can be difficult to understand precisely what effect foods with different glycemic values will have; which could make it difficult to get rid of the weight you want to lose, as quickly as you'd like to lose it. Choosing which foods you eat based on their glycemic value may have some benefits, but you may want to consider natural and effective supplements to your diet, which may be a more effective way of achieving the weight-loss you are looking for.