Most of you are aware of the ever-increasing problem with obesity and diabetes in our society today. Many believe the problem stems from the fast pace lifestyles we live, where each family member is involved in several different activities; long work hours, full or part-time studies, group activities, physical aspirations, not to mention the daily fixation with the internet, computer, video gaming and television. As a result, people are tired and stressed out, which causes them to continually reach for something sugary and high GI to pick them up and keep them going. The consequence is a severe decline in the quality of the American diet due to the availability of convenient, high GI, highly refined and processed food.
Refined foods and high GI carbs are not the only culprits acting as "stimulants" in the American diet. Caffeine-loaded beverages such as coffee, tea and colas are quickly becoming the "drug" of choice as they promote the brain’s feel-good chemicals and make you feel better, with more energy and alertness. Who wouldn’t want to feel this way, right? Well, the problem with this is what happens in your body afterwards. Stimulants have the same effect as when you are experiencing extreme stress, where your body releases hormones, including dopamine and adrenaline. These hormones breakdown stores of glucose and raise your blood sugar levels, tapping into your energy reserves to provide instant fuel to the "apparent danger". As stimulants are addictive, consumption of these substances will likely increase, causing blood sugar imbalances as a result. Continued over a long period of time, the problem can lead to decreased insulin sensitivity, leading to weight gain and a host of other problems such as obesity, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and eventually type 2 diabetes.
To compound the stimulant problem, coffee baristas and retailers are looking to cash in on the exploding demand for caffeine-containing specialty beverages, where they are expanding their product lines and offerings. What seemed improbable 10 years ago is coming to fruition with McDonald’s taking on Starbucks by offering specialty coffee drinks and bottled beverages. Reported in the Wall Street Journal Jan 8, 2008 the story describes that, starting this year, the company’s nearly 14,000 U.S. locations will install coffee bars with "baristas" serving cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and the Frappe, similar to Starbucks’ ice-blended Frappuccino. The jury is still out on whether McDonald’s venture will be successful, but we have to ask the question: "Is this too much of a good thing for consumers?"
You may feel that you cannot live without your morning cup of "Joe" or the mid-afternoon sweet treat to get you through the rest of the day. I am here to tell you that reducing the "stimulants" in your diet will allow you to get your blood sugar back into balance. It may be difficult at first, but you will find that with time you will experience more energy and increased weight loss as a result. What do you have to lose, literally? Start today by making small (but important) changes contributing to your new low GI lifestyle!
Tip of the Day: To avoid having withdrawal symptoms, reduce refined carbs and caffeine-containing beverages slowly. At the same time, remember that this is not a recommendation for total elimination, but for reasonable consumption. A low GI lifestyle is about balance and sustainability (something to be adopted for life), so small amounts of caffeine and sweet treats are acceptable within reason.
Low Glycemic Index (GI), low Glycemic Load (GL) foods have been proven in studies to be beneficial for: diet, weight loss, obesity/diabetic, blood sugar management, sports/sport nutrition, energy foods, mental performance, concentration, acne, eye health, macular degeneration, disease prevention: diabetes, heart disease and forms of cancer.
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