Saul Katz: Low Glycemic for Life!

LOW GLYCEMIC – 2008 TRENDS IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS

You can have your (low glycemic) cake and eat it too!

Natural Marketing Institute's (NMI)* annual trend analysis suggests that if you want the most out of life, be a proactive-health active and tilt your equation towards WELL BEING. It’s easy, with small changes you can live the healthier Low Glycemic Lifestyle, opting for nutrient-dense low GI foods and increased physical activity.

The concept of a 'dual society' is the overarching theme across health, wellness and sustainability in NMI's 2008 trends analysis. This concept stems from a bifurcation of the population in the form of trends and countertrends. For example within NMI’s health and wellness segments of the U.S. population, two opposite groups are identified. The WELL BEINGS and the EAT, DRINK & BE MERRYS, each represent approximately 25% of the population, yet they exhibit opposite attitudes and behaviors towards health and wellness. The WELL BEINGS are a very integrated and healthy group comprised of values-based consumers. Their polar opposite is the EAT, DRINK & BE MERRYS who are the least concerned, least health active and least involved consumers.

NMI’s Top Trends ─ and Countertrends ─ for 2008
1. The Dual Society
The concept of a unified America has given way to bifurcation across many aspects of society including income, education, religious values, the environment, politics and even a stratification across health behaviors and attitudes, as the healthiest and the least healthy segments continue polarization.
Countertrend
Technology continues to be the great societal equalizer, exemplified by Web 2.0 initiatives and the growth of social and business networks.  The desire for unification and connectivity appears to be at the core of this movement, manifesting itself in social collaborations of all kinds including facebook, Linked In, Family Post and Ancestry.com.

2. Generation Zzzzz
Generation Z represents an over-stimulated and burned-out generation, aged 25-45 subsisting on less than 7 hours sleep per night, surviving on caffeine-packed energy drinks and sleeping pills. The health implications of this behavior are just becoming known and include an increase in domestic violence, traffic accidents, obesity and stress among others.
Countertrend
In contrast to Gen Z are those seeking sleep alternatives through alternative medicine, meditation, a reduced schedule and a simplified lifestyle.

3. Stop, I want off!
The overabundance of technology, busier lifestyles, dual working families and instant gratification is driving many to “opt out” of the current consumer culture. From scaling back work hours to a renewed focus on “quality versus quantity” and even a rejection of technology, the consumer backlash reflects a growing recognition of the true “price tag” for such lifestyles.
Countertrend
While many are rejecting conspicuous consumption, the other end of the spectrum continues to embrace luxury, premiumization and 24/7 connectivity.

4. Dr. Me
Dr. Me reflects independent attitudes relating to healthcare decisions as more consumers research their own symptoms, diagnose their own illnesses and administer their own cures. Driven in part by dissatisfaction with healthcare, direct-to-consumer Rx advertising and access to online health portals, consumers are finding new, non-traditional ways to manage their health, including consumer directed healthcare plans, alternative medicine, preventative DNA testing and more.
Countertrend
Juxtaposed with Dr. Me health attitudes resides an epidemic healthcare crisis with increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

5. The Culture of Sustainability
It’s not a matter of whether we will run out of natural resources – it’s a matter of when. Sustainability will become the most significant social movement of our time. It will permeate every aspect of consumers’ lifestyles, business infrastructures and other societal constituencies.
Countertrend
Consumers are overwhelmed with many sustainability initiatives with significant “green washing” fall-out expected as consumers learn to discern its true meaning (and impact).

6. Golden Opportunities
The aging population is experiencing an unprecedented level of autonomy, choice and lifestyle participation.  With those living past 80 the fastest growing demographic group, the idea of the ‘Golden Years’ is undergoing a radical transformation.  From the workplace, to community, to caregiving, the implications are far reaching yet opportunistic.
Countertrend
Issues of loss of independence, control and even financial resources represent profound social consequences for seniors, caregivers, government and society.

7. The New Immunity
A rise in allergies and weakened immune systems is believed by many to be the result of toxic home and work environments, as well as a food supply manipulated by additives, genetic modification, antibiotics, hormones and herbicides.  These concerns are driving a growth industry in non-toxic home and building materials, air purification systems, organic foods and allergy-free alternatives.
Countertrend
The lifestyle habits of many adults and children continue to decline in sharp contrast to the New Immunity awareness.  NMI’s health attitude segment, EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRYS™ demonstrates the lowest awareness or interest in food ingredients, additives, environmental factors and their health impact.

8. Giving is the new Taking
Volunteerism, activism and participation in the non-profit sector are growing rapidly as consumers discover the emotional rewards of giving, rather than taking.  To meet the challenge, corporations are engaging in CSR 2.0 in order to maintain brand allegiance, retain their workforce, and manage their stakeholders, among other activities.
Countertrend
Premiumization, the height of New Luxury, continues to evolve in strong contrast to a more values based, philanthropic culture.  At times, premium brands are even co-opting ‘green values.’

Low Glycemic Index (GI) and Low Glycemic Load (GL) foods have been proven in studies to be beneficial: dieting; weight loss; obesity; diabetes; balancing blood sugar; sustained energy; sport nutrition; mental performance; acne; eye health; macular degeneration; heart disease and forms of cancer. See also Low GI Diet, Low GI Recipes, Low GI Food, Low GI Eating.

*NMI is an international strategic consulting, market research, and business development company specializing in the health, wellness, and sustainable marketplace www.NMIsolutions.com.

Copyright 2008, Saul Katz

SMALL LOW GI INVESTMENTS PAY BIG HEALTH DIVIDENDS

Making small choices in your diet can have a big impact on your health, energy level and waistline. You don’t have to make dramatic changes in eating habits to eat better. Even small modifications in your daily diet can pay big health dividends. Think of foods in terms of ‘nutrients’ rather than ‘good’ or ‘bad.’

The following suggestions are from Glycemic Index Research out of the University of Sydney, Australia (reported, GI News April 2008):

• Aim to eat at least two servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables every day, preferably of three or more different colors. Fill half your dinner plate with veggies.
• If you are a big potato eater, consider replacing half the potato with cannellini beans.
• Choose a low GI bread. Look for a really grainy bread, true sourdough bread or a soy and linseed bread.
• Replace high GI breakfast flakes (real glucose gushers) with low GI alternatives like natural muesli, traditional porridge oats or one of the lower GI processed breakfast cereals.
• Look for lower GI rices such as basmati, Doongara Clever Rice or Moolgiri medium grain rice and choose less processed foods or low GI whole grains such as traditional rolled or steel-cut oats, or quinoa for porridge or pearl barley, buckwheat, bulgur, whole kernel rye, or whole wheat kernels.
• Eat legumes (beans, chickpeas and lentils) often – home cooked or canned.
• Include at least one low GI carb with every meal. You’ll find them in four of the food groups: fruit and vegetables; bread and cereals; legumes; low fat dairy or soy alternatives.
• Choose low GI snacks – fresh fruit, a dried fruit and nut mix, low fat milk or yogurt.
• Vinegar and lemon or lime juices slow stomach emptying and lower your blood glucose response to the carbohydrate with which they are eaten. Get the salad habit and toss it in a vinaigrette dressing.
• Limit refined flour products – cookies, cakes, pastries, pies, crackers, biscuits irrespective of their fat and sugar content.

Two extra tips to reduce blood glucose spikes:

Incorporate a lean protein source with every meal – lean meat, skinless chicken, eggs, fish or seafood, or low fat dairy, legumes or tofu if you are vegetarian.

Remember portion caution with carb-rich foods such as pasta, noodles and low GI rices. It’s all too easy to over-eat them. While they may be low GI choices themselves, eating lots of them will have a marked effect on your blood glucose.

Low Glycemic Index (GI) and Low Glycemic Load (GL) foods have been proven in studies to be beneficial: dieting; weight loss; obesity; diabetes; balancing blood sugar; sustained energy; sport nutrition; mental performance; acne; eye health; macular degeneration; heart disease and forms of cancer. See also Low GI Diet, Low GI Recipes, Low GI Food, Low GI Eating.

Copyright 2008, Saul Katz