All foods that you eat can impact blood sugar levels. Sugar and carbohydrates, however, have the most significant effect. That’s because after you eat carbs, your body breaks them down into sugar that enters your bloodstream, increasing your blood glucose levels.
But, that doesn’t mean all digestible carbohydrates work the
same. Our bodies digest high fiber foods slower, making the rise in blood sugar
more gradual instead of one big spike. Soluble fiber also helps reduce blood
sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity. Processed carbohydrates, on the
other hand, cause those sharp spikes in blood sugar and boost triglyceride
levels.
Trying to digest all the information on how your body processes
carbohydrates and sugars can be overwhelming. That’s where using the glycemic
index can make it easier to understand. The glycemic index ranks foods on a
scale from 0-100. The higher the number, the more your blood sugar will spike
after eating.
This tool is especially helpful when evaluating foods you want
to include in your overall healthy lifestyle plan. However, it is important to
keep in mind that the glycemic index just predicts how someone’s glucose will
respond to food on average. After taking unique personal differences into
account, some people may see a response higher or lower than the average.
Comments
Post a Comment