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Sabtu, 01 Juni 2013

Foods That Increase Blood Sugar Levels

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million people or 8 percent of the population has diabetes. Diabetics have to constantly be wary of what they eat to prevent their blood-sugar levels from becoming too high. The medical term for high blood-sugar levels is hyperglycemia. It's important for diabetics to be aware of foods that increase blood sugar levels rapidly.

Glycemic Index

    According to HealthyWeightForum.Com, the glycemic index (GI) measures the way that sugar levels in the body rise in reaction to food intake. The glycemic index gives foods a rating from 0 to 100, with glucose having a rating of 100. Foods that are closer to 100 on the glycemic index, such as simple carbohydrates, will increase the body's sugar levels rapidly. Foods that are closer to 0 on the glycemic index will increase the body's sugar levels more slowly. Diabetics need to be aware of where foods fall on the glycemic index to control their blood-sugar levels properly.

Foods That Increase Blood Sugar Levels Rapidly

    As a general rule, anything that tastes sugary will contain large amounts of glucose, making it extremely high on the glycemic index. For example, Fanta has a GI rating of 68 and Gatorade has a GI rating of 78. However, many diabetics make the mistake of thinking that sports drinks are the only types of foods that are high on the GI scale. Cheerios, cornflakes and rice bubbles are all simple carbohydrates giving them a GI rating of over 80.

Foods That Increase Blood Sugar Levels Slowly

    Foods that have a GI rating of under 40 tend to increase blood sugar levels more slowly, which can be beneficial for diabetics. For example, soybeans' GI rating of only 18 is one of the lowest. Lentils, a legume, also have an extremely low GI rating at only 28. Many dairy foods also have extremely low GI ratings. For example, skim milk has a GI rating of only 32 while full fat milk has a GI rating of 27. Low-fat fruit yogurt also has a GI rating of only 33, which makes it a great alternative to ice cream for diabetics.

Don't Be Fooled By Fruits

    Some fruits have extremely high GI ratings while some have fairly low GI ratings. For example, a watermelon has a GI rating of 72, which is higher than the GI rating of Fanta. However, an apple has a GI rating of only 38, lower than Fanta's rating. When it comes to the GI scale, healthier foods don't always have a low GI rating! If you're a diabetic, it's extremely important for you to know where foods fall on the GI scale if you want to maintain safe blood-sugar levels!

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