Why Follow a Low GI Diet?
Manage Diabetes
The glycemic index serves as a guide to know if a particular food raises blood glucose quickly. This is a useful tool that helps to manage diabetes by controlling the blood sugar levels in the body.
Studies have shown that a low GI diet helps to keep diabetes under control by managing the blood glucose levels, blood cholesterol levels and reduce insulin resistance.
This is crucial in combating the diabetes related complications. When used together with healthy eating, portion control and counting carbohydrates, it helps in managing the blood sugar level which serves as an effective hedge against diabetes.
Source:
Achieve or maintain a healthy weight
A low GI, moderately high protein diet helps in weight management by:
•Reducing insulin levels
•Helping you burn body fat instead of muscle
•Keeping you feeling fuller for longer by avoiding spike and crash in blood sugar level
•Maintaining your metabolic rate which usually drops in response to a lower food intake
Eating in moderation with regular exercise and coupled with a low GI and higher protein diet are all critical in maintaining a healthy weight
Source:
Heart Health
A low GI diet can improve heart health by:
•Reducing and managing blood sugar levels
•Improving resilience of the blood flow and blood vessels walls
•Helping to improve and manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Reducing and managing inflammation of the blood vessels and hence reduce the risk of atherosclerosis
Studies have shown that a high-fibre and low GI diet significantly reduce total and LDL(bad) cholesterol levels which helps to lower the risk for Cardiovascular diseases.
Source:
Sustain Energy Levels
Blood glucose plays an important role in how energized you feel.
High GI foods release a quick burst of energy whereas low GI foods provide longer-lasting energy by preventing blood glucose (sugar) fluctuations.
Low GI foods release glucose into the body over a period of time which provide a stable energy level.
Studies have shown that a low GI diet contributed to an increase in the availability of carbohydrate and a greater carbohydrate oxidation during the exercise period. The sustained energy production in turn leads to an improvement in physical and athletic performance
Source:
https://www.gisymbol.com/why-follow-a-low-gi-diet/
Increase Mental Performance
Low GI foods help with improving concentration and cognitive performance as they provide a steady supply of fuel to the brain. As glucose is the brain's major energy source hence a constant stream of glucose throughout the day is associated with:
•Better speed of information processing
•Higher concentration level
For children and teens, eating a low GI breakfast has been associated with better learning and improved school performance by enhancing the ability of concentration, reaction time, learning ability, mood and memory.
Source: