The glycemic index (GI) is a way to measure the impact that carbohydrate-containing foods have on blood sugar, or blood glucose.[1] People are interested in understanding the glycemic index (and the glycemic load) of food so they can construct a healthier diet. Blood sugar affects many aspects of health, including the risk of getting cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, so watching the GI of foods in your diet can improve your overall health prospects. (more…)
We all have times when we eat too much — holiday meals, for example. While the body can handle occasional overeating, doing it on a regular basis causes more harm than just weight gain. When you eat, your organs must secrete digestive enzymes to break down all that delicious food into useful nutrients. Overeating or drinking to excess strains the pancreas and other organs. Pancreatic enzymes play an essential role in digestion, which, of course, plays a role in how healthy your body is. Food is fuel! Pancreatic enzymes help […]
When you think of inflammation, you probably picture the rash you get from poison ivy or a bump that swells up when you hit your head. There's another silent form of inflammation that occurs within your body, and it does not usually come with any painful symptoms — but it can seriously impact your health. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes are all linked to this type of constant, low-level inflammation. The good news? You can influence your body's background levels of inflammation by eating specific […]
When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, not all carbs are created equal. The low-glycemic diet is based on a simple premise: avoid "bad" carbohydrate foods, which are those with a high number on the glycemic index (GI) scale while enjoying good carbs, fats, and proteins.[1] High-GI foods are typically sugary, processed, or low-fiber carbohydrates that your body digests quickly, sending your blood sugar levels skyrocketing. You may have heard the glycemic index mentioned in popular diet books and plans, and for good reason; understanding the glycemic index and […]
If you've been diagnosed with high triglycerides, you're not alone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21.5 percent of all adults have above-normal triglyceride levels, also called hypertriglyceridemia or dyslipidemia.[1] High levels of triglycerides may not come with specific symptoms, but they may coincide with both high total blood cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. Having too many triglycerides in the blood can raise your risk of heart disease and insulin resistance,[2] especially if you also have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.[3] (more…)
