The present day situation is to plan a diet that is rich in healthy nutrient and less contributing to weight gain or other lifestyle disorders. Almost all those who are concerned about their weight or are on a preventive health diet, would like to opt for food that contains less sugar.
The glycemic index of food is an important factor in determining your healthy diet. The food items that have a high glycemic index are easily digested and often raise your blood sugar instantly. This causes sudden upsurge and down surge in the blood sugar levels, which is ideally not advisable.
Even for people who suffer from low blood sugar levels, it is necessary that there is a steady supply of blood sugar and sudden fluctuations are better avoided. This can be obtained by consuming foods that are low in glycemic index and hence take a long time to get metabolized. They help in releasing sugar slowly into the blood and the blood sugar levels are thus maintained steadily. This helps by allowing a person to feel energetic for a long period and avoid feeling lethargic or over excited as both extremes can be harmful.
Super foods
Some of the foods that are medium or low in glycemic index can be considered as the healthiest foods and are hence also called as super foods.
Apples – Medium sized apples are low in glycemic index and are nutritious for daily consumption.They are rich in fiber and hence provide many other health benefits too.
Grams – Grams are a rich source of proteins and especially the horse grams are a great food for those on weight loss diet. Grams or chana are commonly used in salads and curries. They can be soaked overnight and boiled or lightly pan tossed. They can be taken as salads by adding lots of vegetables.
Chickpea – Chick pea or chana dal as commonly termed is another great food that can be used in salads and soups. It can also be soaked and ground to form a paste with salt and spices and it can be used as a spice or a dip.
Peas and beans – Green peas, black peas and dried beans are too a great source of proteins and are highly nutritious. They have a low glycemic index and should be included in your daily diet.
In general, it is advisable to choose complex carbohydrates to ensure slow release of glucose and another important factor like fiber. It gives you a feeling of fullness and improves your satiety. This is smart eating, which is important rather than less eating