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The GI Diet: Part of the War on Fat :
You might have heard
of the GI diet and wondered if it had anything to do with the nation’s
military forces. Actually, this meal plan is not connected with any
branch of the armed services. But it is definitely an important part
of the war on fat. By following the GI diet, you might be able to
successfully fight the battle of the bulge.
To begin with, it is important to define our terms. GI refers to glycemic
index. The GI measures just how quickly the body breaks apart food
in order to develop glucose, which has been referred to as a major
energy source for the body. The GI was the brainchild of Dr. David
Jenkins, a nutritional expert at the University of Toronto.
If food ranks high on the GI scale, it means that the food breaks
down quickly. As a result, the body is not satiated and goes looking
elsewhere for food. However, food that is low-glucose breaks down
less quickly, which means that it makes you feel satiated. The GI
diet, therefore, is made up of food that is low on the GI barometer.
If you follow this food plan, you will be eating lean meat and fish,
whole grains, nuts, legumes, and fruits and vegetables. In addition,
you can partake of dairy, as long as it is low-fat. However, you’ll
be passing up cake, cookies, bread, and other foods that are comprised
of white flour and therefore high on the GI.
Those who support the GI diet maintain that the vast majority of diets
are unsuccessful because dieters do not feel satiated. Dieters may
also feel fatigued, causing them to binge. In addition, many diets
are complex, requiring individuals to do complicated calculations
in order to determine how much they should eat.
Following the GI diet is as easy as following a traffic light. Red
means stop—in other words, don’t eat that particular item.
Yellow means proceed to eat with caution—and moderation. Green
means go ahead and eat the item—it’s good for you. There
are numerous advantages to the GI diet. To begin with, it provides
proper nutrition, which means that it is heart-healthy. Also, you
can eat as much as you want—if the foods have been given the
green light. Chances are you won’t feel as if you’re running
on empty with this diet, since it’s designed to keep you feeling
satiated. It is believed that the diet can reduce the likelihood that
you will be afflicted with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, colon
cancer, and prostate cancer. The GI diet is easy to maintain and equally
easy to follow.
You might believe that the GI diet is like Atkins; however, there
are notable differences. For example, the Atkins approach stresses
high protein and animal fat while curbing carbohydrates. Atkins is
based on the philosophy that, if the body does not receive carbs,
it will end up breaking down fat instead. Over the long term, Atkins
has been linked to kidney damage, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
But the GI diet is based on carbs such as fruits, vegetables, and
whole grains and encourages dieters to eliminate saturated fat, winning
it the endorsement of a number of nutritionists. Still, it should
be noted that the GI diet is not perfect. If you have spent a lifetime
eating foods in the red category, you might find the diet quite challenging.
Also, during the initial stage of the diet, the dieter’s weight
may rise until the body makes an adjustment.
The GI diet may not be as popular as other diet programs, but it has
a number of qualities to recommend it. It is not complicated, so it
may not lead to as much frustration as other diets. The traffic light
system might appeal to even the most unsophisticated of dieters. It
encourages the consumption of good carbohydrates which are nutrient-rich.
It is also sure to eliminate an individual’s reliance on junk
food. While the adjustment to the diet may be difficult at first,
a number of dieters maintain that it is well worth the effort. You
may actually be surprised to learn exactly how much weight you can
lose following the GI system.
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