Low Gi Diet or Low Carb Diet ? Which One Is Best?
These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets such as the South Beach and Atkins diet but the GI or glycemic index diet is a fairly new name on the diet scene. While low carb diets restrict the quantity of carbohydrates, the GI diet focuses on the quality of carbohydrates. It works by promoting the consumption of foods that are low on the glycemic index, foods which will have a gently effect on your blood sugar levels and keep you full longer.
A typical low carb diet, has a restrictive phase in the beginning where your carbohydrate intake is severely limited. You can eat all the meat you want and fats are also unlimited, although the South Beach Diet does encourage you to stick to low fat meats and healthy fats. As the diet progresses, you can gradually add in more carbohydrates, typically those with a low glycemic index are also those that are lower in carbs.
Although a low GI diet might not be one that you’ve heard much about before, it has actually been around since the 1970’s and is used in many European countries to help manage diabetes. Recently, however, this way of eating has gotten a lot of attention as a healthy way to control weight. This diet focuses on carbohydrates – "good carbs" have a low glycemic index and you should eat plenty of them (incidentally, these are also the foods that we know to be good for us like fruits, vegetables and whole grains). "Bad carbs" have a high glycemic index and should be eaten in moderation and mixed with the low glycemic index carbs to lower the overall GI of a meal. Since this diet focuses only on carbs it is very easy for vegetarians to adopt this way of eating.
In comparison, a low carb diet can be limiting in fruits and vegetables which are high in vitamins, minerals and enzymes as well as fiber. Many people associate low carb diets with a license to eat as much saturated fat as you want, but that choice is up to the individual so we really can’t fault the diet for this misconception. A low GI diet is full of fruits, vegetables, fiber and low in fat but emphasis the good fats found in nuts. It encourages eating lean meats in moderation. While we all know that meats and fats are no carb and green leafy vegetables are low carb, some may not be aware of what foods have a low glycemic index. Most vegetables (except potatoes, beets, pumpkin) have a very low GI. Some fruits that have a low GI include citrus fruits, apples, plums and peaches while most other fruits have a medium GI value. Oatmeal, most pasta and whole wheat bread also have a low gi.
So which diet is best?
Where many people in the health and nutrition profession consider a low carb diet to be unhealthy, most everyone would consider a gi diet to be very healthy. Studies have shown that eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help to bolster your immune system thus allowing you to fight disease and eating high fat meats may adversely affect your health and help contribute to heart disease. That being said, it has also been shown that being overweight is a major health risk for many diseases so the best diet is probably one that works for you! Some folks might respond better to a low carb, others to a low gi. Either way, it makes sense to make healthy food choices, limit food intake and exercise for your good health.
Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Low Carb And Low GI Resource where you can learn more about the glycemic index value of foods.
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How The Motto Be Prepared Can Help You Lose Weight
Be Prepared. For the Boy Scouts it means you are always ready in body and mind to do your duty. How can you use this motto to help you in your weight loss efforts?
I am of the school of thought that starvation is not the way to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle. My thinking has always been to make the right choices in the foods we eat. For many people, it is not overeating that is their enemy-it is the wrong choices. This article is assuming you know the difference between good food choices and bad. There are many articles that can be found on making proper food choices.
For example; have you ever been trying to diet and found yourself out around town running errands and then suddenly so hungry you could not hardly stand it? Or have you ever been at work and your workmates want to go to the local Mexican restaurant and you did not pack your lunch that day? Normally what happens is you swing into the local fast food joint or go with your coworkers to the restaurant and end up making bad choices. How can this be prevented? Answer: Be prepared.
The above "bad choice" scenarios could have been avoided by being prepared. The first could have been prevented by carrying a meal replacement bar or shake in your vehicle with you. This could have curbed your hunger until you were home and in a position to prepare a nutritious snack or meal. The second could have been avoided by having a nutritious lunch packed and ready to eat at lunch time. You could have even carried it to the restaurant and enjoyed the company of your coworkers.
The number one enemy of being prepared is time. "I don’t have time to pack my lunch in the evening!" or "I don’t have time to cook in the evening!" I have good news and bad news. If you are going to be prepared – it is going to take time. The good news is that it does not have to be as time consuming as you may think.
One way to save time and be prepared is to use meal replacement shakes or meal replacement powders. These can be carried with you wherever you go and mixed and consumed in a matter of minutes. Another way is to do your cooking when you have time. I know of one person that prepares 7 chicken breasts on Sunday night and puts them in Tupperware serving dishes along with brown rice and steamed broccoli. They just simply take one per day to work and have a very nutritious, weight loss friendly lunch.
Some more ideas for being prepared in your weight loss journey:
? Have cans of tuna in your desk at work.
? Keep a bottle of water with you at all times.
? Do your cooking when you have time and cook enough for several meals.
? Keep meal replacement powders and meal replacement bars nearby.
? Purchase a Tupperware shaker
? Learn to like raw fruits and vegetables. These are very portable and hit the spot!
These are just some ideas to get you started. I am sure you can think of many more. The important thing is to have foods around you that are delicious and nutritious and will help you reach your weight loss goals. If you can’t stand to eat raw carrots then there is no sense in taking a bag to work – You simply will not eat them. You will more than likely make a bad choice when hunger hits. Experiment around and find nutritious choices that are portable and that you enjoy.
Do not let yourself reach the point of no return in your hunger. At this point most of us will eat about anything. Stay ahead of the game and be prepared. When hunger hits – make wise choices and your body will respond in a favorable way.
Remember; Be prepared and you will reach your weight loss goals.
I wish for you the best of health!
Bill Herren
Bill Herren is the webmaster for weightloss-articles.com Everything weight loss related! Weight loss success stories, product reviews, exercise articles, weight loss recipes, and diet articles. All Free and all designed to help you lose weight!
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