The Glycemic Index demystified…Part 1

I have come across the term Glycemic Index so many times and its about time this term gets explained.  In simple words, this is a measure of how quickly the blood sugar level rises after eating any type of food – ranging from meats to fruits.  The Glycemic Index or the GI of a food is a great comparative measure of what impact do different foods have on the blood sugar level.  The index is relative to the GI of Glucose which sits at a 100.

Therefore, a food with a low GI will release glucose more slowly in a prolonged manner compared to a hi GI food which causes a rapid almost abrupt rise in blood glucose levels.  Much research indicates that high GI foods may cause obesity.  I am personally experimenting with consuming low GI foods and willl update this blog with results.  I am in my third week of the slow carb diet.

Note that the GI does not measure the amount of carbs consumed and has no reference to it. Also, GI of a food having one value in many charts is misleading as its ripeness, types of same food, cooking methods, processing of the food, length of storage etc. changes its value.

More about the GI soon…Good Night!

– Gary Saggu

Guide to Cheat Day (while on the slow carb diet)

1.  First meal of the day needs to be slow carb diet conforming.  This is not a cheat meal.  Today mine was a mix of mung bean and green lentils with ghee and some spices. This was accompanied by a little guacamole and an egg white omelet with an organic egg.  The omlet was mixed with some onions.

2. About 2 hours later, I had some sliced grapefruit.  Grapefruit juice is ideal but I could not find it (without added hi-fructose sugar) so that became my source of Naringin.

 

3. PAGG is taken to reduce glucose sensitivity but I am not on PAGG. I would love to hear if how PAGG or AGG is working for people on cheat day.

 

4. Lots of citrus juices during or lemon juice with water.  I had a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice – heavenly.

 

5. Lots of going to the toilet.  I had the honor of going about 4 times already and it is only tea time.  

 

6. Regarding the contractions in between meals, I have not been good with those.  I did walk briskly all day today.  I think I might go to the gym to make up for no air squats or other stuff before my meal.  But my first binge was a healthy soy burger(with muenster cheese) with some greens. Hardly a binge but I am trying to wait for an Opera pastry waiting for me in the fridge.

 

More thoughts on cheat day from the mind of Gary Saggu later as time progresses…now high tea (with scones and clotted cream, not! – I feel full already!)

– Gary Saggu

Checking the ingredients of allowed foods on SCD

Interesting thing happened to me at my local Whole Foods.  I wanted to add some variety to my breakfast and innocently opted for smoked trout for protein early this week.  The trout was yummy and all natural etc. Last night I was at whole foods again loading up on lentils and other slow carb foods recommended for the SCD (in the 4 hour body).  This time I checked the ingredients of my smoked trout and turned out that it did have “all natural” cane sugar.  So I checked all the smoked trouts from different vendors and they all had some form of sugar in it.  Hidden sugar in apparently safe foods that one can eat while on the SCD is a big reason why this diet may not be providing the results expected.

Veggie restaurant locator (iOS app)

Check out Healthymap.com with apps to locate veggie restaurants and healthy eats around you. A must have for vegetarians and healthy eaters on the go.

Two cities are currently supported:-

  • Veggie and vegetarian friendly restaurants in NYC: HealthymapNY Healthymap - Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the New York City area - Gary Saggu
  • Veggie and vegetarian friendly eats in London: HealthymapUK Healthymap vegetarian and vegan guide to London - Gary Saggu

Spinach, baby spinach and more spinach is essential to the SCD

Spinach is an essential part of the SCD.  It nutritionally dense, packed with anti-oxidants and flavanoids.  It is also Iron rich although I am not sure how much iron is needed by men.  It certainly gives me that content feeling that I have eaten something.

Lunch was baby spinach salad with a few garbanzos, broccoli, egg-whites, onions and tuna.  Dash of balsamic vinegar with a lot of olive oil as dressing.  Yummy.