Low Glycemic Index – Developments in technology and food science mean that food products have more and more variations. The variety of foods created also influences the health level of the human body to some extent. The amount of calories, sugar content, and trans fat in food can affect health. Sugar or glucose levels are something that many people in the world pay attention to. Because excess sugar or glucose levels can quickly increase blood sugar levels, causing the potential for diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that results from the body’s weakness in digesting glucose into energy. This is caused by the inability of the insulin enzyme to process glucose in the blood into energy for the body.
Prevent diabetes
However, diabetes mellitus can be prevented by screening the glycemic index of the food we eat. Everyone can prevent diabetes mellitus by consuming foods low on the glycemic index. Low glycemic foods help prevent diabetes mellitus by limiting the supply of sugar in the blood produced from food. Choosing foods with a low glycemic index is not only used for prevention but can also be done by diabetes sufferers. In general, the glycemic index of food products is measured in units of 0 – 100 to determine how low the glucose level is. The higher the number, the higher the glucose level, conversely, if the number is small, the lower the glucose level.
For example, white sugar and white bread are food products that have a high glycemic index of >80. Meanwhile, food products such as coconut sugar, lemons, and vegetables have a glycemic index <55. The glycemic index value can also inform how food affects the increase in blood sugar and insulin. The lower the glycemic index value, the less effect it will have on blood sugar and insulin levels.
Low Glycemic Index
The glycemic index value of a food product can be influenced by how the food is processed. Usually the longer the processing chain, the higher the index value. This is caused by the processing of raw materials which obtain additional supporting materials. For example, whole wheat has a low glycemic index, but after being processed into wheat flour and white bread, the glucose levels will increase drastically. In processing, wheat is processed into flour and additional ingredients such as milk, sugar, and eggs are obtained to make bread dough. This is of course different from other food products that do not undergo a long processing chain, such as fruit and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have a low glycemic index and intact vitamins because they are not processed.
In conclusion, consuming foods with a low glycemic index is the right choice to maintain health. In this way, it can prevent blood sugar from rising which can potentially lead to diabetes mellitus. So, consuming fruit and vegetables and reducing processed foods is a better choice.
