Since the beginning of time people have been looking high and low, far and wide, for the secret to a long life. Scientists have studies cultures that have the longest life spans and discovered that their limited agriculture crops and their remoteness in the mountains have created an environmental advantage. The local diet consists primarily of Low Glycemic foods.
This means they do not suffer from the typical chronic diseases seen in many communities in this world where Diabetes, heart disease and obesity are rampant. The physiological conditions that promote Metabolic Syndrome are the principal causes of these chronic diseases. Researchers have found that the low glycemic diets which promote consistently low Insulin secretions in the body is why some populations live so long.
To put that plainly, diets that promote high levels of Insulin secretions promote Metabolic Syndrome and in direct contrast, diets that promote low levels of Insulin live healthier and live longer. Modern societies have so much white flour and white sugar in everyday foods (junk food) that Insulin is consistently triggered in moderate to high amounts. Insulin in higher concentrations becomes an irritant to the circulatory system.
When there is only low glycemic foods in a regular diet, Insulin levels remain very low and so these people do not develop obesity, heart disease, Stroke or Diabetes; so naturally they live longer.
By now you are saying: “OK, I get the point! Please tell us what are these low glycemic foods?“ That’s a terrific question! Let’s begin with the more common:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Summer squash, Zucchini, Spinach, Tomatoes, Lettuce (all varieties), Peppers (all varieties), Snow peas, Green beans, Asparagus, Artichoke, Eggplant, Peanuts, Cucumber, Celery, Raw carrots, Soy beans, Cashew nuts, Cherries, Peas, Grapefruit, Lentils, Butter beans, Kidney beans, Prunes, etc. Fruits are good but if you eat more than a couple fruits per day, that also will increase Insulin levels.
What do these foods have in common that makes them low glycemic? They all are slow to digest therefore are slowly releasing their carbohydrate content into blood sugar. The slower this process the less Insulin gets released into the blood and the less total Insulin gets secreted per meal. The opposite is true when we eat processed foods that easily digest and quickly raise blood glucose levels, that is immediately followed by high Insulin secretions. Here we are talking about cooked rice, potatoes, pasta, breads, doughnuts to avoid. These high glycemic foods slowly make you fat and / or chronically raise the Insulin levels in the blood contributing to Metabolic Syndrome.
In conclusion, if you want to live a long and healthy life there needs to be a serious look at the foods you regularly eat and to systematically replace the high glycemic foods from the low glycemic group. That’s right, seriously cut back on the starches and replace them with vegetables. Live long and live healthy!
Yours in True Health
docMIKE
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