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Glycemic Index.... Should I worry?

WhiteAppleWhiteApple Raw Newbie

I have been eating a lot more fruit now as I am trying to have a high raw diet (80-95%) and I am worried about the Glycemic Impact they have. I have read a low Glycemic diet is good for preventing diabetes and diabetes is really common in Grandpa's family, almost everyone has it including my mom and uncles. I have also been starting to exercise more and a high fruit/ vegetable diet really helps. I had some nuts and they slowed me down one day. Also sprouted legumes and grains have a high glycemic load (and they are acidic). Should I worry about my Glycemic load? I try to watch it and not have too many dates or bananas or other high glycemic foods all at once.

Comments

  • SuasoriaSuasoria Raw Newbie

    Interesting question! Most of the dietary wisdom on diabetes applies to omnivorous diets.

    Legumes are actually low on the glycemic scale.

    Two doctors who specialize in diabetes-related research are Dr. Gabriel Cousens (who focuses on raw foods for reversing type 1 and type 2) and Dr. Neal Barnard of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine whose research showed a low-fat, high-fiber cooked vegan diet reverses type 2 diabetes. Both have published books on their work intended for people who already have diabetes, but could be worth looking at for ideas.

    http://www.pcrm.org/health/prevmed/diabetes.html

    http://www.treeoflife.nu/reversing-diabetes/book-there-is-a-cure-for-diabetes/

    One of the reasons diseases like diabetes "run in the family" is because families tend to eat the same diet. When you break that cycle, your chances of developing the same lifestyle disease goes away. My grandparents had diabetes, as do two out of four aunts on my mom's side, but I'm certainly not at risk with my diet.

  • All fruits carry a very low GI load, here is a good website to check. Same with lentils they're very low GI load plus they're my favorite bean!!

    Banana (might default to 1 cup mashed, just use the drop down to select a medium or large sized banana)

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

    Apple

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1809/2

    Raw sprouted lentils

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2472/2

    Raw Cashews

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3095/2

    Raw Pineapple

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2019/2

    I serving of each of those has about 4-5 GI Load which is nothing, for shits and giggles

    Raisin Bran Cereal

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/breakfast-cereals/1549/2

    Big Mac

    http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/8053/2

    Grains will have more GI load, you can look up buckwheat, wheat, oats, they're all pretty high.

  • Actually most fruits not all, check out raisins they're very high GI load. I east mostly apples, oranges, banana and pineapples and they're all very low. So ya go nuts on the fruit.

  • WhiteAppleWhiteApple Raw Newbie

    Suasoria,

    thanks for the insight. That first link reminded me of some research I had done on it back a while ago. I forgot it was stressed that refined and added sugars are the big no-no's to those with diabetes and those "at risk". I have heard a raw vegan die being the "cure" for diabetes like for "Dave the Raw Food Trucker".

    I guess it is true about why it runs in a family referring to type 2 diabetes because it comes from my mom's dad's side who were middle eastern and they most likely exhausted their self with too complex and well just unhealthy things because the native diet of syrian/lebanese in my studies seems to be sorta light though somewhat starchy (pita) but a lot of legumes and spices with fish as the main meat. Like compare what I had for dinner with my untreated type 2 diabetes mom.... I had soaked pumpkin seeds, raisins, coconut, and cinnamon and 3 big navel oranges while she had some cheese dip with potato chips and a pre-prepared broccoli cheese rice casserole (with a paragraph of ingredients)

    But I still wonder about supposed high GI foods like raisins and bananas won't they spike my insulin and eventually wear it down?

    I think I worry too much and I'm sure I'm a lot better off and might never get it or the other diseases that "run in my family" (stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Crohn's disease, diabetes, macular degeneration, and "probably" more)

    spitfiredd,

    I started getting worried about my GI when I would put foods in my tracking on Nutrition Data. I have been using that site for over a year or two. I really love that site it has helped me make so many informed decisions about my diet and what I should eat. But you see a medium banana has a GI of 10 and if I eat 3 then that is 30 then throw raisins, oranges in there and its over 100 sometimes 150 if I have real good workout.

    Legumes have a sorta high GI well at least for the amount I was calculating for because I'd eat 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup (in the raw dry state before soaking and/or sprouting) of lentils at a time. Also quinoa has a high GI.

    I lol-ed when I read for shit and giggles. I see raisin bran and think yum! every time I see it and it is tempting to get then I remind myself that I only liked it because of the raisins, I love raisins.

  • the59soundthe59sound Raw Newbie

    I eat most of the High GI foods as my staples (Watermelon, Dates, Bananas) and I feel fine. Also quite trim. :)

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    I read somewhere that GI levels are only really relevant to cooked/processed food and if you're eating fresh raw food, it doesn't really matter. Can't for the life of me remember where I read it though but it seemed to make sense at the time.

    I've personally found that since going high raw, I don't have any of the sugar level problems I used to get. I used to be terrible and almost pass out if I hadn't eaten. I once had to lie down in the middle of a street in Edinburgh city centre because I felt so weak. My friends had to force feed me a Mars bar before I could get up! Just the thought of that whole episode makes me laugh now!

  • keewikeewi Raw Newbie

    Glycemic load is the only thing that matters. Every fruit except for dried fruits is low

  • Exactly, all raw fruits are meant for us humans, they don't harm us. It's when you process the raw fruits that makes them harmful. I wouldnt worry too much about the GI of raw fresh fruits.

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