The Secrets Of A Healthy Heart

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Can a person with heart disease benefit from nutritional therapy and can you comment on the common medical treatment?

 It’s unfortunate that most information which can be found in medical journals never make the media.

 Statistically, 2 people die every minute of heart attacks in the U.S. Half of them had no known risk factors or high cholesterol, and half do not survive their first heart attack.

 According to the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal, (287:612,2007), 89% of the therapies recommended by physicians are based on rules and recipes made by “experts” who often do not practice, but are financially linked to the pharmaceutical industry.

 In a recent British Medical Journal (BMJ), researchers sounded an alarm that the data reported by scientists is too often not the truth – because researchers leave out inconvenient evidence. The result of the facts-gone-missing could well be harming patients, spiking up healthcare costs by the selling of medical treatments based on bogus findings.

 According to the New England Journal of Medicine (356:5003,2007) angioplasty or stent “did not reduce the risk of death, heart attack, or other cardiovascular events when added to optimal medical therapy.” And, for people who choose the new drug-coated stents, there is an 18-30% increased risk of death between six months and three years.”

 According to the American Heart Association (AHA) Journal, Circulation (111;2906,2005) “angioplasty and stents do not confer any clear benefits in terms of hard clinical outcomes compared with conservative medical treatment.

 The good news is that you do have an option endorsed by the AMA Journal (273;1995). The author of the article stated that nutrients arrest plaque progression as did other authors in other articles, like the Journal of Circulation.

 The AMA Journal, (280;1998), made the statement that “diet can reverse coronary heart disease.” This is something that no medicine can claim.

 If you want to reclaim your health now, nutrition is your passport to wellness.

 Dr. Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He can be reached at 623-979-2263 or e-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com.

 

A Simple Way To Be And Stay Healthy

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A Simple Way To Be And Stay Healthy

I suffer from multiple health issues such as skin eruptions, joint pain, and others, and have been going from doctor to doctor only to find that none of them has been able to tell me exactly what’s wrong, much less come up with an effective treatment. Can you suggest a form of alterative therapy that might be beneficial?

I sympathize with your frustration in trying to find a solution for your multiple health issues. It’s estimated that anywhere from 45-60% of the general population struggles with an extraordinary range of symptoms whose causes can’t be really identified. Apparently you are one of them.

 

Most Americans consume processed foods and it is difficult to identify which of the many foods you regularly consume may be causing your symptoms, or the specific natural or artificial compounds contained in any of these foods. Many health conditions may be the result of food sensitivities and the lack of specific nutrients not found in your diet. The food Americans consume accounts for approximately 60% of all undiagnosed conditions according to Breneman’s book “Type of Food Allergy Testing” and according to Gaby’s article published in the Alternative Medicine Review.

 

Fortunately, Nutrition Response Testing is now available to patients to determine what specific stressor(s) affect your body. Once this is determined, elimination of the offending stressor(s) and the supplementation of specific nutrients seem to be beneficial in multitude health conditions.

 

I recommend that you find a chiropractor who is also trained in Nutrition Response Testing and begin your journey to better health.

 

Dr. Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He is certified in acupuncture, auriculotherapy and physiotherapy. He also offers Decompression therapy, Laser therapy, Nutrition Response Testing & therapy. He can be reached at 623-979-2263 or e-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com.

 

Should You Get The Flu Vaccine?

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Every year at this time, my doctor encourages me to get the flu vaccine. What is your opinion of the flu vaccine and is there a natural remedy?

 First of all I cannot tell you whether to take the vaccine or not. All I can do is educate you by giving you the facts.

 In a recent article published by Natural News, the author indicated that one has to be aware of delayed vaccine injuries. One may think that an occasional case of paralysis or a lifetime of seizures after a flu shot is rare. The reality is different. Let’s focus on delayed reactions and long term health issues.

 Getting the flu vaccine does not guarantee protection against the flu because the vaccine may not have the right viral strain for the specific year. Some people brag that since they started getting vaccinated, they never get the flu. I just wonder how many of them will soon be acquainted with Alzheimer’s disease.

 According to Hugh Fundenberg M. D., a world renowned immunogeneticist, people who receive 5 flu shots increased their risk of Alzheimer by tenfold verses those who do not get vaccinated.

 Interestingly, Alzheimer’s has been on a steep rise over the last few decades, coinciding with the increased number of flu shots administered to senior citizens. According to John Hopkins’ Newsletter, there will be a quadrupling of Alzheimer’s cases over the next decade.

 According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the following substances are found in flu vaccines: Aluminum, Thimerosal (mercury), antibiotics, egg protein, formaldehyde (carcinogenic), MSG (neurotoxin) and some manufacturers include Triton x100 (detergent).

These substances are toxic and some are even considered carcinogenic by the CDC.

 The new flu vaccine Fluzone High-Dose is designed specifically for those who are 65 years of age and older. The CDC was quick to assure seniors that the new flu vaccine is safe. However, according to the CDC’s website, you’ll quickly realize that Fluzone High-Dose vaccine may not be as safe as they claim. The CDC states that “the safety profile of Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is similar to that of regular flu vaccine, although adverse events were reported more frequently after vaccination with Fluzone High-Dose.”

 If you read the package insert, it will tell you that there is no evidence backing up the theory that the vaccine is effective. It states “data from clinical trials comparing Fluzone to Fluzone High-Dose among persons 65 year of age and older indicate that a strong immune response lends to greater protection against influenza after vaccination is not yet known. An ongoing study designed to determine the effectiveness of Fluzone High-Dose in preventing illness from influenza compared to Fluzone is expected to be completed in 2014 or 2015.” Essentially, for the next 3 to 4 years, seniors receiving the potent dose of the vaccine are participating in what amounts to be an uncontrolled experiment. Are you willing to be a guinea pig?

 If you want to achieve optimal health, I recommend that you find a chiropractor who is also trained in Nutrition Response Testing.

 Dr. Daniel Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He can be reached at 623-979-2263. E-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com or visit our website at www.westsidechiropractic.net.

 

Are Older Women Who Take Vitamins At Risk?

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Recently I read a newspaper article that stated that older women should not take vitamins. What is your opinion?

 

The media is always eager to bring to the public’s attention anything that is negative about alternative healthcare. However, you need to be aware that there is a difference between synthetic vitamins and whole food supplements. The body does have a hard time with the synthetic vitamins since some of the ingredients are manmade in laboratories and some are derived  from coal tar, and are called natural as coal tar is a natural product. In 2007, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that revealed that people who take high doses of Beta Carotene and 400 units of Alpha Tocopherol increase their risk of having Melanoma, heart disease and stroke. Again these nutrients are essentially synthetic and lack synergistic ingredients found in food.

 

The study regarding older women being at risk from taking vitamins that was published in the Archive of Internal Medicine and published in several print media, including the Arizona Republic, is nothing more than a media hoax. You never see the media reporting to the public that medical care kills at least 125,000 people yearly from properly prescribed medications because the media does not want to offend the drug companies as they spend billions on advertisement.

 

Dr. Scott Reuben, a key researcher for Pfizer and Merck stated that “he literally just dreamed up whatever data he wanted and authored twenty studies which were published in mainstream medical journals even though they were completely fraudulent.”

 

The mainstream media must think that all of their readers are stupid. We are all aware of how drug companies “buy” congress and the media. According to the Congressional Budget Office, pharmaceutical companies spent at least 20.5 billion dollars on promotional activities in 2008. In addition, the media expect us to believe that none of this money has any influence on the Medical Journals and newspapers which ran the article “vitamins can kill older women.”

 

The study itself was a survey that lasted three years. The participants answered questions such as what they ate and what vitamins they took. Part of the survey revealed that vitamins prolonged life while the other portion of the survey revealed the negative aspect of taking vitamins. It is not understood how the researchers came to the conclusion that older women should not take vitamins when the study was not conclusive. I guess if they wrote that vitamins were good for you, no medical publication would have published it.

 

You need to question many of the medical articles that find their way into the mainstream newspaper or media. You should always read the original study to check for accuracy. According to Dr. Eddie, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, and now a world leading epidemiologist, only 1 percent of all published medical research has scientific validity.

 

If you are looking to achieve optimal health, find a chiropractor who also trained in Nutrition Response testing.

 

Dr. Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist.  He can be reached at 623-979-2263.

 

 

 

The Most Terrifying Consequences of Diabetes

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Approximately every 30 seconds, someone in the world losses a leg to diabetes. Diabetes is the number one cause of limb amputation. The other two diseases with severe consequences is blindness and kidney failure. Diabetes is the main cause of adult blindness and the most common reason for kidney dialysis.

 

According to Dr. Jinna Shepherd, medical director of Diabetes Care Group in Jackson, MS, stated that the long term risks are what make diabetes so terrible. The consequences of poorly controlled diabetes are damage to the small and large blood vessels of your body, vascular disease, foot ulcers, amputations, heart attack, and strokes. According to medical statistics ¾ of all diabetics will die of heart attack.

 

The good news are, that the dire consequences of diabetes are almost completely avoidable. You can reduce the risk to these complications to the same level of non-diabetics, according to Dr. Shepherd.

 

It is very unfortunate, but diabetic patients who follow the nutritional advice of the American Diabetic Association will always be diabetic, as their advice is contradictory, dangerous and can cause more harm than good.

 

The benefits can be obtained naturally, without drugs. The right food and whole food supplements can change your body chemistry for the better, and enable you to prevent serious complications. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, stated “let thy food be thy medicine, and let medicine by thy food.” The drugs that people take can lower the blood test numbers, but does not prevent diabetic complications. In a study where the drug Diovan and the diabetes drug Starlix failed to reduce the risk of heart attacks at all and Diovan had a minimal effectd in slowing the development of Type 2 Diabetes. It is also a concern thst diabetic drugs result in weight gain and eventual dependence on insulin injections.

 

The great news are that Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) can help and may even reverse diabetes.

 

If you look for a healthier option without side effects, I recommend that you look for a chiropractor who is also trained in NRT.

 

 

Dr. Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He is certified in acupuncture, auriculotherapy and physiotherapy. He also offers Decompression therapy, Laser therapy, Nutrition Response Testing & therapy. He can be reached at 623-979-2263 or e-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com.

 

 

The Truth About Osteoporosis

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I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. My doctor insists that I take a drug to reverse the condition. I  read an article that indicated that taking these type of drugs increase the risk for an unusual hip fracture. I need to know if there is an alternative approach that is safe and effective.

 

 

First of all, you need to be aware that the FDA has never tested any alternative treatment for any medical condition. Essentially, there is no interest in researching natural remedies since the drug companies cannot patent natural ingredients.

 

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength pre-disposing one to an increased risk of fracture.”  Yet, the definition does not mention bone mineral density (BMD).

 

Most physicians, ordinary people, and the media are under the impression that osteoporosis is solely a matter of decreased bone density. According to Dr. Brownstein’s Newsletter, this is because the drug industry wants you to believe that osteoporosis and decreased BMD are one and the same.

 

It is not surprising that the drug industry is so adamant that you take one of their products. After all, they developed several drug therapies to reverse BMD, so they defined the disease – after the fact – to fit the treatment they already own.

 

Bones are a complex structure of protein, minerals and collagen. Imbalance or deficiency of any one of these building blocks can lead to weakened bone and the increased risk of bone fractures.

 

Diagnosing osteoporosis requires the Dual X-ray absorptionmetry, a.k.a dexa scanning. The purpose in using this device is to quantify bone minerals density. The test is radiological and it measures the density of the area examined. Once the image is taken, one can assume the content of minerals in the bone.

 

The World Health Organization’s (W.H.O.) opinion is based on a consensus statement that osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in minerals which is below 2.5 standard deviation of normal. Their findings are based on the average for women in their 20’s. The W.H.O stated that for each decrease in standard deviation is an indicator of decrease mineral content which increases the risk for a fracture.

 

According to Gillain Sanson’s book The Myth of Osteoporosis, the new definition of the W.H.O. suddenly placed millions of women at risk of a disease for which they had never considered themselves at risk.

 

The “normal mineral level is based on a young person with high bone density. Sanson stated that a normal age-related decrease in bone density is automatically considered abnormal. Therefore, the normal part of aging – bone loss – is now being considered a disease.

 

Does anyone think that at the age of 55, you would have the same bone density you had when you were 20? As we age, the decline is considered an illness.

If you are interested in optimal health via alternative care, find a chiropractor who is also trained in Nutrition Response Testing & Therapy to help reverse your condition.

 

 

Dr. Daniel Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He is certified in acupuncture, auriculotherapy and physiotherapy. He also offers Decompression therapy, Laser therapy, Nutrition Response Testing & Therapy. He can be reached at 623-979-2263 or e-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com.

 

 

Can Chiropractors Help With Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), named from the carpal bones in the wrist that form a tunnel around the nerve leading to the hand, is an injury usually caused by repetitive and forceful movements that result in swelling around the tendons and pinching of the median nerve, causing painful tingling, lack of muscle strength and control in the hand, and pain shooting from the hand up to the shoulder. CTS is a risk to most workers, such as those who work on the computer and also store and assembly line workers, who receive micro-traumas to their hands and wrists on a daily basis due to awkward positioning, forceful and repetitive movements, and stressful activity. [1,2]

The usual treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can extend to heavy medication and surgery, however there are alternative methods of treatment that can alleviate the symptoms and effects arising from CTS. Chiropractic treatment for CTS has been studied against conventional non-surgical medical treatment by Davis et al. [1] and was found to be effective. This offers an alternative to sufferers who are intolerant to ibuprofen, or those who simply wish to avoid treating with medication. 

The median nerve in the wrist, which when trapped causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, connects to the spinal cord through the openings in the bones in the areas around the lower neck. If these bones in the spinal cord lose their ordinary position or motion, this can cause problems in the wrists or fingers. Through chiropractic treatment, these bones can be reset to the correct position and can help to treat CTS.

If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is detected early, then surgery can be avoided, and chiropractic treatment is the leading method of non-surgical treatment. Chiropractic treatment usually involves various methods [3], with a combination of rest, ice, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation, including:

  • By chiropractic manipulation therapy of the elbow and upper spine, where the joint’s soft tissue undergoes manipulation [4];
  • Nutritional supplements in the diet such as B6, a vitamin that has had long-term promotion in its treatment of CTS;
  • Electro-acupuncture treatment; bracing, a technique that has had extensive success, by limiting extension and flexion in the hand, and with compression on the median nerve may encourage recovery and ease the swelling in the tendons;
  • Exercises for the wrist and hand designed to encourage recovery;
  • Reassessing the ergonomics of the work place to minimize stress the best way as possible.

Recent studies, such as that by J. Burke et al (2007)[5], concluded that using manual therapy intervention such as soft tissue mobilization (STM) has been found to help improve the signs and symptoms of CTS, with improvements to nerve conduction latencies, wrist strength and motion.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can become a serious health problem, and if left too long may require surgery. If it’s caught early, then chiropractic treatment is an effective, drug-free method to ease the symptoms and pains caused by CTS, and provide long-term relief from CTS. 

 

 

References

[1] P.T. Davis et al., J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998 (Jun);21 (5): 317-326 (1998)

[2] R.Valente and H. Gibson, J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1994;17(4):246–9 (1994)

[3] R. Perez de Leon & S. Auyong, J Chiropr Med. 2002 Spring; 1(2): 75–78. (2002)

[4] P.T. Davis and J.R. Hulbert, J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1998;21(5):356–62 (1998)

[5] J. Burke et al., J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2007 Jan;30(1):50-61. (2007)

How to Avoid Injuring Your Back During Fall Yard Work

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With summer at an end, the leaves are turning brown and falling, cluttering up your yard and garden – so it’s only natural you’ll want to get the rake out. However, as with all physical tasks about the house and garden, it is very important you take the necessary precautions against accident and injury.

Fall yard work, leaf raking and other outdoor maintenance activities carry numerous risks such as: upper and lower back strain, neck strain and shoulder pain. Just like with sports, if your body isn’t prepared for physical activity this can increase your chances of injury. You can avoid straining yourself by taking simple precautions, such as: doing warm ups, stretches and maintaining good posture.

Athletes are able to reduce the risk of strain and injury by doing warm ups. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends 10-15 minutes of stretching exercises: from trunk rotations, side-bends and knee-to-chest pulls. When these are also combined with a short walk, which helps to stimulate circulation, and with additional stretches at the end, this prepares the body for manual labor associated with raking and yard work.

While raking your garden or yard, good posture can also prevent back problems – make sure you keep your back straight and your head up. Use common sense while working: lift with your legs and bend with your knees, taking care you don’t strain your back while picking up bundles of leaves and grass. If you’re likely to carry heavy items, hold them close to your body to help prevent back strain. In order to take the pressure off your back, rake using the “scissors” stance: put your right foot forward and the left one back, then reverse after a few minutes. When using a lawn mower, try to use your body weight to move it as opposed to your arms and back.

It is vitally important to take breaks. Pace yourself, and whenever your body feels tired take a respite – this is particularly important if the weather is hot, so drink lots of water and wear sun-protection such as a hat, sun block and protective glasses. Investing in extra protective gear, such as gloves to prevent blisters, a mask if you’re prone to allergies and protective eyewear, can make life easier while taking on outdoor chores. Ergonomic tools with extra padding, larger or curved handles are less strenuous to use over a long-time period. Changing tasks regularly helps to prevent repetitive strain injury of certain muscle groups – change positions, or simply move onto another task for a short period of time before returning to the previous one. Make plans for your gardening tasks; make sure they’re realistic and unlikely to cause strain or exhaust you too much.

If you’re unaccustomed to physical labor, chances are you will feel sore and stiff the next day – in this case, use ice to soothe the discomfort, but if there is no improvement in your aches and pains, then see a chiropractor.

How to Treat Whiplash with Chiropractic Care

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The answer to this question is not a simple one as many people tend to associate any type of neck pain with having whiplash.  The first thing is to find out is whether or not you have whiplash.

Is it Whiplash or a Pain in the Neck?

Whiplash is defined as an injury to the neck, by moving the head forward and then backward in a rapid fashion that places strain on the neck muscles and ligaments.  Whiplash is most common when the victim has been rear-ended, or hit from behind by another vehicle but can result from physical abuse (such as shaken baby syndrome) or contact sports. The symptoms of whiplash vary and are not limited to –

  • Restricted joint movement in spine or limbs
  • Displacement of spinal discs, also known as a herniation, which causes sharp pain down one or both arms; It also can create small tears in spinal tissue and damage the nervous system, which is followed by numbness, tingling and muscle weakness
  • Chronic pain in the neck area
  • Cognitive dysfunction that may include difficulty concentrating

When to See a Physician

If you have unrelated neck pain that persists for a period of time or you experience the following:

  • A shooting pain through one or both arms
  • Tingling or numb feeling in one or both arms or hands
  • Inability to touch chin to your chest

You may want to see a chiropractor or other medical professional as they can diagnose an underlying problem.  If you are not having any of the symptoms or find it goes away after changing positions, it may just be the result of poor posture.

The Severity of Whiplash

For some, neck pain resulting from an accident can be treated with ice and a light brace.  Other times, it may disappear on its own or a person may find themselves feeling:

  • Pain in their jaw
  • Significant damage to ligaments, discs, nerves or joints
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea
  • Irritability or unable to concentrate

If any of these symptoms persist, they should see a chiropractor so that x-ray as well as other tests may be performed to determine if there is an underlying problem.

Seeing the Chiropractor

The primary objective of the chiropractor is to use gentle manipulations that treat the spine and discs so that they are aligned properly.  These manipulations are also designed to reduce muscle spasms and rebuild muscle strength with the aid of physical therapy.

The chiropractor will first focus on reducing inflammation and check the neck, mid and low back. From there, the range of motion, disc injuries and muscle spasms will be examined. Other factors that will be noted are walking, posture and spinal alignment.  A comprehensive exam provides an understanding of the individuals’ body mechanics. X-rays and /or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be taken along with the patient medical history to determine whether they can be treated.

Some cases of whiplash may only require ice and heat therapy to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles, respectively.  Non-medicinal treatment may include acupuncture, massage or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

If you or someone you know may have experienced any or all of symptom described, then you may want to share this information with them or give our office a call to make an appointment.

 

 

References

Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whiplash/DS01037

Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/neck-pain/DS00542

American Chiropractic Association Patient Health and Wellness Tips (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3131

 

 

The Glycemic Index, Explained

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Do you know the difference between high glycemic  foods and low glycemic foods? If you’ve ever felt light-headed or shaky (and very hungry) a few hours after eating certain foods, then you’ve experienced the “roller-coaster ride” of high glycemic foods.   You’ve probably noticed that all foods don’t have this effect on you, and those that don’t are most likely low glycemic foods.

The Glycemic Index or GI is a scale that ranks high-carbohydrate foods according to how much they raise your blood glucose levels after eating. The GI ranges from 0 to 100. Foods with a high GI are digested quickly and cause a significant spike in our blood sugar levels. This increase in blood sugar causes a corresponding increase in insulin to bring those sugar levels back down. Low glycemic foods have less of an impact on your body because they are digested and absorbed more slowly, so you need less insulin to control your blood sugar levels. When sugar and insulin aren’t spiking, you won’t get that light-headed or weak feeling. You just feel normal.

There are many more advantages to choosing a low glycemic diet. Low glycemic foods are beneficial to our health because controlling blood sugar and insulin levels is one of the keys to reducing our risk of heart disease and diabetes. Low GI diets are also useful for controlling our appetite and aiding in weight loss.

When our blood sugar levels are maintained relatively stable, our bodies perform better. A study from the Harvard School of Public Health demonstrated that high GI diets are strongly linked to an increase in the risk of Type II diabetes and heart disease. The World Health Organization recommends that people in developed countries eat as many low-GI foods as possible, to prevent heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

A hundred years ago, our foods simply took longer to digest. They came straight from the farm to our table, in its natural state, containing the original fiber and other natural components they were grown with. Modern food processing practices have stripped our food of many of its natural properties, making it easy to package and store, and extremely quick to digest. And the faster we digest the food, the quicker we get hungry again.

This is the “roller coaster” that happens when we consume too many high GI foods. High glycemic index foods may give you a burst of energy, but this is followed by a “crash” as the insulin takes the blood sugar back down and you feel hungry again. To make things worse, these insulin spikes turn all that excess blood sugar into fat, which is usually stored right around the abdomen.

On the other hand, when we consume low glycemic foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, the rise in blood sugar is slower and more sustained over time. That means you feel fuller longer and are less tempted to eat again so soon. Our energy levels are maintained throughout the day, which not only provides health benefits but also makes us feel better, because we’re not on that up and down cycle from morning to night.

If you would like to increase your consumption of low glycemic foods, here are some suggestions.

Eat less of the following:

•     Avoid sugary snacks, especially those made with refined sugar. Not only are they high GI foods, they are mostly empty calories.

•     Many salad dressings are very high GI foods.

•     While potatoes are nutritious, especially with their skins intact, they are also very high GI foods.

Eat more of the following:

•     Fruits and vegetables in their natural state, preferably organic. Many commercially grown fruits and vegetables have a higher sugar content than organic. Commercially grown foods also have added chemicals and pesticides.

•     Eat foods with lots of fiber, which tends to lower the glycemic index of everything you eat.

•     Choose breakfast cereals with whole grain barley, bran, and oats.

Interestingly, the cooking method can affect the GI rating of a food. For example, boiled potatoes are rated an 81 on the glycemic index, while baked potatoes rate as 119 and mashed potatoes 104.