Picture this, your alarm goes off and you hit the snooze button. Minutes later, you wake up and realize that you are late to your workout class. You are rushing to get ready and don't have enough time to eat breakfast before your workout. Moreover, you are worried that you won't have sufficient energy to get you through the workout. What do you do?
The solution to this scenario is consuming food with a high glycemic index. In this article I will clarify the concept of Glycemic index as well as provide examples of food with high and low glycemic indexes.
The Body's Fuel and The Glycemic Index
The number one source of energy that the body cultivates and utilizes during exercise is carbohydrates. In fact, after consumption, all carbohydrates is converted into glucose. Glucose and glycogen stores are used as the body's fuel during strenuous exercise.
The Glycemic Index is a measure of the rate/speed in which food is converted into glucose and released into the blood stream. Food is rated based on numerical values; the higher the GI, the faster glucose is released into the bloodstream and is used as energy. As opposed to a low GI, where the process of glucose entering the bloodstream and providing the body with energy is slower. Food with a low GI have a rating of less than 55. While, medium GI includes food that are rated from 56-69. Lastly, food with high GI are rated above 70.
Knowing foods' glycemic index can be very useful depending on your circumstances. For example, if you are an athlete, consumption of food with a high GI is favorable. Whereas if you have diabetes, consuming food with a low GI enables a diet without many fluctuations.
Consume This Before A Workout
Consuming food with a high GI is efficient and works like clockwork to convert food into energy. Foods with high GI include white bread, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, white rice, banana, pineapple and watermelon. On the other hand, food with low GI that you would want to avoid if you are in a rush and need energy now; include yogurt, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, chickpeas and rice bran. You can now use this information to accurately calibrate your fridge options and make a smart decision next time you are in a rush and need to be out the door.
Finally remember, food is a fundamental part of our lives which nourishes our body so we can function and live a prosperous life. The quality of the food we eat dictates the quality of the life we live.