Wheat will keep you hungry and craving more carbohydrates
Most people have been duped by the convincing advertising campaigns of bread and cereal companies, the FDA, and the high carb/low-fat rhetoric of the last 60 years. And it’s obvious — this country is fatter than ever and type II diabetes rates are skyrocketing. In fact, today’s generation is projected to have a lower life expectancy than it’s parents, which is the first time in history. Here’s some info about wheat on blood level sugar and the glycemic index.
At this point in time most people are aware that sugar is a major culprit in the obesity epidemic. Sodas, cookies, pasteries, candy, high fructose corn syrup… I think most people by now get it. But what about wheat and wheat products? Oh, and my absolute favorite marketing gimic: whole grain wheat? First of all, wheat is wheat, I don’t care what they want to call it. Also most people don’t know that wheat’s glycemic index sits at about 72, and white table sugar is at 64. That’s right, wheat spikes your blood level sugar and in turn, insulin, even more than sugar.
So, what actually happens when you have a blood sugar spike?
After a high glycemic carb is eaten, (sugar, corn, wheat, white potato, white rice) your body transforms the food into glucose, to be used for energy. Unfortunately, if the glucose being shuttled to cells for energy is not used by muscles, it is shuttled into your fat stores, for long-term storage. Your body will not use it until it taps into fat stores for energy, which the body can do little of on a high carb diet unless long bouts of intense exercise is performed. To add insult to injury, since your cells did not receive any of the fuel from the food, you are left still hungry and craving more carbs! The fat stores in your body continue to accumulate, and risk for diabetes increases greatly. However, the more muscle mass a person has, the more storage room their body (muscles) has for carbs, so go lift. (Ladies, this is why it seems like men can eat “anything” without gaining a pound…) Blood level sugar vs wheat.
It’s a vicious cycle that is very hard to break yourself from. For most people it takes a lot of will power, especially in the first few months. Carbs like sugar and wheat have actually been proven to have the same effect on the brain as cocaine.
Glycemic index for some other items that may surprise you:
- white bagel, 75
- corn flakes cereal, 93
- special K cereal, 69
- white rice, 89
- russett white potato, 111
- yam, 54
- cranberry juice, 68
- plain cherrios, 74
- whole milk, 27
- peanuts, 14
- broccoli, cauliflower, 15
- blood level Sugar vs Wheat
- table sugar 58 / Glycemic load 6
- wheat bread 53 / Glycemic load 11
If you are trying to remove wheat and other harmful carbs from your diet, the best way to start is stop buying it. Do not shop for food while hungry, and don’t even go down isles containing these items at the store. Fill up your cart with fresh foods like vegetables, yams, fruits (in moderation) nuts, avocados, and grass-fed and organic meats. Don’t shy away from fattier cuts of meat, fats do not spike insulin and keep you satiated for hours!
You will likely feel much better even one week after removing wheat from your diet. Many people find they sleep better, have reduced or eliminated anxiety, have less sugar cravings, and have better focus/reduced symptoms of ADD. Substitute wheat with healthier carbs like vegetables, quinoa, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.