A Note From Dr. Heather

Weight Loss

Without Hunger?

From: Dr. Heather Giesen, D.C.

July 29, 2010

Dear Patients and Friends,

Everyone wants to lose a little weight – but it sure stinks being hungry! Well, what if there was a way to lose weight… and be healthier… without being so darn hungry all the time?

Would that be something you would be interested in learning about? If you would, this might be your lucky day. Here is why…

Part of this month’s newsletter talks about “insulin resistance.” If you have not read the newsletter, please read the first story. It explains all about insulin resistance and how it affects your health. Basically, when you eat something, your body breaks it down and glucose (a sugar) is released into the bloodstream. Your pancreas secretes insulin so your cells absorb the glucose in the blood and use it for energy.

If you eat junk foods with a lot of simple sugar (soda, candy, etc.), you will have a tremendous amount of sugar in your bloodstream and your pancreas with have to work overtime. Too much sugar leads to your body becoming insulin resistant and, basically, your pancreas shuts down.

Exercise has been shown to help insulin resistance, but eating the right foods is just as important.

There is an index call the glycemic index or GI that is a ranking of carbohydrates (sugars) on a scale of 0-100 according to the extent they raise your blood sugar level after eating.

Foods with a high GI inject a lot of sugar into your bloodstream rapidly while low GI foods do the opposite. Low GI foods produce a gradual rise in blood sugar and insulin levels. This is a much more stabile source of energy and does not spike blood sugar giving you the highs and lows associated with high GI foods.

High GI foods end up giving you short-term energy that you lose quickly, making you feel hungry again. Low GI foods spread out the energy and you do not feel hungry nearly as soon.

That’s why eating foods with low GI values not only help you lose weight and improve your overall health… you don’t have to feel like you are starving!

How do you know the GI of the foods you are eating? One of the best ways I have found is to use this website: www.glycemicindex.com.

You can read more about GI and if you want to know the GI of foods you are eating, simply click on “GI Database” on the left side of the website. Then, you can put in just about any food and you will get its GI value.

If you have any questions about this or weight loss in general, feel free to ask at your next appointment.

We have also found neck or back pain makes it very difficult for patients to achieve their weight loss goals. Exercise becomes difficult and many times, frustration sets in.

That is why it is important to get your spine checked and make sure you are pain free and functioning optimally to help achieve your weight loss goals.

Give us a call and set up an appointment today if you have any questions or would like a back or neck pain check-up. The number is 952-758-8760.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heather Giesen, D.C.