Comments for RDdiets

Comment on The Lowdown on Carb Counting by Joanne Gordon RD, LDN

Joanne Gordon RD, LDN — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:58:59 +0000

Hi Tony, I recommend seeking the advice from an exercise physiologist who can help you develop a program with proper and effective techniques appropriate for you.
Building a healthy plate is a great way to control your intake and serving sizes without actually measuring and weighing food. If you know what your carbohydrate allowance is, then you can fit those foods into your day by using the plate method. Have you worked with a registered dietitian to determine your appropriate calorie and nutrient needs? It is important to do so, if you haven’t already. As a type 2 diabetic and your medical history, you want to make sure you are eating balanced and nutritionally.
Some tips for using the plate method:

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Choose 1% milk or skim milk
• Make at least half your grains choice whole grain
• Have a variety of protein sources
• Choose foods and drinks with little or no added sugars
• Look out for salt (sodium) in foods you buy – it all adds up

This website from Harvard School of Health has a great example of the plate:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid/

I would like you to visit this site from webMD. it provides a great visual of serving sizes and how much should be on your plate.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-portion-size-plate

I hope this helps~and that you find some ease with this method~

Comment on The Lowdown on Carb Counting by Tony Keith

Tony Keith — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:04:04 +0000

I am 47 years old with type 2 and I also had a Spinal cord injury when I was 17 yrs old, so I am labeled as a Incomplete C6 Quad & Wheelchair bound. I want to eat right, I try to eat right, but counting & reading labels is just not for me. Do you have any suggestions that you can give me for watching my Diet better and a Wheelchair workout?

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Joanne Gordon RD, LDN

Joanne Gordon RD, LDN — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:47:19 +0000

Hi Tracey, It is confusing and I hope I can clear this up for you. The Glycemic index measures the rate at which a carbohydrate is broken down into glucose. It is a scale that measures the food, not the serving size or amount of carbohydrate the food provides. The glycemic load is different because it measures the amount of carbohydrates in that food, so the serving size will definitely have an impact. The GI scale:

For example; white rice has a GI of 72, making it a high GI food. If you ate a 1/2 cup of white rice, your blood sugar would rise quickly; however, if you ate 2 cups of white rice, your blood sugar would rise even higher. So serving size really matters. If you are following a low GI diet along with appropriate portions, you will do fine. For the most part, If you simply choose whole foods that are rich in fiber and nutrients you will be choosing low glycemic foods.

Here are some tips to follow a low glycemic diet:
~Chose whole foods rather than processed foods.
*Most refined starchy foods, processed foods; including cookies, candy, and soft drinks are high-glycemic. Natural, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and legumes are low-glycemic.
~Chose high fiber foods.
*The higher the fiber the lower the glycemic level. Most fruits and vegetable are naturally high in fiber. Another perk is that fiber rich foods keep you fuller longer and you will eat less.
~Choose more raw food.
*Heating food can chemically alter a food from a low glycemic food into a high glycemic food. Cooking breaks down starches in food and makes them easier to digest; therefore, raising blood sugar faster.
If you choose to skip the raw veggies, just steam them lightly to maintain a lower GI index.
Hope this is more helpful~

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Joanne Gordon RD, LDN

Joanne Gordon RD, LDN — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:15:34 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
Cactus honey powder is the powder form of Agave syrup. It does not come from bees, but comes from the Mexican cactus the Agave plant. The juice is extracted from the Agave plant, filtered and heated to remove moisture and formulate a powder. I don’t think it offers much nutritionally and in my opinion, anything dry is more concentrated in calories and sugar, such as dried fruit. Some experts believe this sweetener is worse than sugar, honey or high fructose corn syrup. In another comment posted I mentioned that Agave contains a high amount of fructose. I would like to see more studies in order to be more conclusive. Have you checked your blood sugar after using the product? If it spikes your blood sugar soon after taking it, that would be a good indicator of the glycemic response.
Hope this helps~

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Joanne Gordon RD, LDN

Joanne Gordon RD, LDN — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:54:33 +0000

Hi Wayne, congratulations on your success. It is great that you have been counting carbs and paying more attention to your intake. I agree that 1200 calories a day is low. Keep in mind that if your calories or too low, it slows the metabolism; making it more difficult to lose weight. I would recommend meeting with an RD to come up with a more practical goal for calories. There are many factors that will affect the calorie range best for you; including age, activity level, weight loss, etc. Exercise will also help with losing weight and also allow you to consume more calories. The low glycemic diet will be helpful for you to continue with weight loss. It is suggested that the carbohydrates that you choose be “real” food, less packaged and high fiber for slower release of blood sugar. The article “Better Carbs, Better Control” will also be helpful ~

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Wqyne

Wqyne — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:54:15 +0000

REcently diag, diabetic, Nov. 15/2012, my A1C was 0.130 and 3 months later is now 0.060, my FBSs initially was 16.9 but again 3 months later is 5.6. My doctor is impressed how I have been counting my carbs effectively to lose 50 pounds since last April. He thinks I should try a low glycemic diet, will it effectively help me lose the last few pounds I am hoping to. I am on 1200 calories /day but he feels that is too low for me. Weight 210, Ht 5’0″ PS: Hve been taking Metformin 750 TID but now cut back this week to 500 TID and only have to check blood sugars Mon.-Wed.-Fri. now.
Wayne

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:50:59 +0000

Have you ever heard of Honey Powder? Do you have any idea on what kind of GI or GL that it may have or if the body processes it differently?

I enjoy it in my plain Greek yogurt but don’t want to have too much if it ends up being like Agave or HFCS with regards to how it gets broken down. I like it because it takes less to get the same sweet as it takes with real honey.

The problem is that can tell from the packaging if it’s made from agave honey or agave necter (if there is even a difference). If it helps the package calls it “Cactus Honey Powder”.

Thanks!
Jennifer

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by tracey

tracey — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:31:46 +0000

I am still confused with the difference between gi and gl, and gow to work with them??

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Joanne Gordon RD, LDN

Joanne Gordon RD, LDN — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:18:05 +0000

Hi Margaret, congratulations on your success!
I hope this clears up the confusion a bit~
The glycemic index determines the rate that a carbohydrate is digested and the rise of your blood sugar levels. The higher the GI, the quicker the response. The Glycemic index strictly addresses the food itself, not the carbohydrate content. The GI load provides us with a number on a scale as well, but it takes into consideration the amount of carbohydrates in that food. The Glycemic load considers the serving size (the amount of carbohydrates) in that particular food. I think it I more accurate way to determine how the foods with affect your blood sugar.
For example; Carrots and pasta are both relatively high on the GI scale, however, carrots have much less calories and carbohydrates per serving as compared to a serving of pasta, which has more calories and carbohydrates per serving; therefore, pasta has a higher GI load. It would be a better choice to choose the carrots.
This website provides a scale for the Glycemic load.
I hope this is helpful!

Comment on Understanding the Glycemic Index by Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:32:18 +0000

Hi
My husband has been recently diagnosed with borderline type 2 diabetes. We have already made major changes to diet/exercise etc and he’s now under 25 BMI. Whilst we understand GI we’re confused about glycaemic loading GL, presumable they go together somehow but how? Thanks for your help.