As promised in my last post, if you want to lose weight, more than a few pounds, and/or are concerned about your blood glucose levels, you will have to eliminate more than just wheat from your diet. There are many other foods that stimulate your appetite and distort your insulin levels. These items all fall into the high glycemic index category, meaning they increase your blood sugar levels the most, which in turn causes more fat to be stored in your body. This theory is the basis of Dr William Davis’ book “Wheat Belly”. It is also the theory the “Zone” diet, popular a few years ago, is based on. I am sure there are many other “diets” based on these ideas, but these two are the ones I found made the most sense and worked the best…
Foods with High Glycemic Index
Avoid: cornstarch and cornmeal (tacos, tortillas, corn chips), snack foods (potato chips, rice cakes, popcorn), desserts (pie, cake, ice cream), gluten-free foods (cornstarch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch), fruit juices and soft drinks (sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, colorings, carbonic acid), dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, figs, dates, apricots), some fats (hydrogenated/trans, fried oils, cured meats like sausage, bacon, hot dogs, salami)
Eat in moderation (less than 1/2 cup serving): rice (brown, white, wild), potatoes (white, red, sweet, yams), legumes (beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils), other non-wheat grains (quinoa, sorghum, buckwheat, millet, oats)
What Can You Eat to Lose Weight?
I know you’re thinking “WHAT CAN I EAT?” Think back to the hunters and gatherers; vegetables should be the main component of your diet. Eat as many vegetables as you want! Very few (peas and corn come to mind) have a high glycemic index.
Fruit, on the other hand, should be limited to small servings because modern, hybridized fruits contain too much sugar. In other words, they have a high glycemic index. The best (highest nutrient content and the least sugars) fruits are blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, and cherries. Bananas, pineapple, mango, and papaya are the worst due to their high sugar content.
Raw (not roasted, or processed) nuts are full of good (monounsaturated) fats, protein, and fiber, and are filling. Eat as many as you want of these too, they can reduce your cholesterol level and blood pressure. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, and cashews are great. Peanuts (legumes, not nuts) cannot be eaten raw, be sure they are boiled or dry-roasted without any additions.
Healthy oils are good too: extra-virgin olive, coconut, avocado oils, and cocoa butter. Avoid polyunsaturated oils like sunflower, safflower, corn, and vegetable oil. To avoid oxidizing the oil, avoid frying and keep cooking temperatures low.
Eat meat, but try to buy meats from grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free sources, and cook the meat at lower temperatures for shorter times. Avoid processed and cured meats altogether.
Eggs and real (fermented)cheese are also great for you to eat. A chunk of cheese and a handful of raw nuts is a great snack! Other dairy products, such as yogurt, (unsweetened, unflavored) milk, cottage cheese, and butter should be restricted to two servings a day since the dairy protein in them increases your pancreatic release of insulin. Cheese is unlimited because of its fermentation process that reduces the effect of insulin release.
Other items, such as flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, avocados, olives, coconut, spices, unsweetened cocoa, and unsweetened condiments (mustard, horseradish, salsa, vinegar etc) are all unlimited.
Water is your best choice in a beverage. Avoid fruit drinks and soft drinks as they too contain a high glycemic index. 100% fruit juice is acceptable in very small quantities. Tea and coffee (unsweetened, with or without milk) are fine since they are plant-derived. Red wine is your best choice in alcoholic beverages; beer is wheat-brewed and off-limits!
I am anxious to try the recipes listed in the back of “Wheat Belly”, especially the bread and muffin ones. I will be sure to let you know what I think of them…
