Low Glycemic Diet or LGIT?

[Blondie47]

Hi- epileptologist recommeded a low glycemic diet that is low sugar and eliminates some carbs...

He did not refer me to a dietitician at all.

We started a low glyc diet last week on our own, but in researching I found out about the LGIT. It is different in that the carbs allowed are lower than what she is taking in now. Could that be what he was talking about?

Has anyone used this as an alternative therapy?

Thanks -

[Bernard]

My wife is using a pseudo-LGIT diet (in addition to Dilantin, a sleep regimen, etc.). The LGIT proper calls for limiting total daily carbohydrate intake. My wife only limits her simple carbohydrate intake (ie. she doesn't limit complex carbs) to roughly 10gm/day. It seems to be working for her as long as she sticks to it.

[Endless]

Well, I've blown it. I wasn't intentially following a LGIT diet, but I do naturally eat that way, as part of a healthy diet. I just looked up the list and am happy to report even most of the fruit I eat is on the list. Except.... BANANNAS. And they have 39g of carbs. I eat one every day as a yummy source of potassium. I already eat a lot of chard and spinich, but I guess I'll be eating more instead of the bananna!

[Blondie47]

oh what are simple carbs and complex carbs?

this carb counting thing is new to mean, I thought that it just meant bread, potato and pasta at first

I have been reading the nutrition labels and noting the carb count.

Had no idea!

Wow bananna's so high?

[Endless]

Blondie,

Complex carbohydrates are low glycemic index foods and take longer to break down in the body.

Carbohydrates are classified into three categories:

Monosaccharides (glucose, galactose, fructose) are the sugars found in milk and fruits.

Disaccharides (sucrose, lactose) might be found in table sugars and milk sugars. They are a combination of a two simple sugars.

Polysaccharides (complex carbs, starches, fibers) come from whole grains, vegetables, nuts, some fruits and legumes. These are your complex carbs.

When you link different kinds of sugars together, you will get different kinds of products. For example when you combine glucose and fructose you get sucrose (table sugar).

You'll read a lot about essential amino acids and essential fats but what you won't read about in any fitness manuals or hear from any fitness experts is the essential carbohydrate. That's because there is no such thing. There are just different carbohydrates with different properties that affect your energy levels.

Here's a fact for you: Our bodies can only absorb monosaccharides (simple sugars).

[STOP and realize that complex carbs are just a series of 3 or more simple sugars bound together. As mentioned, complex carbs go by the alias, polysaccharides.]

This means if you eat a complex carb, your body will break down that complex carb into simple sugars and ultimately into blood sugar which can be used for many different functions. Depending on the carbohydrate you just ate and other factors, these carbohydrates will have different effects on blood sugar levels. Specifically how fast they rise and fall.

This ability of a carbohydrate to to raise blood sugar fast or slow is called the glycemic index (GI). The GI was created to track various foods effects on blood sugar at different rates.

http://www.criticalbench.com/simple_...bohydrates.htm

If you'd like it super simplified, here is some simple criteria. Not perfect, but a good general guideline:

- If it's white, don't eat it.
- If it's juice or pop, don't drink it.
- If it's refined/processed, don't eat it
- It's hard to go wrong by eating a vegetable

If you stick to whole grains, the whole piece of fruit, legumes or meat, and cook from scratch you'll be doing pretty well - about 80-90% compliance.

There are exceptions to the above! Like legumes - you can have tofu, which is processed and white! But it is still a complex carb.

And banannas, which are a whole fruit (not processed), contain almost 40 grams of simple carbohydrates - a "no-no." But they ARE white - which is against rule #1.

Soy milk and nonfat cows milk are white (rule #1!), but they are considered low glycemic.

Anyway, here are links to lists of complex and simple carbohydrates:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...ydrates-foods/
http://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/
http://www.steadyhealth.com/about/co...ates_list.html

[Blondie47]

Awesome Info Endless!!!!

Thank you so much

[huskymom]

I was all about trying the Modified Atkins, which also limits carbs until I talked to the doctor. Since I am also being treated for eating problems, they both nixed that idea. Both being my general doctor and the neurologist.

[RobinN]

This is a part of the nutritional changes we have made for Rebecca (and myself). We don't count, and have not been rigid, but it is our goal. I have made her aware of the simple carbs she consumes, and she is learning to make better choices.

She does so much better when I have better choices in the house. I use quinoa a lot in recipes. A good source of protein, and it is easy to mix complex carbs with it.

We had difficulty convincing doctors of the nutritional aspect, but it is the one key that has improved her seizure threshold.

[Endless]

Hooray, Quinoa! I use a lot of it, too. It's tasty, there are lots of different ways to cook it, it's a complete protein, and it's a complex carb. It's a wonder food!!!

[Nakamova]

I can recommend the Dark Chocolate Bars with quinoa made by Alter Eco...