We’ve all heard that living a healthy lifestyle consists of eating a balanced diet and incorporating daily exercise, but studies are showing that not all diets are created equal.
A study conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel discovered that the glycemic index of specific foods do not react the same way for every person. Instead, how carbohydrates are broken down and turned into sugar will vary from person to person, resulting in various blood sugar level measurements.
And not one measurement level fits all.
Blood sugar levels, or blood glucose levels, are a key factor when it comes to a person developing diabetes or obesity. Each person metabolizes their food differently, which means each person will have a different healthy blood sugar level.
Traditionally healthy foods were considered to be healthy for everyone, but now researchers are noticing that depending on how the body breaks down the food and sugars, some traditionally healthy foods may not be so healthy after all.
For example, one woman who was pre-diabetic was eating what she thought was a healthy diet. Part of her diet consisted of eating tomatoes. Little did she know that when she ate tomatoes her blood sugar levels went sky high. Her body processed the sugars in tomatoes differently, and for her tomatoes were no longer a “healthy” part of her diet, according to the Weizmann study.
Another trend that has hit the diet world hard is going gluten free, but again ditching all things gluten may not be as healthy as people might think.
The people who truly benefit from a gluten-free diet are those who have celiac disease.
An autoimmune disorder, the body reacts to gluten by attacking it, leading to intestinal damage and a lack of nutrient absorption, according to Celiac.org.
However, those who do not suffer from celiac disease but have eliminated gluten could be missing out on key nutrients they should be getting from their diet like fiber, iron and folic acids, according to Consumer Reports.
And for people who are naturally low on iron or fiber, not receiving these minerals could cause more damage than good.
A healthy diet is always a good idea but a key thing to remember is what may be healthy for one person will vary depending on their blood sugar level, the way their body metabolizes food, and what allergies or food sensitivities they may have.
Creating the right diet means creating a healthy way of eating that will truly maximize daily health, and the quality of life with the right nutrients that work.
