How High Glycemic Foods Can Make You ADD-ADHD!

Do you find yourself unable to focus on the printed words in a book? Are you often unable to sit down and complete a task or unable to concentrate on the instructions being given at school?

Then, perhaps it is time to take a closer look at your diet and analyze what you are eating and how it is affecting your body and mind. The food you consume not only appeases your hunger pangs and taste buds, but also affects the manner in which your body functions.

When high glycemic foods are consumed there is a surge in the level of blood sugar in the body, but after that there is a sudden fall in the blood sugar, and it is this high and low in the glucose levels that hamper one’s ability to pay attention and focus.

Some people call this the “Blood Sugar Roller Coaster”

This is one roller coaster you do NOT want to ride.

Hypoglycemia, or the sudden fall in the blood sugar leads to several physical and psychological affects.

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The Glycemic Index

The glycemic index was devised as a way to rate and rank carbohydrates on the manner in which they are converted into blood sugar in the body. The foods that are quickly digested and break down into blood sugar are high glycemic foods, while those that take a longer time to digest and release blood sugar gradually are low glycemic foods.

Low glycemic foods were initially recommended for people with diabetes and later for those who wanted to lose weight without depriving themselves of food and nutrition. It has also been observed that high glycemic foods affect our ability to pay attention and focus.

Affects of High Glycemic Foods

High glycemic foods such as

•    white bread
•    baked potatos
•    instant rice
•    whole milk
•    Watermelon
•    “Junk Foods”
•    Foods High in Sugar
•    Ketchup

… are digested quickly in the human body. To understand the affects of high glycemic foods we need to first comprehend how food is digested and used in the body.

Once carbohydrate digestion takes place in the body, it is converted to glucose and the blood sugar level rises. The rate at which it spikes is dependent on the kind of carbohydrates you consume.

In case of high glycemic foods, the rise in blood sugar is rapid. Once such a sudden rise occurs in the body, it is followed by a sharp fall, the glucose regulation is disturbed and this in turn affects the insulin level in the body.

With constant disturbance in the glucose regulation in the body the ability to pay attention and focus is reduced. In fact some studies also indicate that memory impairment is related to improper glucose regulation in the body.

When high glycemic foods are consumed there is a surge in the level of blood sugar in the body, but after that there is a sudden fall in the blood sugar, and it is this high and low in the glucose levels that hamper one’s ability to pay attention and focus.

Some people call this the “Blood Sugar Roller Coaster”

This is one roller coaster you do NOT want to ride.

Hypoglycemia, or the sudden fall in the blood sugar leads to several physical and psychological affects.

To begin with the person is unable to concentrate properly, losses attention easily, becomes hyperactive and tends to become moody or emotionally unstable.

Does that sound familiar to you?

Imagine eating a breakfast primarily of high glycemic foods such as white bread, sugar cereal, muffins, or donuts. After eating a breakfast that mainly features such high GI foods your blood sugar would peak, making you feel on top of the world, and then shortly it would crash, leaving feeling low, unfocused and unable to keep your concentration for long.

Now imagine a child going to school after such a breakfast, it wouldn’t be surprised if his teacher thinks he is hyperactive, inattentive and moody.

Interestingly, these are also the symptoms of ADD-ADHD and it is not uncommon for children and people who are showing the affects of consuming high glycemic foods to be considered ADD-ADHD affected.

Simply by changing the foods you include in your daily diet you can increase your ability to pay attention and concentrate.

A Low Glycemic Diet

A low glycemic diet can help you get of the rollercoaster ride that high glycemic rides initiate in your body. The sudden rise and fall in blood sugar not only leaves you feeling inattentive and unable to concentrate, but also affects your emotional state and your self confidence.

A low glycemic diet does not restrict you from eating high glycemic foods, but recommends that you eat them in moderation and eat a healthy and balanced diet.

Eating low glycemic foods can help you feel more in control of your feelings, and cognition. Thus starting your day with low glycemic foods such as whole wheat breads, eggs, ham and whole fruits, would give you a regulated level of blood sugar that would be maintained in the body and leave you feeling balanced and ready to take on the world.

It is also advised that you plan out your meals well in advance and not give in to a hankering for French fries or a donut. Healthy snacks such as fresh fruits, nuts and seed and whole grain sandwiches are nutritious, filling and satisfying.

High glycemic foods need to be recognized for the affects they have on your body so that you can consume them in moderation and can balance out their affect with other foods.  It is important that you give your body and mind a head start by providing it nutrition with well balance and nutritious meals.

Learn from this and apply “Step # 1” AVOID THE BAD!

Don’t complicate this.

Simply learn to make better choices about what you eat…. And recognize how different foods effect you!

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