A Snickers is better for you than fruit - it's official

I really want to veer away from anything diet-related as I have come to the conclusion it is all nonsense.

Being a multi-million pound industry,  an army of gurus is wating to take your cash in exchange for advice on what to eat, what not to eat, and when and when not to eat it.

It changes month to month and from expert to expert.

Each peddling a different theory, fat is good, fat is bad, carbs are good, carbs are bad, count calories, don’t count calories.

They all claim their plan works better than the others, which are flawed through their banning of this and not counting of that.

It is so tiresome, and I am loathed to fuel the weight-loss furnace any more than I have to.

I believe if you eat when you're hungry and don’t when you're not, that’s enough to keep your weight in check. And believe me I have learnt this from years of first-hand experience.

But I am bending my self-imposed no-diet-talk rule for just one day (reserve the right to change my mind on that!) because today I stumbled across an interesting fact.

It involves the GI (Glycemic Index) way of looking at food.

A brief backgroud - GI is a measure of how foods are broken down into sugar in the blood, and how long they keep you satisfied.

A high GI food turns to sugar quickly, boosting fat storage and giving you a temporary high before you are hungry again, like sugar.

A low GI food slowly releases energy, keeping you fuller for longer without giving the sharp peaks in blood sugar, nuts are low GI.

Because a food has a low GI does not, however, mean they are a “diet” food, just better at stabilising blood sugar levels.

In  this respect it is more of a health scale rather than calorie measure, so I feel less guilty about talking about it.

Anyway, I discovered to my astonishment, and delight, that a Snickers bar has a lower GI than a Ryvita.

Really? Decadent, nutty, gloriously gooey chocolate bars are better for you than razor sharp shards of dry cardboard shattering in your mouth???

Hooray!

Chocolate  is also less harmful to your blood sugar levels than honey, pretzels and rice cakes.

The latter is not  a surprise really as these so-called  “health foods”  are just clumps of powdered starch waiting to turn to fat as soon as they pass your lips.

And anyone who has munched their way through any of these carbohydrate-laden discs of empty calories will know they do nothing to satisfy the appetite.

The fact that a snickers is better for you is not overly surprising, they are mainly nuts and chocolate, both quite low in glucose (although high in fat).

Looking through the ilst on the GI Diet Guide website, there are some other interesting comparisons:

Chocolate is better than Watermelon

Sponge cake is better than white rice

Jam is better than beetroot

Custard is better than baked beans

Hard to believe? I thought so when I looked, but apparently so.

I pay slightly more attention to the GI way of thinking not because of the alleged weight-loss claims, but because of the dangers of not keeping blood sugar in check.

For anyone that’s interested, here is some more info from the Health & Wellbeing website.

They say:

To make the right dietary choices, it’s important to be able to differentiate between complex and refined carbs.

If you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, you should also choose carbs that are low on the glycaemic index (GI), which means that they’re digested slowly and keep you satisfied longer. 

We take a look at some of your favourite carbohydrates to help you make the right choices.

Potatoes

If you’re watching your weight, chances are you’ve put these starchy favourites on your banned foods list. 


But the problem isn’t the potatoes — it’s the way we prepare and serve them. Hot chips are deep-fried in oil and drenched in high-kilojoule sauces, while baked potatoes are usually smothered in sour cream and cheese. 


Potatoes have a lower GI (thanks to their high levels of resistant starch, which acts like fibre) when they’ve been cooked and cooled than when they’re served hot.


 A healthy and tasty choice is cold potato salad made with low-fat sour cream instead of mayo.

Savoury biscuits

Rice crackers and low-fat biscuits might seem like a healthy snack, but they’re often made with refined grains that are digested quickly and raise blood sugar levels. 


Choose biscuits and crispbreads made from whole grains, which will leave you feeling more satisfied and protect you against illnesses like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Rice

Just because white rice is used in many healthy dishes — such as sushi and stir fries — doesn’t mean it’s good for you. 


The truth is that white rice is made from refined grains and has a high glycaemic index. 


While it can take a while to get used to the chewier texture of brown rice, it’s a much healthier option thanks to its wholegrain goodness. 


Order brown rice sushi or boil some up at home to accompany your favourite dishes.

Bread

Although bread used to be considered a dieter’s worst enemy, there’s no reason to forego your morning toast or favourite sandwich when you’re trying to lose weight. 


For a more filling and healthier meal, ditch the refined white bread and opt for wholegrain instead. 


Try a variety that contains nuts and seeds for an added health and taste kick.

Pasta

You might be surprised to hear that white pasta is actually low GI — so it won’t leave you starving a short while after you eat it. 


Nonetheless, white pasta is made from refined cereals that have been stripped of most of their vitamins, minerals and fibre. 


Try switching to healthier wholemeal pasta — you might find that you enjoy the extra crunch and taste.