Home Question and Answer Weight Loss Tips Common Sense To Lose Weight Weight Loss Recipes
 Lose Weight > Question and Answer > Nutrition Dieting > food and sleep patterns

food and sleep patterns


Question
I am (21, female) in my last year of university and I know for a fact that in the next three months I'm going to be getting the minimum sleep possible. I know this is a problem in itself, but I was wondering whether there was a way to help compensate for that in my food choices. I have read that I'm going to want to 'stabilise my blood sugar levels' but what exactly would this entail? I already have a small sugar intake (usually only fruits), and I stay away from caffeine (a cup of tea every few days).
any suggestions in general?
thank you!

Answer
The brain needs energy supplied at an even rate in order to function
optimally. Sudden peaks, followed by troughs, in blood sugar will
adversely affect behaviour, anxiety, mood and affect your energy and
concentration. You can begin to see why keeping blood glucose levels even
is important! The glycemic index (GI) ranks carbohydrates according to
their effect on blood glucose levels and is a good guide to informing us
which foods to include as part of a healthy diet, and indeed which foods
to limit.

White sugar and other refined (simple) carbohydrates, such as those found
in processed white bread and white pasta, white rice and most convenience
foods, supply few nutrients to the body but use up important B vitamins,
which are essential for our nervous and immune systems, as well as for
healthy digestion. These rank highly on the GI, giving a quick spike to
the blood sugar level, but dropping quickly, leaving a feeling of hunger
and the need for further snacks (constant peaks and troughs).

Avoiding refined foods and sugar, as well as consuming foods with a low GI
value, will help to keep blood sugar levels even, which has a positive
effect on our mood and concentration. Good low GI carbohydrates include
high fibre cereals, whole grain products, beans, pulses, brown rice, whole
wheat pasta, some fruit and vegetables. Because these products are not
refined or processed they tend to be high in vitamins and minerals such as
thiamine, folate and zinc ?all known to have a positive effect on mood
and concentratio. These low GI foods consist of complex carbohydrates,
which are broken down into sugars more slowly, avoiding rapid increases in
blood sugar. Low GI foods also increase satiety, preventing us from
feeling hungry again too quickly.  Good luck with your studies, but don't
over do it!

  1. Prev:
  2. Next:
Related Articles
DON'T MISS
Food & exercise
Exercise increases my calorie intake
healthful eating
how to eat after going off a crash diet for weigh management
17 y/o male
Vegan diet, osteoporosis, weight loss
Scales and sugar obsessed!
Loss of B-12 in skim milk and yogurt
about carrot juice
can ectomorph gain mass

Copyright © www.020fl.com Lose Weight All Rights Reserved