👩🏽‍🍳Cooking Methods for Better Energy

Did you know that the same food can affect your blood sugar and energy levels differently depending on how it's cooked? For instance, roasting versus boiling potatoes.

We usually focus on our carbohydrate intake and food choices, such as including whole grains, proteins, and vegetables.

However, we often overlook the importance of how we cook our food.

The way we cook food can directly influence our body’s blood sugar response and energy level.

Let’s explore how different cooking techniques impact blood sugar response and energy level.

1. Boiling vs. Baking: Impact on Blood Sugar Levels

• Boiling → Slower Rise in Blood Sugar Levels

When foods are boiled, they absorb water, which increases their overall volume.

This dilution effect spreads out the starches, making them less concentrated. As a result, the body takes longer to digest these carbohydrates and convert them into glucose.

Since the starch is dispersed, your digestive enzymes have to work more slowly to convert it into sugars, leading to a slower rise in blood sugar levels.

• Baking → Faster Rise in Blood Sugar Levels

In contrast, when baking the water evaporates so the remaining starches in the food become more concentrated.

This means that, in a given portion of baked food, there is a higher proportion of carbohydrates available for digestion compared to foods that retain their moisture, like boiled or steamed options.

This concentrated state also makes it easier for the digestive enzymes to break down the starch.

This rapid conversion increases the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream leading to a faster rise in blood sugar levels.

• Pro Tip: To help lower the impact on blood sugar levels, opt for boiling or steaming instead of baking or roasting. If you want to lower your meals' impact on your blood sugar at home, click here to learn more!

Impact of Cooking Techniques on Energy Levels

Your cooking technique can significantly change the glycemic index (GI) of your meal, which directly affects your energy levels. Here’s how:

• Low Glycemic Index → Steady Energy Level

These foods cause a slow and gradual increase in blood sugar, leading to a steady energy supply. Boiling Food → Lowers the Glycemic Index → Steady Energy Level

• High Glycemic Index → Short Burst then Drop in Energy Level

These foods often lead to a rapid rise followed by a drop in blood sugar, leading to low energy levels. Baking Food → Increases the Glycemic Index → May Reduce Energy Level.

If You Want to Lower Your Meal’s Glycemic Index, click here to learn more!

How Do Other Cooking Techniques Impact Blood Sugar Response & Energy Levels?

I’ll be breaking down various cooking techniques and how they impact your blood sugar and energy levels over the next few days, so stay tuned as I will be revealing the best cooking method!

In conclusion, by adjusting our cooking methods, we can significantly reduce our meals' impact on blood sugar and energy levels.

See you tomorrow!

Jish 💜

Type 1 Diabetic & Co-Founder @ Haema

We’d love to see how you incorporate low-GI foods into your meals! Tag us on social media with your meal photos and use #HaemaMeals!

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