What Food Will Provide Sustained Energy Throughout The Day? The Acai Berries? YES!
Written by Jeremy Liddle   
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 14:28
What Does This Exotic Fruit Have That Provides Sustained Energy Throughout The Day?
by JeremyLiddle


What Does This Exotic Fruit Have That Provides Sustained Energy Throughout The Day?

The biggest energy secret in acai berries is the combination of carbohydrates and dietary fibre, however they don't provide sustained energy in every food. In all foods, carbohydrates are converted into sugar in the blood. The rate at which this occurs is measured with Glycemic Index (GI), and if the GI is high then the food is digested and absorbed quickly, delivering a fast rise in blood sugar. Examples of such foods are sweets, sugar, and processed bread.

In order to keep the body healthy blood sugar levels must be kept at a normal level. If they rise it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, which is the substance that communicates to the cells to start absorbing sugar, in turn causing blood sugar levels to reduce. Foods that are high in GI cuase extra amounts of insulin which results in too much sugar being absorbed after the sugar rush, depleting blood sugar far below the normal level. This then causes the familiar low that people experience after a sugar rush.

With a glycemic load (GL) of 0.5, acai berries delivery a slow and sustained blood sugar rise. GL is a newer and more accurate way to determine the effect of certain carbohydrates in the blood. It gives a better picture than GI alone as it also takes into account the volume of carbohydrate eaten. A Gl of 10 or less is considered a small level, and so a food with GL 10 or less helps to control blood sugar levels and lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Acai has a GL of 0.5, which means that it delivers the sustained energy needs for today's hectic life.

The dietary fibre in Acai acts like a sponge, mixes with all the digestive juices in our bodies binding to the good eaten, and helps to slow down digestion. Instead of getting a sugar rush after a meal, the sugar is released slowly, providing sustained energy! This also helps control appetite and delays hunger. Which means that it may help prevent weight gain and therefore the risk of obesity.

Most of the energy in Acai actually comes not from sugar but from the healthy omega-6 and omega-9 fats, so acai is one food that can be eaten guilt free! It can help people feel full due to the fibre content, and at the same time provide sustained energy. It is best to mix acai with apple juice, which also has a relative low GI, to delivery sustained energy in a smoothie.

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