Saul Katz

SAUL'S STORY

SAUL KATZ - LOW GLYCEMIC WAKE UP CALL!

Good morning America! This is my first blog of many to come. I have committed myself to write a blog because Americans need a Low GI wake up call, every morning.

Each day more of us are joining the ranks of the obese and diabetic. The statistics are frightening with 66% of adults being overweight or obese, 60 million Americans being diabetic or pre-diabetic, 9 out of 10 Type 2 diabetics being obese and one in three children born in the year 2000 projected to develop diabetes in their lifetime. These interlinked epidemics are out of control, and the phenomenon is being called “Diabesity”.

“Where we have obesity today, we will have type 2 diabetes tomorrow…Our bodies did not evolve on eating high-GI processed foods and that is why it produces so many adverse effects. The lower the GI the better the food is for you, as far as stabilizing blood sugar, improving the immune system, having more overall energy and curbing appetite.” Francine Kaufman, M.D. Past President, American Diabetes Association and author of the best seller “Diabesity” – The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic That Threatens America And What We Must Do to Stop It.”

After years of research, scientists have identified “insulin resistance” as a key determinant on the pathway to metabolic disorders. People are living with insulin resistance for long periods of time until a “trigger” causes diabetes. It is largely unknown what the eventual trigger to diabetes is but it is well established that our modern high GI diet and sedentary lifestyle are main contributors. Fortunately, scientists at Harvard University and others around the world have the solution – the Low Glycemic Diet and Lifestyle.

“Imagine if we had a drug that could convert belly fat to muscle and reduce the risk for complications of obesity... Now imagine that we had a diet that could do these things safely…the latest research suggests that we do have such a diet and that it actually tastes good… Low GI diets work better than low-fat or low-carb diets.” David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. Endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Optimal Weight for Life Program, Children’s Hospital Boston. Author of Ending the Food Fight, Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food / Fake Food World (2007) “Dr. Ludwig pioneered the use of a Low Glycemic Diet in Combating Obesity.”

The Low Glycemic diet is a long term tool for healthy eating which works whether you want to lose weight; control your blood sugar or reduce your risk of disease (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure); or fuel your morning workout or support a weight training program. It works for women and men who want to get in shape, and for parents who want their children to adopt healthy eating habits.

The premise of the Low Glycemic diet is based on foods containing slow-release carbohydrates which, upon digestion, will deliver energy slowly to your cells and body, providing a multitude of benefits in the process. The diet also combines the GI of the carbohydrates (the quality) together with the Glycemic Load (GL) to consider the quantity of the carbohydrates being consumed, hence paying careful attention to the amount of calories being consumed. Both of these elements are of paramount importance to ensure successful weight loss, in helping to reduce the incidence of obesity and diabetes, and in providing long-term health.

Losing weight is all about keeping your blood sugar stable, a balancing act your body is designed to perform. Our modern lifestyle and diet have conspired to cause imbalance in our metabolism. The result is constant swings in blood sugar, energy, and weight. The bottom line is that the body and brain’s sensitive mechanisms for keeping blood sugar in balance simply can’t cope with a daily onslaught of sugary and high GI foods and snacks, topped off with stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, causing you body to be a fat-maker instead of a fat-burner. But the good news is that it doesn’t take long to turn insulin resistance around and prevent further metabolic disease. With a low glycemic diet and physical activity you can recover your fat burning ability and achieve optimal health.

After a decade of research and development of Low GI foods in collaboration with the inventors of the Glycemic Index, I am convinced that controlling blood sugar through a Low Glycemic Diet is “key” to weight management, disease prevention and sustained energy. For individuals seeking weight loss (dieters), low GI foods provide longer-term satisfaction, helping to avoid cravings by keeping you feeling full for longer, thereby assisting with successful weight reduction. Persons with diabetes (or related conditions) can also achieve benefits with improved blood sugar control, and sports-minded individuals can experience increased levels of sustained energy to provide lasting fuel for physical pursuits.

As an advocate and pioneer in Low GI nutrition I have made it my mission to promote the science and benefits of low glycemic nutrition and to show you how easy it is to accomplish a low glycemic lifestyle through better food choices and simple lifestyle changes. My approach will be to inspire you by showing how easy it is to make good Low Glycemic choices, so you can start each day feeling healthy, energized and great about yourself.

Low Glycemic Lifestyle, For Life!

SAUL KATZ LL.L, LL.B
Saul Katz is founder and president of New Era Nutrition a pioneer in the research and development of functional foods for health promotion, performance enhancement and disease prevention. Saul is also president of SoLo GI Nutrition, The Low Glycemic Nutrition Company, developer of the SoLo GI® Low Glycemic Nutrition Bars; Most Innovative Product of the Year (Newport Summit 2005).

A passionate and driven educator, Saul lectures and writes extensively on the merits of Low Glycemic nutrition. Mr. Katz is a past director of the Western Canadian Functional Food & Natural Health Product Network; a founding director of the Alberta Biotechnology Association and a former director of the Alberta Food Processors Association. Saul and his wife are blessed with two children.