Slimming Medics

Doctors for weight loss

Call or Text: Siobhan Fox on 07468 478360

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Quick Guide to GI

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Find out what the GI is and how it can help you to make healthier diet choices.  

GI – Stands for Glycemic Index. The GI ranks food by how quickly the carbohydrates they contain are broken down. The rate at which carbohydrates break down (are digested) affects how quickly blood sugar levels rise.

Low to Hight GI

  • Low GI Foods: 0-55 – produces a gradual release of sugar.
  • Medium GI Foods: 56–69 – produces a moderate release of sugar.
  • High GI Foods: 70-100 produces a rapid release of sugar.
Low GI FoodsHigh GI Foods
Beans/legumesWhite Bread
VegetablesWhite Rice
Most Fruits Potatoes

Several factors affect whether a food ranks high or low on the index. These include, how refined the carbohydrate is, the type of sugars it contains, it’s nutrient content and whether the food is cooked or raw. With fruit, its ripeness is also a factor.

Low GI foods are digested more slowly, helping you feel fuller for longer. The gradual release of sugars can help energy levels remain more constant and prevent rapid peaks of blood sugars.

A Handy Tool

The GI only indexes foods containing carbohydrates and it can sometimes fail to reflect a food’s overall healthiness. Some fruits and vegetables rank higher than chocolate. This is because the fat and protein in the chocolate slows down the absorption of the carbohydrates.

Familiarising yourself with where foods sit on the index can help you make healthier choices. Low GI foods, unsurprisingly, are largely obviously healthy – Most fruits and vegetables are low on the GI index. Beans and pulses and nuts are also low and provide a good source of protein.

Starchy foods will naturally rank higher on the index and too many carbs can sabotage your weight-loss. But we all need a certain amount of carbohydrates for energy and cutting out carbs completely is a very hard slog. Choosing complex, low GI carbohydrates over refined ones will be better for when you are watching what you eat.

The GI index can be a handy tool when deciding between certain foods like deciding on your bread for a sandwhich. Choosing wholewheat sourdough over a baguette will give you a slower release of energy and help you feel fuller for longer.

GI
Soya and Linseed(36)
Whole Wheat (49)
Sourdough Wheat(54)
Wholemeal (74)
Sliced White (80)
Baguette (95)
Example – Bread

To read more on GI visit this information in our Patient Section.

For help and support on your weight-loss journey Request a Call-back

Keto Craze – Just Another High Protein Diet?

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In the last few years, there has been a growing following of the Ketogenic Diet. After seeing it everywhere from glossies to Facebook, it got me thinking maybe the new Keto Craze could work for me but is it just another low protein diet?

Low protein diets have been popular for at least 40 years. Every ten years or so a new diet tribe hails there regime as working where nothing else has.

I have often been amazed by the weight-loss results of friends who have followed different high-protein or low-carb diets. Whether it be the Atkins, The Dukan or the newest Ketogenic. After enviously admiring how great they look, I’ve rushed out to get whichever book. Unfortunately, it has never really got further than that for me.

But Do Low Protein Diets Work?

There is a lot of research to suggest that a higher-protein diet will help overweight and obese people to lose weight. Part of the science behind success is hormones. Hunger signals to the brain are largely controlled by hormones and upping your protein intake can change the levels of the hormones responsible.
It also takes more energy to metabolise and digest proteins. This is termed a high ‘thermic effect’. So, protein calories are more efficient for losing weight and keeping you feeling full.

So What Is The Keto Diet?

The Ketogenic diet is actually a very low carbohydrate and high-fat diet. It was developed a hundred years ago as a treatment for epilepsy. Following this strict diet was found to trigger a biochemical process in the body ’Ketosis’, which could reduce seizers in people with epilepsy.

Ketosis happens when the body is forced to override its natural use of carbohydrates for energy. By replacing most carbohydrates intake with fat the body starts to use fat instead, it can also help speed up the use of body’s fat stores.

The Ketogenic diet gaining popularity in the mainstream may be surprising. It takes a very high level of commitment, especially in the beginning when trying to trigger ketosis in the body. Which will be hard for many people to follow or maintain long-term.

Sometimes I have wished I had the dedication and organisation needed to follow these diets. Of course, all weight loss takes some dedication. However, I’ve accepted that complicated meal planning with lots of rules and restrictions is just more than I can get my head around let alone integrate into my life. I’ve learnt that diets don’t work for me.

Deep down I know what I need to do – move more, eat less and have a balanced diet. I also know if I can summon a fraction of the will-power and focus it takes to follow an extreme diet, I will be well on my way!

Losing weight is tough, but there is help

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You would like to lose some weight, but you are struggling to find the time with balancing looking after the kids, running the house and working, you just can’t put the effort in.

There is help, Slimming Medics offer a doctor led weight loss programme in Reading Berkshire and High Wycombe. By working with our fully qualified doctor we can help manging your weight loss using our unique and established programme. It’s simple and easy to use, if you are worried have any questions just contact us as we here to help, you are only a phone call away from a new you.

About Us

Based in Reading and High Wycombe, Slimmingmedics are one of only sixty specialist doctor led weight-loss clinics in the UK, regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and members of the Obesity Management Association (OMA).  With years of experience, we have helped hundreds of people like you become the persons they want to be.

Should I buy slimming pills / tablets off the Internet?

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You might see adverts for “Best Slimming Pills” or “Best Weight Loss Tablets” on the Internet, but should you buy them?

There have been a few tragic stories of people who did and suffered the consequences, so we would seriously advise against anyone thinking of doing this.

There are hundreds of different offerings promising this and that which are as confusing to us as they must be to you.

As a clinic regulated by the CQC (Care Quality Commission), the medication we use has been proven for over 40 years in the USA, Canada and Australia.

We source the medication from three pharmaceutical companies who manufacture under license in the UK. Also, remember the support and value you get in talking to a doctor who keeps you accountable for your results and who has helped hundreds of people like you before.

Slimming Pills and Tablets

I want to lose weight fast – should I?

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You didn’t put on weight overnight so please don’t expect to lose weight overnight either.

Most diets which promise you spectacular weight loss and to lose weight fast are invariably starvation diets which are not good for you or diets where you mainly lose water.

After your first week or so on our programme, you are quite likely to be excited because you have probably lost a few pounds.

We like to see our patients changing shape by losing fat and putting on muscle.  We aim for a consistent, gradual loss by helping you change your habits and approach to food – not a lose weight fast regime where you put it all back on again.