December 22nd 2023.
Dr Midge, a doctor and TikTok user, recently shared a video that has attracted more than 26,000 views on the app. In it, she reveals five foods that are not as healthy as we all think, and should be 'treated as a dessert'.
Dr Midge explains that these foods have vitamins and nutrients, which is important, but their impact on our hormones should also be considered. She goes on to explain that if we eat these foods frequently, we are setting ourselves up for insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is a 'silent epidemic' and it is the root cause of numerous lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, fatty liver, PCOS, erectile dysfunction, dementia, migraines, body fat and diabetes.
Eating foods that have a high glycemic index can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, triggering the pancreas to release more insulin and then levels quickly fall, leading to overeating and cravings. If this cycle repeats very often, it can lead to insulin resistance and eventually type 2 diabetes.
Before she gets into the five foods, Dr Midge warns that she is not suggesting to stop eating them entirely, but to be more mindful about them.
The first on the list is fruit juice. Dr Midge points out that some varieties contain as much sugar as a can of soda, and even the unsweetened versions can contain six teaspoons of sugar.
Next is fruit – yes, fruit! Dr Midge explains that fruits have been engineered to be bigger, sweeter and less fibrous, which has a negative impact on our blood sugar levels. The sweet and delicious varieties like mangoes, pineapples, bananas and grapes should therefore be treated as a dessert.
Oat milk is the third food on the list. One cup contains 15g of carbohydrates, and Dr Midge suggests avoiding store-bought brands with added preservatives, thickeners and emulsifiers.
Number four is porridge or oatmeal, which is often recommended to diabetics as a healthy option. However, one cup contains 62g of carbohydrates and not enough fibre. Dr Midge recommends coarse oatmeal instead of the instant variety.
Finally, there are rice cakes. With 14g of carbohydrates and very little fibre, Dr Midge suggests adding something to them like avocados or nut butter for added fat or protein.
So, if you want to stay healthy, it’s important to be mindful of these five foods, and to treat some of them as a dessert. Our packed lunches will probably look a lot different from now on!
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