Food with a high-carbohydrate content is the worst offenders if you are looking to regulate blood sugar levels because carbohydrate is the nutrient which has the greatest effect in terms of raising blood sugar levels and requires the most insulin to be taken or be produced by the body.
High-carb foods often contain lots of calories too due to their high sugar content, which can lead to abdominal fat gain. As diabetes.co.uk explains, studies suggest that abdominal fat causes fat cells to release ‘pro-inflammatory’ chemicals, which can make the body less sensitive to the insulin it produces by disrupting the function of insulin-responsive cells and their ability to respond to insulin.
Insulin resistance is the primary cause of blood sugar spikes so it is vital that you avoid foods that may lead to abdominal fat gain. The trouble is, certain foods that may seem healthy on the surface can be loaded with carbs and sugar.
Fruit-flavored yogurts, for example, which are often advertised as a healthy snack, contain a high amount of sugar and carbs. In fact, nutritional data shows that one-cup (245-gram) serving of fruit-flavored yogurt may contain 47 grams of sugar, meaning nearly 81 percent of its calories come from sugar. Many people consider frozen yogurt to be a healthy alternative to ice cream.
