The clearest picture of the complex subject of nutrition comes from Larry Johansen, M.S., a Mequon-based clinical nutritionist with 27 years of experience who sees clients throughout the city, and, has even been known to make house calls. In simple terms, carbohydrates, the body's main source of fuel and energy, are released into the bloodstream at different rates. High glycemic foods cause glucose levels to rise rapidly and trigger a rapid production of insulin in the body which is the body's means of converting glucose to glycogen to either be stored in the liver, or if there is too much too quickly, to be converted and stored as body fat. Excess carbohydrates you don't burn get stored as fat, hence the goal is to choose foods lower on the glycemic index and use the body's production of insulin as a regulator of your metabolism. To achieve the goal of regulating the body's production of insulin, he suggests eating meals and snacks regularly throughout the day.
Salads are freebies, but watch the dressing.
He also encourages a bedtime snack. According to Johansen, this method of regulating your metabolism should be coupled with a regular exercise program, but is generally not risky. Science is now paying attention to the quality of the fats, not just their quantity. Low-fat diets have resulted in high carbohydrate diets, and therefore elevated insulin levels, a cause of obesity and heart disease. It is possible to manipulate one's metabolism safely.