The Order in Which You Eat the Foods on Your Plate Might Actually Affect How You Feel

Cheryl Fenton
Cheryl Fenton
An editor once called her “the kitchen sink writer." Translation - Boston-based freelancer Cheryl Fenton can write about anything, including the kitchen sink (peep her interior design pieces). Her bylines run the gamut from dailies like USAToday and the Boston Globe to monthly…read more
published Jun 8, 2022
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air fryer brocolli on plate
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Duncan Fitzpatrick
Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli

While digging into that pile of creamy mashed potatoes before the broccoli seems like the right move, you may want to think again if you’re looking to feel great after your meal. Or so New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman warned his 2 million Instagram followers recently. 

The leader in the field of functional medicine posted a clip from a recent episode of his podcast, The Doctor’s Farmacy, with guest @glucosegoddess (biochemist Jessie Inchauspé). In it, she explains how the order in which you eat your food can actually have a powerful impact on your metabolic health. 

According to Inchauspé, eating foods on your plate in a specific order can reduce the glucose spike (an increase in sugar level in your bloodstream) by 75 percent.

She notes that the correct order to consume is veggies first, proteins and fats next, and starches and sugars last. “When we eat our veggies first during a meal, the fiber in the vegetables lands in our stomach, then in our upper intestine and coats the walls of our intestine with this viscous mesh,” she explains in the clips. “Then, any starch or sugars you eat after, will be absorbed to a lesser extent in your bloodstream therefore a smaller glucose spike.”

The biochemist also recommends drinking one tablespoon of vinegar in a large glass of water before meals and taking a walk after meals as additional hacks for effectively balancing blood sugar.

Listen to the full episode, “Surprise Hacks To Balance Your Blood Sugar with Jessie Inchauspé,” on any podcast platform.