Which Thanksgiving Pie Gives You the Biggest Sugar Rush?

"Pie varieties abound, so I focused on some of the classics: pecan, pumpkin and apple. Regardless of filling, when you take a bite of pie, the carbohydrates get delivered to your bloodstream as glucose that ultimately gets absorbed by cells. The faster those sugars get into your bloodstream, the quicker you experience a sugar rush. Any guesses on which pie would shuttle the most sugars the quickest?"

"Not all pies are created equally: you have more control over the ingredients in homemade pies, so they tend to be healthier than store-bought ones. In general, though, many pecan pies are on the sweeter side. If we think of the average apple, pecan or pumpkin pie, on average, the pecan tends to be higher in sugar, followed by the pumpkin, followed by the apple pie, Berry says."

Pies vary in sugar content and how quickly their carbohydrates raise blood glucose. Pecan pie tends to contain the most sugar, followed by pumpkin and then apple. Homemade pies often allow healthier ingredient choices than store-bought versions. Carbohydrates from pie are converted to glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream; faster absorption produces a quicker sugar rush. Pecan pie also contains relatively higher protein and fiber, which slow stomach emptying and delay glucose release. Protein additionally stimulates insulin release. Rich recipes such as bourbon chocolate pecan pie can contain large amounts of corn syrup and added sugars.

Read at www.scientificamerican.com