In February of last year, I did a test where I ate two bell peppers, and suffice it to say that the results were very NOT bueno.
I went from 116 mg/dL to 340! Umm, WHAT??!! Yeah. That was pretty shocking.
But now, in retrospect, I suspect that glucose result was somehow tainted. Maybe there was something on my finger. Maybe the test strip was defective. Maybe my glucose meter just decided to prank me. I have no idea!
So I mostly avoided bell peppers for close to 18 months. And then one recent commenter, Mike Young, left this comment on that ill-fated bell pepper test:
I think something went wrong and you should have tested again. Bell Peppers only have a GI number of 41.
https://healthfully.com/289170-glycemic-index-of-bell-peppers.html
The possibility of a bad test has always lingered in the back of my mind because that glucose swing was bonkers, but I never got around to it. And then Mike left that comment! And that was the kick in the ass I needed to revisit bell peppers.
So … THANKS MIKE! I took your advice and did some more tests.
In fact, I did FIVE tests. Four of them were at work, first thing in the morning. The other was at home when I was hungry and just wanted a snack.
113—149 Breakfast: yellow bell pepper, cucumber, pepper jack cheese. 30 minutes after finishing: 132
113—146 Breakfast: yellow bell pepper, cucumber, blueberries, a few cherry tomatoes
104—132 Breakfast: red bell pepper, cucumber, avocado
105—115 Breakfast: yellow pepper, cucumber, a few cherry tomatoes, pepper jack cheese
124—149 Red bell pepper with ranch dressing. After another 30 minutes: 124
Well look at that! Bell peppers decided to stop trying to kill me.
Keep in mind that when I got that comically high 340 mg/dL, that was after eating TWO bell peppers. These tests reflect eating just one pepper, but also with other diabetes-friendly things.
But still, it seems pretty clear that one whole bell pepper is not the death sentence I once thought it was. And if I were to eat two, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be hitting 340 again.
I guess the moral of the story here is to follow up with another test if you think maybe your glucose result is way, way off the mark.
I should have tested again after getting that huge number a year and a half ago, but I was at work and probably got busy with … I dunno, doing my job or something.
So don’t fear the pepper! But, as with just about everything else you put in your body, don’t go too crazy either.
Thanks again, Mike!
Glad you gave it another try. That gives you another item to throw on your pizza when you make one.
Thanks, Mike!