Glycemic Index Review

What You Should Know

With the introduction and subsequent popularity of lower carbohydrate diets, the glycemic index of foods quickly became a way to gauge whether foods were healthy or unhealthy. The glycemic index refers to a foods effect on the blood sugar levels in the body. Some foods, like refined sugar, have a very high glycemic index while other foods, like broccoli, have a lower glycemic index.

Information on the glycemic index of foods can be found online through various reputable websites. This is due to the fact that diabetics also use the glycemic index of foods to plan meals and menus that will not adversely effect their glucose levels.

List of Ingredients

Listing of foods and their effect on blood sugar levels in numeric form.

Product Features

Before using the glycemic index of a food as a weight loss tool, the consumer must first understand how foods are rated. The higher the number given to a food, the more that food will affect glucose levels. The lower the glycemic number given to a food, the less likely that food is to affect glucose levels.

In dieting, foods with higher glycemic index numbers are thought to cause a sort of sugar, or glucose, rush which is often followed by an energy crash where the bodies begins to crave simple sugars and high carbohydrate foods as a means of instant energy. With lower carbohydrate diets, foods that are given a lower number are thought to keep these cravings in check and thus reduce the amount of food eaten by the dieter.

There is an official website for the glycemic index. This website is maintained by the University of Sydney. Information is given on the website about converting from a traditional diet to a diet regulated by GI, or glylcemic index. According to the information provided, lower GI diets increase the amount of weight lost, improve overall health and help the dieter to feel fuller, longer. There is no evidence listed on the website proving these statements to be clinically evaluated. In addition, there are no testimonials on the website from dieters who have lost weight on the low GI diet.

Advantages

• Low glycemic index foods may decrease cravings associated with simple carbohydrates.
• Information on the GI diet and glycemic index can be found online.

Disadvantages

• Glycemic index diets are not proven to help people lose more weight.
• Just because a food has a low GI does not mean that food is healthy.

Conclusion

The glycemic index is a fantastic tool for diabetics who want to control their blood sugar levels. Some of the foods listed on the GI database are healthy, but not every food with a low GI are good for dieters trying to lose weight. Noodles, for instance, are low GI foods but contain 200 plus calories per serving. While dieters may be able to benefit from choosing lower GI vegetables and fruits from the list to add to their low calorie diet, a fat burner and appetite suppressant may be able to help stave off that hunger a bit better than a lower GI food.