Tarja Anchor asked:


The Glycemic index is a system of measurement that determines the effect that carbohydrate consumption has on glucose levels in the body.

Because it is dependant on many variables, Glycemic index levels are not universal. Aspects like age, activity and insulin levels, when food is consumed, how much fiber or fat it contains, the amount of processing the food is subjected to, how it is prepared and in what combination it is eaten with other foods are all determining factors when trying to establish Glycemic index levels.

Generally Glycemic index values for diverse foods are determined by a measurement of the effect they have on blood glucose in comparison to an equal carbohydrate portion of a relative food. The Glycemic index (GI) is a barometer for how the bodys glucose levels react to particular foods when they are rated on a scale from zero to one hundred, with glucose content recording the highest rating.

Most nutritionists agree that the lower the Glycemic index of any particular food, the more beneficial it is to bodily functions. Because foods with a low Glycemic index rating release glucose into the blood stream at a slower rate, blood sugar levels are not as apt to spike and therefore are more easily absorbed by the body. Foods with high Glycemic index ratings are not as readily metabolized by the body and thus create a greater strain on the digestive system and how the body deals with high blood glucose levels.

Traditionally recognized as high carbohydrate foods, bread, pasta and potatoes also have high GI ratings – yet it is difficult make blanket determinations as white bread will have a higher GI rating than wholegrain or rye bread due to the high content of grains and complex carbohydrates contained in breads made of highly processed white flour. Wheat bran, barley and oats are considered low Glycemic foods as are fruit, most beans and soy based foods. White bread, sugar laden soft drinks, creamy ice-cream and other so-called junk foods are high in glucose.

Adjusting diet so the low Glycemic levels are predominant can be accomplished by reducing intake of foods with high glucose ratings such as white bread, processed cereals, candy, chocolate bars and other junk food while making foods with lower glucose levels a bigger priority in the diet.

For those wanting to lose weight, low Glycemic index foods naturally release energy into the bloodstream slower, which can result in less frequent feelings of hunger, and consequently help to control appetite.

In order to maintain a low Glycemic index, nutritionists recommend that white bread be replaced with whole grain. In addition increasing the intake of more fruits and vegetables appears to have a supplementary positive effect on glucose absorption by the bloodstream.

It is also recommended that one read all packaging labels and attempt to choose foods that contain little or no processed sugar and highly processed carbohydrates. Every living cell still does need 8 natural sugars which are also called glyconutrients.



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Wesley Atkins asked:


If you have diabetes or you need to lose weight the Glycemic Index Diet Plan might be just the solution you’re looking for. This diet is based on a diet plan that was developed in the 1980’s as a way for diabetics to better control their blood glucose levels and subsequently manager their diabetes.

It was discovered that the diet plan had a wonderful side effect; efficient weight loss. Since that time the Low GI Diet, as it is often referred to, has become quite popular with non-diabetics as well. Individuals who use the diet claim they are able to lose weight as well as retain more muscle. Many people report the diet helps them to shave off weight in critical areas as well, including the stomach.

Under the Glycemic Index Diet Plan, foods are divided into three categories based on how they rank on the glycemic index. The glycemic index ranks foods according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods that are processed more quickly by the body rank higher on the Index. Foods that take longer to be digested by the body rank lower on the scale. The idea is to base your diet on foods that rank in the low to medium range by eating foods that rank high on the Index sparingly. Some of the low foods which are allowable on the Glycemic Index Diet Plan include broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower and other fruits as well as whole grains. Legumes are also allowable. Some foods rank in the middle range, including bananas and apricots.

When dieters first start the eating plan they are in what is known as Phase One. Under this phase, dieters are encouraged to eat only foods which are low on the glycemic index in order to lose weight. These foods are low in calories and high in fiber which makes it easier to lose weight. Dieters should plan to be on the first phase of the diet for about three to six months depending on how much weight they want to lose. After that time period, the individual may then advance to the second phase, which is the weight loss maintenance phase.

In this phase, you may eat low as well as medium foods according to the glycemic index. It is important to understand that exercise is an important component in both phases of the diet plan in order for it to work effectively. The Glycemic Index Diet plan by itself is not a complete solution for weight loss. You must be dedicated to participating in an active and healthy lifestyle. It should also be understood that this is not a diet in the true sense of the word but rather a change in lifestyle.

If you abort the diet plan after losing weight and return to eating large amounts of highly processed and refined foods it is quite likely that you will regain weight, particularly if you are not exercising on a regular basis.

One of the major advantages of this diet plan is that it is not as restrictive as many other diet plans. For example, you can have some carbs on this diet as long as they are good carbs and they rank low on the glycemic index. In addition, it is perfectly okay for you to eat out. Once you have become familiar with which foods rank low on the index you can then usually find something on any menu which is acceptable according to the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan.

Vegetarians frequently find that many low carb diets do not work well for them because they place a strong emphasis on meat. With the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan there is no such problem because proteins from vegetables can replace meat.

With time and dedication the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan has proven to be quite effective at managing diabetes, promoting weight loss and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.



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Gary Matthews asked:


Have you read about this recently? over the last 30 years, research into food and blood glucose response has completely changed our carbohydrate classification system.

It has been learned that it is impossible to predict the impact on blood glucose levels by certain foods, instead people are fed carbohydrate foods and the response measured.

This response is known as the Glycemic Index (GI), it is a measure of how quickly carbohydrate foods are digested and absorbed, and ranks carbohydrate foods according to their impact on blood sugar (glucose) levels: as indicted by elevated blood glucose.

Foods with a high GI are absorbed quickly into the blood stream and cause a rapid rise in blood glucose levels. While foods with a low GI are broken down more slowly over time and keep blood glucose levels more stable (Remember that low is slow!).

Some carbohydrate foods will maintain your energy levels for hours, while some may cause your blood glucose to rise and fall. Different types of carbohydrate can also affect feelings of fullness in the stomach and this can influence hunger and

your ability to control your body weight.

Why is the GI important?

When our blood glucose levels are stable we have plenty of readily available fuel for the brain and muscles. If our blood glucose levels drop too low (hypoglycaemia) we feel tired, dizzy and generally unwell. If our blood glucose levels rise too quickly a rapid drop usually follows this.

Include low glycemic index foods in meals and snacks to slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream. A low glycemic index snack a few hours before exercise will help maintain your energy levels for more effective training.

After high intensity exercise (strength training) a high glycemic index snack should be consumed within 30 minutes. This will help to replace energy and start the recovery process.

Low-GI foods take longer to digest and help delay hunger pangs that little bit more and thus promote weight loss. So please choose your carbs carefully as this will lower your insulin levels and burn more fat. The secret is to swap high GI foods with low GI foods.

Steps to a low GI diet

* Start with a healthy, well balanced and varied diet based on a good nutrition program. The diet should be low in fats, moderate in carbohydrate and protein. The program should be high in fibre and contain a varied amount of foods to provide the required amount of vitamins and minerals.

* Look at the type of carbohydrates that you consume during the day. Look at the carbs that you eat the most, as these will have the most dramatic impact on your diet.

Try to change the carbs you eat the most with at least one low GI one. (Replace potato with sweet potato, use noodles instead of rice) By substituting half of your daily carbohydrate from high GI to low GI will result in an overall reduction in the GI of your diet.

Reducing the GI in your diet reduces your insulin levels and increases the fat burning apparatus in your body. Try to reduce the high GI’s in your diet by substituting them with low GI’s.

Regular consumption of low GI foods increases the feelings of fullness and satisfaction and so prevents weight gain. Try taking in six small meals a day of healthy low fat low GI foods to prevent overeating at meal times and control appetite.

Remember, that it is also important to look at the calories in food to. Rice and bread might be low in fat but when your body is burning the carbohydrates in these foods it doesn’t burn as much fat. So if you are on a low fat diet, you wont lose as much weight if your calories are still high.

Have a look at the table below for the different GI food ratings.

Low GI ()

Grapefruit (26)

Pineapple (66)

Cornflakes (80)

Baked Beans (15)

Raisins (64)

W/M Bread (72)

Lentils (29)

Sweet corn (59)

Brown Rice (80)

Peanuts (13)

Potato Chips (51)

Carrots (92)

Soy Beans (15)

All bran (51)

Baked Potato (98)

Compare these two menus and try to adjust your diet accordingly.

High GI Menu

Breakfast: 40 Grams of cornflakes with milk. Two slices

of whole meal toast with margarine and jam.

Snack: Two sweet biscuits with a white coffee.

Lunch: Ham and salad whole meal Roll with an

apple.

Snack: Four crackers with cottage cheese and chives

Main Meal: Serving of Roast chicken with a large baked

potato and peas. Small piece of cake.

Low GI Menu

Breakfast: 40 Grams of bran with low fat milk. Two slices

of low GI toast (Try Burgen) with margarine

and jam.

Snack: Two oatmeal biscuits with a coffee (Low fat

milk).

Lunch: Ham and salad Roll (Low GI bread). Soft-serve

vanilla yoghurt with toasted muesli sprinkled

on top.

Snack: Two bananas.

Main Meal: Serving of Roast chicken with a small baked potato and peas. Two scoops of low fat ice cream with half a cup of canned peaches.

Chicken, beef, fish, eggs, nuts, and avocados contain very little or no carbohydrates. These foods if eaten by themselves will not have much effect on your glucose levels and are very low GI.

lcoholic beverages especially wine are also low GI so can be included in your diet but remember to count them in your daily caloric intake.

In conclusion low GI foods are ideal for losing weight due to the slow absorption from the stomach. Low GI foods also help to keep blood sugar levels more stable and this has an effect on reducing sweet cravings.



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David Riewe asked:


The Glycemic Index is a concept developed in the University of Toronto in 1981. The purpose of the Glycemic Index is to measure the effect carbohydrates have on blood glucose levels. The Glycemic Index is imperative for anyone who needs to monitor their glucose level due to diabetes or hyperglycemia. With diabetes reaching epidemic levels in the United States, the development of the Glycemic Index could not have come at a better time. Each year, more people are diagnosed with this potentially life threatening disease that can cause many serious complications. It is important for anyone with this condition to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so they can empower themselves and learn which foods should be avoided.

Carbohydrates are a diverse group of foods and all have different ways of breaking down in the system. People with diabetes have a difficult time breaking down certain foods, particularly those high in carbohydrates, in their system. Digestion is slow and sugars and starches are absorbed into the blood stream, causing an excess in blood glucose. Diabetics are often warned to limit their carbohydrate intake because it takes such a long time for most carbohydrates to digest. However, this is easier said than done and it is difficult, if not impossible, for many diabetics to eliminate carbohydrates from their diet. This is one of the reasons many diabetics are non-compliant in their treatment. Because diabetes does not often cause serious complications at onset, many patients refuse to take their medicine and continue eating foods that are high in sugar and starch.

The Glycemic Index is very helpful because it rates different carbohydrates based upon their effect on the different levels of blood glucose. Those foods that digest rapidly cause the less harm to the system and have a low glycemic index. The carbohydrates that take a longer time to digest have a higher rate as they cause more harm to the blood glucose level.

The Glycemic Index ranges from one to one hundred. A low food in the glycemic index has a rating of below 55. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and some pastas. Foods that fall between the 56 to 69 range are considered “medium” in the Glycemic Index. They include candy bars, croissants and some rices.

Surprisingly, although a candy bar scores in the medium classification of the glycemic index, it is not as harmful as those carbohydrates that score in the high glycemic index range. These include corn flakes, white rice, white bread and baked potato. In other words, it is easier for a diabetic to digest a candy bar than a baked potato.

Knowledge of the glycemic index is imperative for anyone who has diabetes or who has been diagnosed as borderline diabetic. To be able to understand which foods have the most impact on blood glucose levels is crucial for anyone fighting this potentially life-threatening condition.

If you or a loved one suffers from diabetes, become familiar with the Glycemic Index so that you learn about the different categories of carbohydrates and which groups should be avoided. There are many substitutes for carbohydrates that rate high in the Glycemic Index and are available at most grocery stores. While diabetes is currently without a cure, there are many different ways that people with this disease can life long, productive lives.



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Eve Wolton asked:


The Glycemic Index, or GI, has been supported and popularized in recent years by medical practitioners worldwide. The glycemic index is a ranking system that places a number value on foods based on how much and how quickly they raise blood glucose levels. The glycemic index separates good carbs from bad carbs through this ranking system; these biological measurements support diets that have a balance of low glycemic foods and restrict foods with a high glycemic ranking.

The health benefits of foods with low glycemic index

Various studies have shown that eating a large quantity of high GI foods can result in serious medical conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. High GI foods are those that contain starches, refined flour, or sugars. Foods such as white bread, candy, potatoes, cookies, and the like are high GI foods. They digest quickly and result in a quick burst of blood sugar. On the other hand, low GI foods such as oats, and other whole grains, and most vegetables, digest more slowly, thereby resulting in a slower change in blood sugar and more balanced digestion.

According to an article published by the Harvard School of Public Health, the most comprehensive list of glycemic index food rankings was released in 2002. In the July, 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, almost 750 foods were ranked within the glycemic index. Today in 2008, the database of GI food rankings, updated by the University of Sydney in Australia, now includes almost 1,600 different food types.

Delicious foods with low glycemic index

What are some of the foods with low glycemic index? The glycemic index ranks foods from 0 to 100, with the low numbers referring to low glycemic foods. Low GI foods are ranked from 0 to 55. Some of these foods include the following:

1) Most types of vegetables including: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, cucumber, artichoke, green beans, lettuce, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and dried peas. These types of food rank from about 14 to 22.

2) Some calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt (low-fat), whole, or fat-free milk, and soy milk. Yogurt ranks low (14), while other milk products rank in the 30s.

3) Some fruits, such as grapefruit, cherries, dried apricots, apples, pears, plums and peaches. The GI of these fruits can range from a low of 25 (grapefruit) to a high of 42 (peaches). While fresh fruit is healthy, some fruits can have a very high GI. Watermelon, for example, carries a high GI ranking.

4) Whole grains, such as barley, oats, green lentils, rye, and multi-grain breads. These grains can range from a low ranking of 25 (pearl barley) to a ranking of 48 (multi grain bread)

5) Nuts, such as peanuts, cashews and walnuts. Peanuts have the lowest GI of the group, with a GI of 14.

6) Some pastas, such as whole grain spaghetti, egg fettuccini, and ravioli. The GI of this food group is in the upper end of the low glycemic index (ranging from 42 to 48).

7) Some beans, such as soy beans, red kidney beans, lentils, white beans, and cannellini beans (ranging from a GI of 18 to 31).

There are many more foods in the low glycemic index, which contribute to higher levels of health and digestion.



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Keith Lewis asked:


There are many different diets circulating in the media as well as medicine today. Diets that focus on reduced carbohydrate intake, diets that limit or reduce fat intake, low-caloric diets, combination diets, blood typing diets, genotype diets, and diabetic diets can all be very confusing.

The topic of this discussion is the glycemic index. The glycemic index was first developed by Dr. David Jenkins who was a professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto in Canada. The first glycemic index was developed in 1981 by Dr. Jenkins. The purposes of determining glycemic index of particular foods were to determine which foods were best for people with diabetes. In the early 80s, most dietary programs that focused on diabetics were based on systems of different carbohydrate exchanges. Each exchange or each portion of food one was able to consume contained the same about of carbohydrate. The exchange system assumed that all starchy foods produce the same effect on blood glucose levels. Even though some earlier studies had also proven this was not correct, it was during that time that the phrase “good carbs and bad carbs” was developed and as time went on, we started to understand there were simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates and as time continued to go on, we realized that they had different effects on blood sugar levels, so in reality all carbs were not the same.

Dr. Jenkins was one of the first researchers to challenge the use of these exchanges and the first to really study the effect foods have on blood sugar levels as well as blood insulin levels. Dr. Jenkins’ approach was very scientific in nature which for the time was very unusual especially when trying to ascertain the effects different foods had on blood sugar level. Dr. Jenkins and his fellow researchers tested a large number of common foods with some very surprising results. For example ice cream which is greatly loaded with sugar content had less effect on blood glucose than ordinary white bread did, so basically the testing of individual food groups revealed surprising results in terms of affecting blood glucose levels, so Dr. Jenkins was actually a pioneer in developing a new means of classifying different types of carbohydrates.

His classification is known as the glycemic index, so what exactly is the glycemic index? The glycemic index is a means of ranking different food groups based on their immediate affect on blood sugar level. The foods that primarily affect blood sugar level are the carbohydrates. Proteins and fats do have an effect on blood glucose levels but not to the same degree that carbohydrates do, so for this reason carbohydrates were the primarily studied classification of food groups. For the comparison to be equal, all foods are compared with the reference food such as pure glucose in equivalent carbohydrate amounts so the basic standard is sugar and sugar is given a value of 100. All foods tested and given a glycemic index number and are compared to sugar. It was believed at that time, if we were aware of the impact of food on glucose levels, we could, by manipulating the foods we intook affect blood glucose levels, thereby normalizing and stabilizing blood sugar levels and in effect controlling diabetes. As a practical example and again glucose having a value of 100, potato chips have a glycemic index of 57, jelly beans which contain a great deal of simple sugar has a glycemic index of 80, peanuts on the other hand have a glycemic index of 7, tortilla chips or corn chips have a glycemic index of 42.

Again, all these are relative to glucose being 100 on the glycemic scale. As with most new discoveries in medicine or in scientific research, when new ideas are presented there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the theories and only over time and pending proven scientific results has the glycemic index now been accepted as the standard for measuring carbohydrate and their influence on blood sugar levels.

Other researchers over the past several years that have been involved in research considering glycemic index, include Dr. Jennie Brand Miller from the University of Sydney as well as Dr. Thomas M.S. Oliver and his colleagues at the University of Toronto. Foods containing carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic index values. In other words, the glucose or sugar in the blood stream increases rapidly. Foods that contain carbohydrates that break down slowly release glucose gradually into the blood stream. These foods have a low glycemic index value. High glycemic index foods cause very wild, erratic elevations in blood glucose level and consequently reducing levels of glucose quickly in the blood stream. On the other hand, low-glycemic index foods are the slow and steady, low GI foods produce a smooth blood glucose curve without wild fluctuations. High glycemic index foods are useful in the treatment of hypoglycemia of short periods of time. Oftentimes after athletic competition or extreme physical exertion, high glycemic index foods are indicated again short term to reduce recovery time in these individuals.

As I previously noted, the glycemic index of pure glucose is set at 100 and the other food is ranked on the scale from 0 to 100 according to the actual effect on blood glucose levels. There are several foods that actually have a glycemic index greater than 100. These would include white flour and jasmine rice as well as a few others. The reason for this is that these types of foods unlike glucose are held in the stomach longer for digestion consequently altering the glycemic index and the effect of the glucose on the blood stream.

In summary, the glycemic index is a measure of the immediate affect of a food on blood sugar level. Glucose is the standard with a glycemic index of 100. All foods are ranked on a scale of 0 to 100.

Contact your healthcare provider or if you have further questions visit our website.



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