| The Glycemic Index, or GI, has been supported | | | | 0 to 55. Some of these foods include the |
| and popularized in recent years by medical | | | | following: |
| practitioners worldwide. The glycemic index | | | | |
| is a ranking system that places a number | | | | 1) Most types of vegetables including: |
| value on foods based on how much and how | | | | asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, |
| quickly they raise blood glucose levels. The | | | | eggplant, cucumber, artichoke, green beans, |
| glycemic index separates good carbs from bad | | | | lettuce, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and |
| carbs through this ranking system; these | | | | dried peas. These types of food rank from |
| biological measurements support diets that | | | | about 14 to 22. |
| have a balance of low glycemic foods and | | | | |
| restrict foods with a high glycemic ranking. | | | | 2) Some calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt |
| | | | (low-fat), whole, or fat-free milk, and soy |
| The health benefits of foods with low | | | | milk. Yogurt ranks low (14), while other |
| glycemic index | | | | milk products rank in the 30s. |
| | | | |
| Various studies have shown that eating a | | | | 3) Some fruits, such as grapefruit, cherries, |
| large quantity of high GI foods can result in | | | | dried apricots, apples, pears, plums and |
| serious medical conditions such as obesity, | | | | peaches. The GI of these fruits can range |
| heart disease, and diabetes. High GI foods | | | | from a low of 25 (grapefruit) to a high of 42 |
| are those that contain starches, refined | | | | (peaches). While fresh fruit is healthy, |
| flour, or sugars. Foods such as white bread, | | | | some fruits can have a very high GI. |
| candy, potatoes, cookies, and the like are | | | | Watermelon, for example, carries a high GI |
| high GI foods. They digest quickly and | | | | ranking. |
| result in a quick burst of blood sugar. On | | | | |
| the other hand, low GI foods such as oats, | | | | 4) Whole grains, such as barley, oats, green |
| and other whole grains, and most vegetables, | | | | lentils, rye, and multi-grain breads. These |
| digest more slowly, thereby resulting in a | | | | grains can range from a low ranking of 25 |
| slower change in blood sugar and more | | | | (pearl barley) to a ranking of 48 (multi |
| balanced digestion. | | | | grain bread) |
| | | | |
| According to an article published by the | | | | 5) Nuts, such as peanuts, cashews and |
| Harvard School of Public Health, the most | | | | walnuts. Peanuts have the lowest GI of the |
| comprehensive list of glycemic index food | | | | group, with a GI of 14. |
| rankings was released in 2002. In the July, | | | | |
| 2002 issue of the American Journal of | | | | 6) Some pastas, such as whole grain |
| Clinical Nutrition, almost 750 foods were | | | | spaghetti, egg fettuccini, and ravioli. The |
| ranked within the glycemic index. Today in | | | | GI of this food group is in the upper end of |
| 2008, the database of GI food rankings, | | | | the low glycemic index (ranging from 42 to |
| updated by the University of Sydney in | | | | 48). |
| Australia, now includes almost 1,600 | | | | |
| different food types. | | | | 7) Some beans, such as soy beans, red kidney |
| | | | beans, lentils, white beans, and cannellini |
| Delicious foods with low glycemic index | | | | beans (ranging from a GI of 18 to 31). |
| | | | |
| What are some of the foods with low glycemic | | | | There are many more foods in the low glycemic |
| index? The glycemic index ranks foods from 0 | | | | index, which contribute to higher levels of |
| to 100, with the low numbers referring to low | | | | health and digestion. |
| glycemic foods. Low GI foods are ranked from | | | | |