A guide to healthy eating; benefits of the glycemic index list

You will probably have heard lots of people talking about it, if you're unfortunate enough to be a diabetic you'll definitely have heard of it. The glycemic index (GI) list has become a real buzz word of late, and not just amongst those that have to control their blood sugar level.

To benefit from the GI list you will need to get a handle on how the GI works and how it can enhance your life, then you can begin to study the list itself.

The glycemic index

The GI came about as a means of helping diabetics control their fluctuating blood sugar levels; basically it explains the effects different types of food have on releasing blood sugar into the body.

As we have mentioned elsewhere on this website, the GI simply categorises carbohydrates on a scale of 0 to 100 and so is an indication as to how your blood sugar levels may rise after you consume a certain food. Food at the upper-end of the scale will be digested faster and may cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Food at the lower end of the scale is digested slowly this helps Sugars to be introduced at a more gradual rate, a much healthier option.

So nowadays, the GI is not exclusively used by diabetics, ordinary health-conscious individuals are applying themselves and losing weight, staying healthy and reducing the risks of heart disease and diabetes.

So what is the glycemic index list

Perhaps you have been told by your physician to consult the list; maybe you're interested in losing weight and staying healthy.  Either way, you will need to take a good look at the list itself, the list is ever-evolving, and most food types are now listed, so whatever you're about to eat will probably be included. And because the numbers are listed in an easy to understand fashion i.e. 10 is low and 90 is high, it’s very easy to spot the healthier food option.

Why the glycemic index?

So why use the GI and not other established diets? Well a lot of diets come and go, there are always an awful lot of magic formulas and miracle diets around, their effectiveness is questionable, and indeed some can be dangerous. The GI is a scientifically researched method originally devised to help diabetics and is totally safe. It's really only recently that people started using the GI to lose weight.  Indeed, now a lot of doctors refer people to it with regard to their weight and health issues.


A sample of the GI list from my e-book is featured on the next page.

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