Eating foods low in glycemic index values seems to be the new craze in dieting but has actually been a method used to control diabetes for years.
In addition to helping control and prevent disease, these foods can make you feel full longer, thus causing you to eat less and lose weight. This healthy way of eating has been a basis for some “good carb” or low glycemic index diets such as the South Beach Diet
.
What is the glycemic index?
The glycemic index is a scientific way of measuring foods based on the way they effect blood sugar levels. Foods that are low on the glycemic index scale are foods that are digested slowly and cause a gradual rise and decline in blood sugar levels.
Anyone on a low carb diet will find this familiar as the premise is that foods high in carbs cause a spike in blood sugar which results in cravings for high carb foods a couple of hours after eating, thus causing you to overeat and a repetition of the cycle.
But not all carbs cause this spike and over eat reaction. Foods low in glycemic index cause a gradual rise - the results being that you are full longer and less cravings resulting in a more moderate and controlled eating, less eating, weight loss and better health!
Unlike most food restricting diets, foods with a low glycemic index are not weird or exotic - they are foods that you would normally eat and can be found in the grocery store. They are also foods that are touted as “good” foods on most healthy diet plans including low fat, and low calorie plans.
By now you are probably dying to find out about these magical foods low in glycemic index, but first you must understand that the index is a scale. Foods are rated as to how much they raise you blood sugar levels. Foods that are under 55 on this scale are considered to be low glycemic index foods anything above is high, but as with any scale some are higher than others. In addition, eating some really low GI foods along with some high ones can kind of balance things out and have the effect on your blood sugar of a meduim GI food.
Foods Low In Glycemic Index
Lettuce = 10
Onions = 10
Zucchini = 10
Plain Yogurt = 14
Peanuts = 14
Broccoli = 15
Mushrooms = 15
Cabbage = 15
Celery = 15
Asparagus = 15
Tomato = 15
Cauliflower = 15
Cucumber = 15
Spinach = 15
Dill pickles = 15
Watercress = 15
Cashews = 22
Grapefruit = 25
Milk = 30
Lima Beans = 32
Vermicelli = 35
Apple = 38
Navy Beans = 38
Plum = 39
Peach = 42
Orange = 43
Baked Beans = 44
Grapes = 46
Peas = 48
Oatmeal = 49
Milk Chocolate = 49
Linguini = 50
Pumpernickel Bread = 51
Kiwi = 52
Sweet Potato = 52
Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread = 53
Sourdough Bread = 54
Muesli = 54
Special K = 54
Yam = 54
Pound Cake = 54
Oatmeal Cookies = 55
Brown Rice = 55
Popcorn = 55
For a more detailed list of foods low in Glycemic index try this book:
See Also:
Low Gi Diet Vs Low Carb Diet
Find out the differences and similarities between the two diets.
Glycemic Index Food List
Wondering where your favorite food is on the list? Find out here.
Combining Foods For The GI Index Diet
How to eat your favorite foods and still lose weight and stay healthy
Table of Glycemic Index Values For Fruit
All the fruit values we could find .. and still growing.
Table of Glycemic Index Values For Vegetables
All the vegetable values we could find .. and still growing.