Low glycemic foods are those that have a low value on the glycemic index. Studies show that these foods can be good for you in many ways. Low glycemic foods help with weight loss and blood sugar. This may help lower the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. The
g lycemic index is a ranking system of carbohydrates that affect your blood sugar levels such as breads, cereals, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. Experts use the glycemic index to measure, rank, and assign foods a glycemic value. This tells you how each one affects blood sugar levels. After you eat carbohydrates,
your digestive system breaks them down into simple sugars, and they pass into the bloodstream. Certain carbs can cause your blood sugar levels to spike. High blood sugar levels may lead to conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Foods on the glycemic index are classified into: Low glycemic foods control the rise of blood sugar levels because you digest and absorb them more slowly. This makes them the best choice for anyone interested in a low glycemic diet. Foods with a higher glycemic index value should be eaten in moderation. They’re digested and absorbed faster, leading to a sharp rise and fall in blood sugar levels. Low glycemic foods include: Medium glycemic foods include: High glycemic foods include: Foods with a high glycemic index value lead to high blood sugar levels, which boosts the production of insulin. This hormone removes sugar from your blood and transfers it to the cells to make energy. Studies show that
eating a lot of low glycemic foods may be good for your health. Some benefits of low glycemic foods include:
A low glycemic index diet can be particularly effective for people with diabetes if portion control is also applied to those foods with higher carbohydrate content. This is the basis of working out a food’s glycemic load Low GI diets are diets which incorporate foods which are more slowly converted into energy by the body. The NHS notes that low GI diets can be a suitable option for people with diabetes as they can help to blood glucose levels more stable than diets based around high GI foods. What does low and high GI mean?The glycemic Index ranks food depending on the rate at which the body breaks it down to form glucose High GI foods are those that are quickly broken down into glucose. Typical examples of high GI foods include white bread, sweetened drinks, biscuits, potatoes and oranges. Low GI foods are those that are broken down more slowly by the body. Typical examples of low GI foods include whole grain bread, milk, beans, leafy vegetables and berries. What do low GI foods do in relation to diabetes?As low GI foods tend to break down more slowly, they are less likely to cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels compared to high GI foods and therefore they are a better option for keeping stable blood glucose levels. Favouring low GI foods over high GI foods leaves you feeling more satisfied over a longer period of time, and less likely to feel hungry before the next meal. What do high GI foods do in relation to diabetes?High GI foods break down very quickly causing blood glucose levels to rise sharply. People with diabetes refer to sharp rises in blood sugar levels as ‘spikes’ in blood sugar. Furthermore, for those who produce their own insulin, high GI foods can force the body to try to produce a surge of insulin to counteract the quick acting carbohydrates and a common consequence of this is a feeling of hunger within 2 to 3 hours, which can leave the dieter craving more food. For people with diabetes, this can be particularly dangerous as the ability of the body to control blood glucose levels is reduced or non-existent. For this reason, people with diabetes have to be careful when it comes to eating high GI foods Benefits of low GI dietsLow GI diet generally have the following benefits:
Disadvantages of low GI dietsThe main disadvantage of low GI diets for people with diabetes comes if the overall carbohydrate content of meals is too high for the body to comfortably cope with. For example, a large portion of a bran based cereal for breakfast will typically be low GI but could contain a relatively high value of carbohydrate. In this case, the carbohydrate content of the meal could be too high for some people with diabetes, causing their blood glucose levels to rise too high over a period of hours. However, this needn’t be such a problem if portion control is applied to any foods that have a higher carbohydrate content. When the glycaemic index value of a food and its carbohydrate content are taken into account together, this is the basis of working out the glycemic load of a portion. What foods are considered low GI?Low GI foods that are considered suitable for people with diabetes include
Care should be taken with fruits and vegetables as the GI value of these food groups can vary quite significantly.
What fruits and vegetables are low glycemic?A healthy, low glycemic diet should comprise mostly low GI foods, such as: Fruits: apples, berries, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit. Non-starchy vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, tomatoes. Whole grains: quinoa, couscous, barley, buckwheat, farro, oats.
What fruits are low in glycemic index?10 Low-Glycemic Fruits for Diabetes. Glycemic index.. Cherries.. Grapefruit.. Dried apricots.. Pears.. Apples.. Oranges.. Plums.. What is the lowest glycemic vegetable?Low-Glycemic Vegetables. Carrots.. Green peas.. Onions.. Lettuce.. Greens (spinach, kale, collards, beet). Green beans.. Tomatoes.. Cucumbers.. What is the lowest glycemic index food?Diet details
Low GI : Green vegetables, most fruits, raw carrots, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils and bran breakfast cereals. Medium GI : Sweet corn, bananas, raw pineapple, raisins, oat breakfast cereals, and multigrain, oat bran or rye bread. High GI : White rice, white bread and potatoes.
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