| Each food is indexed based upon the rate of sugar released. The index is based on a scale of 0-100. The GI diet has many of the benefits of a low carb diet, but it doesn't come with the baggage of Atkins - meaning the GI diet focuses on the quality of the carbs you eat, not only the quantity.
Is The Glycemic Index Diet Right For You?
Only you and your doctor can decide what is right for you, but consider the following:
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State: "15 out of 16 published studies found that the consumption of low-glycemic index foods delayed the return of hunger, decreased subsequent food intake, and increased satiety (feeling full) when compared to high-glycemic index foods (?). The results of several small short-term trials (1-4 months) suggest that low-glycemic load diets result in significantly more weight or fat loss than high-glycemic load diets (?)."
Consider the following from the official GI web site:
Eating a lot of high GI foods can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true if you are overweight and sedentary. Switching to eating mainly low GI carbs that slowly trickle glucose into your blood stream keeps your energy levels balanced and means you will feel fuller for longer between meals.
- Low GI diets help people lose and control weight
- Low GI diets increase the body's sensitivity to insulin
- Low GI carbs reduce the risk of heart disease
- Low GI carbs reduce blood cholesterol levels
- Low GI carbs prolong physical endurance
How Do I Change to the GI Diet?
The GI Diet is easy to work in to your current eat habits. Simple exchange a current high GI food for a new low GI alternative:
- Use breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran
- Use breads with wholegrains, stone-ground flour, sour dough
- Reduce the amount of potatoes you eat
- Enjoy pasta, noodles, quinoa
- Eat plenty of salad vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing
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