Fact-checked

At BeautyAnswered, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Is the Glycemic Index?

K. Waterman
K. Waterman

The glycemic index (GI) is a method of measuring blood sugar levels with respect to carbohydrate consumption. It not only measures how much the blood sugar level increases, but also how quickly. Foods containing carbohydrates are measured on a scale of 1 to 100, giving each food its own value.

If someone needs to raise his or her blood sugar quickly, such as an athlete running a sprinting race, he or she would want to consume foods with a high glycemic index. These foods provide a quick burst of energy, which is essential for an athlete. For most people, foods with a low value are the best choice in keeping blood sugar levels consistent over long periods of time.

Most fruits and vegetables have a low glycemic index.
Most fruits and vegetables have a low glycemic index.

Foods with a high rating are those that are digested easily, but they leave the eater feeling hungry and lethargic a short time later. Examples include white bread, pasta, and white rice. These are the same foods that many nutritionists often refer to as "bad carbs."

Food with a low reading fill the eater up, but raise blood sugar slowly and steadily. This gives the eater a longer feeling of being full and more continuous energy. These foods also contain carbohydrates, but they are considered "good carbs" such as those found in many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Pasta dishes tend to have a high glycemic index rating.
Pasta dishes tend to have a high glycemic index rating.

The glycemic index is an important tool used in treating people with diabetes and in weight loss programs. A food with a low value makes a person feel full longer and stay satisfied longer, so he or she is less likely to overeat. For the diabetic, the traditional way of controlling blood sugar was through counting carbohydrates. By better understanding how carbohydrates are broken down by the body, however, nutritionists have been able to design diets for diabetics that focus on those foods with a lower glycemic value.

Discussion Comments

spasiba

Food with high glycemic-index might increase the risk of colon cancer. That is what some studies are showing.

So I think I will have to satisfy my sweet tooth in a different way, possibly with some fruit. One good way I find is having nuts, such as walnuts with apple for a snack. It is filling and taste good at the same time.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Most fruits and vegetables have a low glycemic index.
      Most fruits and vegetables have a low glycemic index.
    • Pasta dishes tend to have a high glycemic index rating.
      By: Francesco83
      Pasta dishes tend to have a high glycemic index rating.
    • 'Good carbs' are found in fruits and vegetables.
      By: Kasia Bialasiewicz
      'Good carbs' are found in fruits and vegetables.
    • Someone running a sprinting race can raise their blood sugar quickly with high-glycemic foods.
      By: jokonkoda
      Someone running a sprinting race can raise their blood sugar quickly with high-glycemic foods.
    • Sugar has a high glycemic index.
      By: librakv
      Sugar has a high glycemic index.
    • People who have diabetes should consume plenty of lean proteins and fresh vegetables.
      By: marrakeshh
      People who have diabetes should consume plenty of lean proteins and fresh vegetables.
    • People with diabetes should not consume large amounts of desserts.
      By: Kim Schneider
      People with diabetes should not consume large amounts of desserts.
    • Diabetics may use the glycemic index to choose foods that help them manage their blood sugar levels.
      By: Gordan Jankulov
      Diabetics may use the glycemic index to choose foods that help them manage their blood sugar levels.