What you should know about glycemic index

Applying GI to real-life diets is complex, weigh all information before relying on glycemic index.

If you check different sources on the GI of foods, the numbers don’t always match.

The glycemic index takes into account only the type of carbohydrate, not the amount of carbohydrate, in a usual serving. Carbohydrates can be more concentrated in some foods than others. For example, chocolate cake has 52 grams of carbohydrate in a usual serving, while carrots deliver only 6 grams of carbohydrate in a serving. So even though the glycemic index of carrots is higher (47, vs. 38 for cake) chocolate cake is going to have a much greater total effect on blood sugar, because it takes 81 servings of carrots to equal the carbohydrate in a serving of cake.

The GI in a given food can vary, depending on where it is grown and how it is processed and cooked. Australian potatoes have a higher GI than American potatoes. In general, the more processed the food, the higher the Glycemic Index.

Even cooking pasta for a longer time can raise the Glycemic level.

Generally, whole grains have a lower GI than refined grains. But glycemic index rankings are often confusing:

Bran flakes and Cheerios have a GI of 74. Shredded wheat is 75, and Fruit Loops, 69.

Long-grain white rice averaged 56 in 10 studies (it ranges between 41 and 64), while brown rice averaged 55 (50-66).

The average GI of white bread in six studies was 70 and of whole grain bread was 71.

And, ironically, sugars have a lower GI than starches, because starches are made up totally of glucose molecules, and sugars are not. So Coca-Cola has a lower GI than Grape-nuts flakes.

Studies that establish the Glycemic Index of foods measure the response to a food consumed all by itself. But most of us don’t eat like that. What’s important is predicting the effect of the food as part of a meal.

Experts disagree on the value of the Glycemic Index.

The American Diabetes Association says that “the relationship between glycemic index and glycemic load and the development of type 2 diabetes remains unclear at this time.”

The Canadian and Australian Diabetes Associations have endorsed GI as a tool for improved blood glucose control. Some dietitians who work with people with diabetes recommend that their clients address other diet issues first, such as total carbohydrate and meal spacing, then try the GI concept to see if that improves blood sugars further.

There’s no doubt that different foods produce different glucose responses,but the total carbohydrate has much more of an effect than the Glycemic Index.

If you have hard time using GI diets, a better approach is to eat close to the farm. Avoid highly refined foods and focus on lean meats, beans and legumes, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

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