Top 8 Low Glycemic Index Foods
The glycemic index (GI) of foods is an important component to know. Preferring low GIs in your diet will allow you to maintain a steady weight or even lose weight. Find out which foods have the lowest glycemic index.
What is the glycemic index of food?
The glycemic index is a standard relating to foods that contain carbohydrates: it corresponds to the effect that food has on our glycemic level (blood sugar level). The glycemic index is calculated from a reference: sucrose or white sugar, which has the highest index (GI = 100).
Food is divided into 3 categories:
- Foods with a high GI: >70
- Foods moderate in the digestive system: between 51 and 69
- Low glycemic index foods: <50
The higher the glycemic index, the faster carbohydrates pass into the blood. Consumption of foods with a low glycemic index avoids post-meal hyperglycemia (and thus sudden insulin production, increased fat storage and reactive hypoglycemia). In the long run, they can thus promote weight loss and reduce cravings for sweets.
Low glycemic index diet
Some nutritionists also rely on the glycemic index of foods to provide weight loss diets. The GI diet is mainly based on choosing foods that do not cause a rise in blood sugar. Thus, simple recipes make it possible to control blood sugar intake, increase satiety and avoid hunger very quickly after meals.
Note: the longer you cook your food, the higher the glycemic index. For example: well-cooked pasta has a higher glycemic index than pasta itself.
