Foods With Low GI
By Greg Smithers
The glycemic index, more commonly known as GI, ranks carbohydrate foods according to their effect on glucose levels in the blood. High GI foods are absorbed rapidly and lead to a quick rise in blood glucose levels.
Low GI foods, in contrast break down more gradually and produce more stable glucose levels in the blood. This, in turn, leads to less fluctation in mood and energy.
Due to the increased digestion time, low GI foods release their energy more slowly into the bloodstream. This prolongs the feeling of being full, which reduced the need for snacks.
The fluctuating blood glucose levels caused by a diet of too many high GI foods can cause an overproduction of insulin. Over time, this can lead to problems such as hypoglycemia, Syndrome X and even type II diabetes. On the other hand, there is some evidence that lower GI diets can improve the levels of good cholesterol in the blood.
Should you restrict your diet to only low GI foods? Most diets don't recommend this because active people should aim for a balance of low GI and high GI foods to make sure they have optimal energy resources.
High GI foods include pasta, rice and bread. Low GI foods include vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes. However, some of these such as bananas would be considered mid-range GI foods.
Other factors, such as the methods used to cook food can affect GI levels.
While GI is useful, you need to be sensible. For example, chocolate is a low GI food, but it is not the best food to add to your diet.
Nevertheless, GI can be a useful tool for selecting between foods that have low levels of saturated fat and are nutrient-rich.
Discover the secrets to getting rid of weight quickly in my (http://www.top-weightloss.info ) free weight loss report. I disclose all the secrets I've personally used to lose 9 lbs in 11 days. Go to http://www.top-weightloss.info right now before I change my mind and decide to no longer disclose my secrets!