Glycemic Index Diet

Sunday, 08 November 2009 02:43 | Written by Cathy |

A Glycemic Index Diet, commonly known as G.I. Diet is gaining huge popularity and it is now being considered as one of the healthiest ways of losing weight. The glycemic diet is more of a way of eating than a diet. Many people are now following the G.I way of eating to realize their dream of losing weight.

The basics of the glycemic index:

The basic essence of the glycemic index is it ranks carbohydrate foods by attributing them with a number that ranges from 0 to 100. This number is nothing but an indicator to measure the rate at which food raises blood glucose levels during the process of absorption. The higher the glucose value, the quicker the sugar absorbed.

What exactly is the Glycemic Index Diet?

The G.I Diet is no different from a low carb diet. However, it is not a strict diet and exclusively targets types of carbs instead of targeting the quantity of carbs in each meal. It also emphasizes more on the timing of the two primary types of meals - a protein and a carb meal. The art behind the timing and types of meal makes the G.I Diet a powerful tool that helps you to lose fat stored in your body. It is also the safest and relatively quickest way of losing extra pounds. It is also all about insulin and controlling blood sugar levels.

Foods included in G.I Diet:

The food included in this diet is classified into Low GI, medium GI and high GI levels. A high glycemic index food has a value of more than 70 whereas those with a value of 56-69 are considered medium GI foods. Those with a value of less than 55 are considered low GI foods.

Low GI foods are the best as they provide a steady supply of energy over the course of several hours. These foods also make you feel fuller for a long period of time.

The G.I Diet basically includes foodstuffs from various categories such as breakfast cereals, bread, vegetables, snacks and sweet foods, fruits, legumes and dairy products.

Is the G.I Diet Simple?

The diet is very simple as it includes foodstuffs that are basically chosen from the list of low G.I foods. However, it gets complicated if you create a meal made up of different food items with different G.I values. The idea behind this is to make sure that you make your meals with a low Glycemic Index.

Benefits of the G.I way of eating:

By adhering to the G.I Diet, you will experience less hunger pangs and fewer cravings for sugary foods.
You can limit the storage of fats in your body without depriving yourself of eating tasty foods.
You can also enjoy some of your tasty foods and still lose fat
If you follow the G.I Diet, you will be less vulnerable to diabetes and other diseases.
You also don't have to follow strict calorie reductions.
The low G.I Diet may also reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration

In a nutshell, the Glycemic Index Diet is one of the healthiest ways of losing weight without sacrificing the urge to eat tasty foods.