First, don't consider the glycemic index chart as a big intimidating monster. It can be (and is) a truly great discovery. It WILL help you with your general health and your weight control issues. So, kick back and get set to learn!
High, low and in between, the numbers rule the glycemic index chart.
The glycemic index chart, when you look at it, shows a listing of foods. Each food is associated with a number ranging from 0 to 100.
When we digest food, our body turns it into glucose (sugar) which enters the bloodstream and goes where it is needed. Foods get digested at varying rates. The faster your body digests something, the faster it enters the bloodstream. This causes a spike in our blood sugar levels.
The numbers on the glycemic index chart indicate how fast a food is digested and how fast your blood sugar will spike. A high number, like 92 means it will happen - fast.
A lower number, like 15 just means that the food is digested slowly and will more slowly enter the bloodstream. Slow and steady is MUCH healthier. Particularly if you are a diabetic or are trying to lose weight.
Reading the glycemic index chart may seem confusing, but it's easy to understand. For the majority of charts, a number is considered low if it is below 55. Over 70 is considered high and the numbers in between (55-69) are in the medium range.
Various glycemic index charts are a little different, but they all work on the same ideas. Usually they group foods by the type and category, they aren't listed by index number.
Ever looked at a glycemic index chart and wondered why some foods are lower than others?
Trying to anticipate where a food is going to rank on the chart is a fun challenge. A quick glimpse of the glycemic index chart can be an eye opener and confusing on quite a few levels. A snickers bar ranks in the 40's but your daily bagel comes in at a whopping 70's! I'd have never guessed that!
Once you break it down, it makes more sense. Protein is digested very slowly and the Snickers bar not only has chocolate, but is loaded with protein rich peanuts. They make it slower to digest.
Want a loophole in the system? clearly a food ranked lower on the glycemic index chart is better for us. But, if you must indulge in a higher ranked food, add in some protein. Add peanut butter to that bread!
Proteins and some fats are what cause foods to have unexpected rankings on the glycemic index chart. If you weren't aware of the loophole, it could seem as nothing but a random assortment of numbers.
General health problems, like heart disease are helped by using the glycemic index chart. It helps control blood sugar levels for diabetics and if you want to lose weight, the pound just seem to magically disappear.
Mastering the glycemic index chart is a wonderful step towards health and longevity.
My website has a lot more information on the glycemic index chart as well as other weight loss strategies. Check it out right away and you can get a FREE enrollment in my "Fast Weight Loss Tips!" mini-course.
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