Glycemic Index-What is it?
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009Ever feel like you’re on a roller coaster of never ending carbohydrate cravings and crashes? If so, you may be suffering from what’s most simply known as poor blood sugar control. Studies have found by eating foods lower on the glycemic index (GI), people experience less cravings and feel “full” for a longer period of time.
So what exactly is glycemic index? The glycemic index was actually developed for helping people with diabetes choose foods that would not cause big swings in blood glucose levels. When we eat carbohydrates (including starch and sugars), they are digested and converted into glucose, a simple sugar, by our bodies. Glucose is then absorbed and enters into the blood stream providing energy for our daily activities. Glycemic index is a ranking of how fast a given food triggers a rise in the blood sugar level. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly during digestion have the highest glycemic index- blood sugar rises very quickly. Carbohydrates that break down slowly, releasing blood sugar gradually into the blood stream, have a low glycemic index.
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