GLYCAEMIC INDEX
Glycaemic Index
A fact to consider is the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed in to the human gut, as the absorption rate will have an effect on the blood glucose level.
The rate at which food is absorbed is called The Glycaemic Index.
Pure glucose is absorbed most quickly within the body which leads to the steepest rise in blood sugar levels.
Because sugar is absorbed almost immediately when processed by the human body it is given the highest Glycaemic index or GI OF 100.
Carbohydrates have a reference from 1-100 on the Glycaemic index, the lower numbers repent slower breakdown foods for example hummus has a GI index of 6 at the lower end of the scale and cornflakes have a GI index of 80 on the high end of the scale.
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The higher the GI of food the quicker the body absorbs the sugar which can be used immediately as energy or stored in the cells in the form of fat, meaning that a well balanced diet of slow and medium GI foods may help to keep you at an optimum level of health.
Foods that are absorbed quickly tend to produce a surge in blood glucose levels, triggering a large release of insulin in order to bring blood glucose levels back to normal range. Unfortunately, insulin does this by forcing the glucose and fats in the blood in to storage.
In theory the greater the release of insulin the greater the storage of glucose and fats, hence it is logical that higher GI food may encourage fat storage and weight gain.
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Throughout a typical day our glucose levels vary from around 3.5-5.5mmol for non diabetic individuals, and can rise to up to 8mmol for up to two hours after meals.
Consuming a diet that consists of carbohydrate that have a low GI will help to stabilise your blood sugar levels.
The addition of healthy fat and protein together with carbohydrates helps lower Gi, this is because fat and protein help slow the digestive process, in turn creating a more stable release of glucose while prolonging the release of energy that helps stabilise blood sugar levels, another reason to encourage a balanced diet.
Example of some common GI foods
High 60-100
GI
Glucose 100
Honey 87
Baked Potato 98
Chocolate bar 68
Parsnips 97
Muesli 66
Sweetcorn 60
Brown rice 80
Wholemeal Bread 72
Medium 40-59
GI
Porridge 54
All Bran 51
Wholemeal pasta 42
Oatmeal Biscuit 54
Grapes 44
White pasta 50
Oranges 40
Crisps 51
Sponge cake 46
Low 40-
GI
Kidney Beans 29
Chickpeas 36
Apples 39
Plums 25
Soya Beans 15
Grapefruit 26
Yogurt 36
Milk 32
Butterbeans 36
We recommend that most carbohydrates are eaten in combination with other foods.
Choose foods that are lower in GI.
Eat smaller portions but more often, 4-6 times per day.
Consume snacks that are a balance of fats, protein, and carbohydrates.