A must know: the Glycemic Index of food

The Glycemic Index or GI is a way of measuring how fast a food converts to sugar in your body. If a food converts quickly, it is a high GI food (for example, white bread, potatoes and watermelon). If it converts slowly, it has a low GI rating (like berries, pasta or steak).

Why should you eat foods with a low Glycemic Index?

Eating foods with a low Glycemic Index may help you to:

1. Control your blood glucose level
2. Control your cholesterol level
3. Control your appetite
4. Lower your risk of getting heart disease
5. Lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetis

To those who work out on a regular basis, the glycemic index is important as well. When you eat high glycemic carbohydrates to help fuel your workout, you need to balance them out with low glycemic carbohydrates. Eating low glycemic carbohydrates can help bodybuilders and others involved in fitness to have a more constant level of energy when working out.

Those who have risks for cancer should remember that sugar is food for cancer and like the diabetics should avoid foods with high glycemic index.

In my next post which should follow shortly, I will post the Glycemic Index of some foods.