Low GI Foods

Diet Plans That Use GI

Welcome to Try Low GI Foods

I have been using Low GI Foods for my family's health for about 3 years. My husband, myself and our eldest daughter have all been found to have Insulin Resistance which can indicate that we can get Type 2 Diabetes.

We use the Glycemic Index every day to evaluate what foods are best to eat. There are many benefits to eating Low GI foods which I will outline below.

As a mother with 2 teenage daughters weightloss is a discussion point. I don't believe in quick weightloss plans. I think gradual weight loss, by choosing great foods that nourish your body. Sometimes, a quick loss diet is necessary, if you have a target date or a medical emergency.

I have researched foods and ways of eating that improve overall health by making the right food choices which lead to gradual healthy weight loss. I have put links on this page to plans that fit this criteria so check them out if you are interested.

Don't forget to Get your free copy of GLycemic 101 (Right side bar.)

Just remember I'm not a health expert and this is general information. Check with your own health professional if you plan to change your diet.

Eat Well and Stay Well
Sarah Seymour
sarah@trylowgifoods.com

GI Quick Links

GI Diet Programs

The Low GI Diet Breakthrough is an Ebook that has an easy step by step method of selecting and eating foods you like with the benefits of weight loss, increased energy and reduced blood sugar and cholesterol. You also get 75 Low GI recipes and GI Food Chart.

The Anne Collins' program is a low GI diet community with online support to guide you through the process for a whole year. It has Low GI meal plans as well as 8 other diet plans including Vegetarian and Healthy Low Carb.

Type 2 Diabetes Programs

Julia Hanf's program treats Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and reduce insulin resistance by eating the right foods using natural food supplements.

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index is a measure of how quickly carbohydrate foods are converted into glucose and how quickly that glucose in absorbed into the blood stream. High GI Index foods are absorbed quickly into the blood stream and create "sugar highs".

Your body reacts to the sugar highs by creating too much insulin (an enzyme) to convert the sugar. When too much insulin is created you often get cravings for sugary or high GI foods, so you feel hungry and want to eat again but that results in even more insulin. Then you want to eat again. This is like a food addiction and can lead to weight gain.

Most fast (junk) food is High GI, as is Jasmine Rice that you get with Chinese food. (without the rice Chinese food can be very Low GI as long as you avoid the sweet sauces and deepfried dishes )

This is why you often feel hungry shortly after you eat. it. You have just created an insulin spike and you feel the need to eat to satisfy it.

What are Low GI foods?

Low GI foods are foods that are absorbed slowly into the blood stream. They don't create a sugar high and therefore don't create an insulin spike.

They are known as the healthy foods.:-

Most Fresh fruit and Vegetables
Most Wholegrain flours and breads
Lentils and Pulses
Fresh meat, seafood and poultry
Soy, tofu and Tempe.

You can find specific foods listed in at the-gi-diet.org.

Why are they good For you?

Maintaining stable levels of insulin in your blood helps:-

Prevent Food Cravings. This really helps to reduce the amount food you eat each day.
Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. This is the developed worlds larget health concern.
Assist with weight loss. Eating Low GI foods can reduce weight easily and be very satsifiying.
Improves Heart Health. Our heart must work harder if we eat high GI foods
Lowers Cholesterol.

How to Calculate the Glycemic Index In Foods.

The glycemic Index of different foods can only be measured scientically. Basically 10 or more people are given a blood test before they eat anything. The blood test measures the amount of glucose in their blood.

They are then allowed to eat a measured amount of the food. Their blood is tested after a period of time. The amount of glucose in their blood allows scientists to calculcate the Glycemic Index. The higher the amount of glucose in their blood the higher the glycemic index.

Identify Healthy Foods to Eat.

We all want to be eating healthy foods but it often hard to know what they are. The Glycemic Index food list is a great way for us to easily identify healthy carbohydrate foods,including fruits and vegetables. We all know we should be eating more these. We can easily substitute the low GI foods for the high GI foods. As for fats and proteins we should be using unsaturated vegetable oils and eating low fat proteins, like lean cuts for meat, fish, tempeh, tofu. Don't forget legumes and pulses; lentils, chick peas and beans of all kinds generally have a low GI.