The Glycemic Index: What is it and How Does It Affect You?

There are many things that play into nutrition, and keeping track of what foods are healthiest for you can be a daunting task. While everyone follows different methods depending on their personal health needs, an easy way for some to determine which foods they should be eating is by following the glycemic index (GI).

The glycemic index is a ranking system for foods based on how many carbohydrates a food contains and what effect those foods have on a person's blood sugar. Foods are ranked between 0 and 100, with foods below 55 considered to be low glycemic index and foods above 55 to have a high glycemic index.

Primarily, the glycemic index is used to help people choose foods that will not significantly raise their blood sugar. The lower a food's GI rating, the fewer carbs it has and the less likely it is to cause a rise in blood sugar. This diet method is often utilized to prevent and manage conditions such as:

If you are concerned about your health and want more information on the glycemic index and which foods you may want to include (or exclude) from your glycemic index diet, the advice of your doctor and an experienced nutritionist can help you make educated, healthy choices for you and your family.