G.I. or Glycaemic Index
May 20th, 2012 → 2:13 am @ Shanti
GI. or Glycaemic Index.
The Glycaemic index, is a figure put on a particular food or drink, to indicate by how much the glucose level is raised in our blood, by that food.
Glucose is valued at 100. Any other food, with a GI value lower than 100, is rated as high, medium or low GI.
This figure is only true if portion sizes are the same, so eating a large amount of a low GI food, still can produce a high reading.
As I have already mentioned in my book, “ Victory over dis…eases”, that no 2 people are alike and therefore these figures are not an absolutely true indication for everyone, but a good guide. Also, one carrot for instance, is not like the next. It depends on how and where it is grown and what minerals it has absorbed from the soil etc.
I also stated in my book, that foods can affect people in a very Hypoglycaemic way (High GI). The lady mentioned in my book, who felt extremely tired almost immediately after consuming a glass of carrot juice, was obviously a hypoglycaemic person. The effect would last for half an hour or so and than she would be alright again. I tested the carrot juice and in one glass I found the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar. No wonder she was tired.
A high GI food or better a HIGH G.I. DIET, is making the energy levels peak all day in high and low spikes on a graph, where a LOW G.I. DIET, makes the energy levels fairly even and the graph would be fairly smooth and fluctuating slightly.
I wrote in my book about putting coal on a fire. The energy level only gets raised minimally, but it burns for a long time and keeps the house warm quite a long time, compared to burning paper, which will flare up quickly with a lot of energy and burn only for a short time. You will have to keep on burning paper, to get the same result That’s a comparison only, but gives you an idea about the actions of High GI and Low GI. Sugars are like burning paper; quick energy suppliers, but only lasting a short time. (Sugar and all sorts of sweet foods, should NOT be eaten at all. Vegetables and that includes all vegetables, like potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin etc. etc.,are like the coal I mentioned, they are slow to burn and last a long time.
The index helps you manage your diet, weight, insulin management, diabetes management, heart disease and cholesterol levels, hunger and physical endurance for instance.
The GI index only affects the foods with a carbohydrate content, so meat, fish, chicken are not covered by GI. However, processed meats, such as sausages, chicken nuggets, crumbed or battered fish etc, which have a mixture of flour either in them or around them, are GI rated.
There are lists of GI foods, both the high, medium or low GI available on the internet and I suggest you look them up yourself. Generally speaking, the more natural a food is, even if it is made with a grain, the lower the GI. Take for instance white bread. It would be around 69 on the GI index, where stone ground wholemeal bread is around 53, so there is a vast difference.
Following are some items to keep away from, if you have problems, as they are all in the high range, from 70 to 98: Mashed potato, white bread, watermelon, swede, bagel, bran flakes, cheerios, French fries, coco pops, jelly beans, rice cakes, rice `krispies`, cornflakes, jacket potatoes, puffed wheat, baguette, parsnips, white rice and dates. The latter are 100GI.. These are only a few items, but there are THOUSANDS of them in the super market. Please learn to read the labels on products you are interested in and you will find, there are not many you should eat, from the super market. In my book I mention a very good booklet, which tells you, all about additives and whether you should consume them or not. It is called: “The Chemical Maze”, shopping companion, by Bill Statham.
Go to : www.healthyeatingclub.org for a table of Glycaemic index of foods.
It is not easy, when you are a sweet tooth, but wouldn’t you like to feel great and be healthy? You can do it you know.
Good luck, Shanti .
