KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • The low glycemic diet is based on the premise that by eating low-GI foods, you can lose weight
  • GI is a rating system for carbohydrate-containing foods
  • Foods with a GI rating of 70 or more are considered high GI, while those with a GI of 56 or less are considered low GI
  • This diet may also help to prevent type 2 diabetes

The glycemic index diet for weight loss is a plan that ranks foods according to how much they raise blood sugar levels. When you follow this diet, you eat foods with a low glycemic index, which means they don’t cause a big spike in blood sugar.

The glycemic index ranks foods according to how they affect blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index raise blood sugar levels more than foods with a low glycemic index.

There is plenty to consider, and it can be an effective diet to use if you are seeking a new way to lose weight and keep your body healthy.

Can the Glycemic Index Diet Help With Weight Loss?

The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 based on how they affect blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index raise blood sugar levels more than foods with a low glycemic index.

The glycemic index diet for weight loss is a plan that ranks foods according to how much they raise blood sugar levels. When you follow this diet, you eat foods with a low glycemic index, which means they don’t cause a big spike in blood sugar [1].

This is a healthy way to lose weight because it helps keep your blood sugar levels stable, and it can also help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Expert Tip: Use a food tracker to keep track of the GI of the foods you’re eating.

How Does the Glycemic Diet Work?

The glycemic index diet for weight loss works by eating foods that have a low glycemic index. This means that they don’t cause a big spike in blood sugar [2].

Eating foods with a high glycemic index causes your blood sugar to spike and then crash. This can make you feel tired, and it can also lead to cravings for sugary or high-carb foods.

Low glycemic foods can help you lose weight because they stabilize your blood sugar levels. This means that you won’t have spikes in insulin and won’t feel as hungry (that’s due to the stabilization of blood sugar levels).

What Factors Affect the GI of Food?

There are several factors that can impact the GI rating for food. These are as follows:

The Type of Sugar

The type of sugar in food can impact the glycemic index. Foods that contain simple sugars, like glucose and fructose, tend to have a higher glycemic index than foods that contain complex carbohydrates, like starch.

Expert Tip: Check food labels to see what type of sugar is in a product.

The Structure of Starch

The structure of starch can also affect the glycemic index. Foods that contain soluble fiber, like oats and barley, tend to have a lower glycemic index than foods that contain insoluble fiber, like wheat [3].

How Refined the Carbs are

Refined carbs have a higher glycemic index than unrefined carbs. This is because refined carbs are more easily digested and absorbed by the body. For example, white bread has a higher GI than whole-wheat bread.

Expert Tip: Choose unrefined carbs, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, over refined carbs.

The Nutrient Composition

The nutrient composition of a food can also impact the glycemic index. Foods that are high in fat or protein tend to have a lower glycemic index than foods that are low in fat or protein [4].

The Method of Cooking

The way food is cooked can also impact the glycemic index. Foods cooked for a longer period of time tend to have a lower glycemic index than foods cooked for a shorter amount of time.

Expert Tip: Choose methods of cooking that take longer, like baking or stewing, over methods that are quick, like frying.

The Ripeness of Fruit and Vegetables

The ripeness of fruit and vegetables can also affect the glycemic index. Riper fruits and vegetables tend to have a higher glycemic index than less ripe fruits and vegetables [5].

The Number of Carbs is Important

The number of carbs in a food is essential for low GI diets. Foods with a higher number of carbs tend to have a higher glycemic index than foods with a lower number of carbs.

However, to properly calculate this you need to use the Glycemic Load (GL) rating. This is because the GI rating only tells you how quickly a food will raise your blood sugar levels. It doesn’t take into account the number of carbs in the food.

The Glycemic Load (GL) is a rating system that considers both the glycemic index and the number of carbs in a food. It’s calculated by multiplying the GI rating of food by the number of carbs in grams and then dividing by 100.

For example, if a food has a GI rating of 70 and it contains 30 grams of carbs, the GL rating would be 21.

Expert Tip: A GL of 20 or below is considered low, a GL of 21-40 is considered moderate, and a GL of 41 or above is considered high.

The GI and GL ratings of some common foods are as follows:

  • Food GI Rating GL Rating
  • Bread, white 75 30
  • Bread, whole wheat 72 25
  • Rice, white 64 50
  • Rice, brown 55 25
  • Oats, rolled 55 30
  • Pasta, white 58 40
  • Potatoes, white 54 80
  • Potatoes, sweet 70 60
  • Yams, sweet 54 50
  • Beans, black 30 20
  • Lentils, red 68 30
  • Chickpeas, boiled 33 20
  • Apples, unripe 38 10
  • Apples, ripe 34 15
  • Oranges, ripe 43 10
  • Grapes, white 48 20
  • Watermelon 72 12
  • Strawberries 40 8

How a Low Glycemic Index Diet and Diabetes Work

If you have diabetes, following a low GI diet can help you manage your blood sugar levels. This is because foods with a low GI don’t cause a big spike in blood sugar. This can help you avoid the dangerous high and low blood sugar levels associated with diabetes [7] .

Furthermore, it has the ability to help prevent and delay the occurrence of complications[6], such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Strokes
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney damage

A low GI diet can also help you lose weight. This is because foods with a low GI tend to make you feel fuller for longer.

Additional Benefits of GI

There are several other potential benefits to eating low glycemic diets. These are:

  • Improved cholesterol [8] 
  • Potential weight loss [9] 
  • Lowers the risk of heart disease [10] 
  • Reduces the risk of cancer [11] 

Foods You Can Eat on the Low GI Diet

There are many different foods you can eat on a low GI diet. These include:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Legumes
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Healthy fats

Food You Should Avoid on the Low GI Diet

There are also several foods you should avoid on a low GI diet. These are high GI foods and include:

  • Refined carbs
  • Sugar
  • Saturated and unhealthy fats
  • alcohol

The Risks of a Low GI Diet

There are also several risks [12] associated with a low GI diet. These include:

  • You lack important nutrients: If you eat too many low GI foods, you may miss out on important nutrients. This is because low GI foods tend to be high in fiber and water, filling you up and making it difficult to eat other foods – impacting your body weight.
  • You might miss essential antioxidants: Low GI foods also tend to be high in antioxidants. However, you must eat various fruits and vegetables to get all the important antioxidants your body needs.
  • You might not get enough vitamins and minerals: If you only eat low GI foods, you may also miss out on important vitamins and minerals. This is because low GI foods tend to be high in fiber and water, making it difficult to eat other foods.
  • You may miss out on important phytochemicals: Phytochemicals are compounds found in plants with health benefits. However, you must eat various fruits and vegetables to get all the important phytochemicals your body needs.
  • You might not get enough fiber: Fiber is an important nutrient that helps you feel full and helps to regulate your digestion. However, if you only eat low GI foods, you may miss out on important fiber.

Research Results of a Low GI Diet for Losing Weight

When following a low GI diet, it’s important to eat various healthy foods. This will help you get the necessary nutrients and avoid boredom with your diet.

It’s also important to remember that GI is only one factor to consider when it comes to healthy eating. You should also focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods and maintaining a healthy weight.

If you’re thinking of following a low GI diet, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian first.

REFERENCES:

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/1602942
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5872791/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4579564/
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4994556/
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837723/
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497593/
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31374573/
  8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22841185/
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019781/
  10. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09498-2
  11. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/87/3/627/4633329
  12. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.550