Glycemic index and glycemic load might sound inter-changeable terms but carry a different meaning, different sense and significant value contributing to healthy eating and of course, our well being.
Whenever you are thinking about the weight loss, we are very sure the very first thing which would have come to your mind is cutting the carbohydrates.
Avoiding complex carbohydrates is not a good idea as it is extremely essential for your body for keeping your energy level high and for avoiding the disease and deficiencies.
However, glycemic index and glycemic load of carbohydrates have to be kept in mind while choosing the type of carbohydrate for diet. Let’s understand these terms in details.
What is the Glycemic Index?
The glycemic index or GI is a measuring scale from 0 to 100 which helps in determining the rise in the blood sugar level after eating something.
The foods with a high GI value are the ones which are instantly digested and absorbed in the body and lead to fluctuations in the blood sugar levels to a greater extent.
However, the foods with a low GI is slowly broken down in the body and doesn’t show much fluctuation in the blood sugar levels.
For this reason, the food items with low GI helps in ensuring long-lasting good health by keeping away the risk of heart diseases and type-2 diabetes.
Low GI food: GI of 55 or less than 55
Medium GI food: GI between 56 and 69.
High GI food: GI of 70 or above 70.
It has been seen that foods with a low GI value of 55 or less, are slowly digested and absorbed by the body. As there is little rise and fall in the blood sugar levels, there is little need for insulin.
Hence, high glycemic foods have to be avoided at any cost.
