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The Glycemic Index
One of the main reasons we often suggest restricting carbohydrate foods are their influence on
blood sugar and insulin secretion. However, carbohydrates are a very diverse set of foods. For
years, many nutrition authorities followed a few simple rules. These were that refined
carbohydrates affect blood sugar more than whole foods and that simple carbohydrates found in
fruits and juices affect blood sugar more than complex carbohydrates. However, recent research
indicates this is not always the case.
What is The Glycemic Index?
The glycemic index is a numerical system that rates carbohydrate foods according to how
quickly they raise the circulating blood sugar level. The index is determined by feeding people the
amount of a food that provides 50 grams of carbohydrate. Then blood sugar is measured to
assess the effects of the food on blood sugar. Textbooks, unfortunately, use two rating systems.
In some books, each food is rated on a scale from 0 to 100. In others, white bread is used as a
standard of 100, and all foods are rated in relation to white bread.
A low number on the glycemic index means the food has less effect on the blood sugar level.
A high number indicates the food places more strain on the sugar-handling mechanisms of the
body and is thus less desirable for blood sugar control.
The glycemic index of a food is a complex phenomenon. Here are a few notes on the
phenomenon:
• It can depend not only on the type of food, but also the ripeness, the way it is cooked,
processing, the variety and particle size.
• To some degree, the index is also individual. That is, a particular food may affect one person
somewhat differently than another.
• People rarely eat one food at a time. However, experiments indicate that a mixed meal reflects
the indices of the individual foods in the meal.
• Not all foods have been tested.
• The glycemic index is only one measure of a food. Other consideration such as total protein,
fat and carbohydrate, mineral and vitamin content of the food, additives, preservatives, pesticide
residues and overall quality also need to be considered in planning a diet.
Summary of the Index
Here is summary, by category, of how various carbohydrate foods compare:
Bakery Foods: The best are sponge cake, pound cake, banana cake, pastry and pizza. The
worst are donuts and waffles.
Beverages: The best are cow's milk (whole or skim) and soy milk. The worst are soft drinks
and colas. Note that some soy milks have much more sweeteners in them than others. This will
change (and worsen) their glycemic index.
Breads: The best are barley breads, oat bran breads and rye breads. The worst are white
bread, Wonder bread, bagels and French bread.
Breakfast Cereals: The best are Rice Bran, All Bran, oatmeal and Special K. The worst are
Rice Chex, Cornflakes and Rice Krispies.
Cereal Grains: The best are barley, rye, bulgur and parboiled rice. The worst are white rice,
tapioca, cornmeal and millet.
Cookies: The best is oatmeal. Among the worst is Vanilla Wafers.
Crackers: The best is Rye Crispbread. The worst are rice cakes and puffed rice crackers.
Dairy: The best is low-fat yogurt, chocolate milk with Nutrasweet and milk. The worst are
custard and ice cream.
Fruit: The best are cherries, grapefruit, dried apricots, fresh pears and apples. The worst are
watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe and raisins.
Legumes: The best are soybeans, lentils, kidney beans, butter beans and split peas. The worst
are canned beans, baked beans, pintos and broad beans.
Pasta: The best are spaghetti, fettucini and ravioli. The worst are rice pasta, macaroni and
cheese and instant noodles.
Root vegetables: The best are yams, sweet potatoes and boiled white potatoes. The worst
are parsnips, baked potato, instant potatoes, microwave potatoes and french fries.
Snack foods: The best are peanuts and popcorn. The worst are dates, pretzels, jelly beans
and corn chips.
Soups: Soups are all fairly good, such as tomato soup or lentil soup.
Sugars: The best are fructose and lactose. The worst are glucose, maltose, maltodextrin and
sucrose.
Starchy Vegetables: The best are dried peas and green peas. The worst is pumpkin. Other
vegetables such as leafy vegetables, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, celery, etc. do not contain much
carbohydrates.
Indigenous Foods: The best are acorns, corn tortillas, prickly pear cactus, dal, bean threads
and sausages. The worst are cactus jam, fruit leather and non-dairy tofu dessert. Most traditional
indigenous foods are excellent, far better than 'modern' foods!!
Some Surprises
Note how many common foods are high on the glycemic index. These include baked
potatoes, baked beans, french fries, soda pop, instant potatoes, donuts, waffles, Corn Flakes,
Rice Krispies and macaroni and cheese. Space does not permit long lists of the index, but the
native or traditional foods are far superior to any of these.
For some foods, the ripeness matters. For example, an unripe banana has an index of 43,
whereas an overripe banana has an index of 76. Pizza, it turns out, has a very good index,
perhaps because of the combination of foods it contains. In general, foods that have more fat and
more protein have a much better glycemic index.
Long-grain brown rice has a low glycemic index, whereas white rice, short-grain rice and
sweet rice have considerably higher indexes. Yams, sweet potatoes and boiled potatoes are
fairly good, but baked potatoes have a high glycemic index. Fructose has a rather low glycemic
index. However, high-fructose corn syrup is not the same thing as fructose. Corn syrup is a
mixture of fructose and glucose and has a much higher glycemic index.
Soy milk can have a very low glycemic index. However, soy milks with sweeteners such as
rice bran syrup or barley malt have a higher glycemic index.
In summary, we still recommend limiting carbohydrate foods for many people based on their
mineral analyses and symptoms. Eating more leafy and cruciferous vegetables is a wise idea for
everyone, as they are low in carbohydrates and rich in minerals, vitamins and fiber.
However, the glycemic index can help us choose the best carbohydrates to eat to reduce
blood sugar spikes which increase insulin requirements and disturb body chemistry. The glycemic
index also supports the idea of eating traditional and indigenous foods for improved health.
Choosing low glycemic index foods may also help balance the calcium/magnesium ratio on a hair
analysis.
For complete lists of foods, we recommend a website: www.mendosa.com or the textbook
"The Glucose Revolution: An Authoritative Guide to the Glycemic Index", by Jennie Brand-
Miller. The book was first published in Australia under the title "The G.I. Factor" by the same
author.
Copyright © 2001
This material is for educational purposes only
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
