| Foods with low-Glycemic Index, which is the ranking of | | | | your risk of heart disease would be greatly increased. |
| foods based on the effect they have on your blood | | | | The key to health eating habits, therefore, is balance |
| sugar levels, are ideal for persons who have been | | | | and the right mix of foods that will help to ensure that |
| diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes. The main | | | | you have bettercontrol of your blood sugar. It will also |
| reason is that foods with a low-GI reduce the rate at | | | | help you to make sure that you are getting the variety |
| which blood sugar spikes following a meal. | | | | of nutrients necessary for good health. |
| It is important to note, however, that not all foods with | | | | Below are examples of foods in similar categories with |
| low- or medium-Glycemic Index are ideal for good | | | | low-, medium- and high-Glycemic Index and how they |
| health. The reason for this is that while foods that | | | | compare: |
| have fat and protein added are absorbed more slowly | | | | 1. Low-GI: Multi-grain and rye bread |
| in the system, resulting in a medium-GI, the foods in | | | | Medium-GI: Pitta bread |
| themselves may not be good for your health. For | | | | High-GI: White and wholemeal bread |
| example, chocolate has a medium-GI because of its | | | | 2. Low GI: Pasta |
| fat content; but would you recommend chocolate to | | | | Medium-GI: Couscous |
| be part of a diabetics regular diet? Also, potato chips | | | | High-GI: Bagels |
| and french fries reportedly have a lower-Glycemic | | | | 3. Low-GI: Sweet corn |
| Index than potatoes cooked without fat. You would | | | | Medium-GI: Potatoes, boiled |
| not want to consume large portions of either of these | | | | High-GI: Puffed wheat, Puffed rice or Sugar-rich |
| on a regular basis if you care about your heart, | | | | breakfast cereals |
| cholesterol as well as your overall weight | | | | It's almost impossible to cut out all high GI-foods, and |
| management. | | | | that is really not the answer; instead work at including |
| It follows that if you were to choose foods solely | | | | more low-Glycemic foods to lower the overall |
| based on their low-Glycemic Index your diet could be | | | | Glycemic Index of meals. |
| high in fat and unbalanced resulting in weight gain and | | | | |