Obesity Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Weight-loss options: 5 popular diet approaches

Obesity Discussion · 01-23-06, 01:40 AM

GI Diet-

The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. High-index foods are associated with greater increases in blood sugar than low-index foods. But low-index foods aren't necessarily more healthy. Foods that are high in fat tend to have lower glycemic index values than do some healthy foods.

Potential benefits from using the GI for meal planning if you have diabetes include:

Improved blood sugar levels
Decreased blood fats
Reduced risk of obesity
However, using the GI for meal planning is a fairly complicated process. Many factors affect the GI value of a specific food, such as how the food was prepared and what you eat with it. Also, the GI value for some foods isn't known.

Another meal-planning tool is the glycemic load, which multiplies the GI of a food by the amount of total carbohydrates in a serving. For example, eating small amounts of a food with a high GI has less impact on blood sugar.

Talk to a registered dietitian if you're interested in learning more about any of these meal-planning tools. He or she can help you incorporate proper changes into your diet.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/AN00754

01-23-06, 01:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Obesity Discussion Administrator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,877 Weight Statistics 8/1/2006 Start Date: 185 lb Start Weight: 152 lb Current Weight: 155 lb Goal Weight: -33 lb Weight Loss: 5/1/2007 Goal Date:	Re: Weight-loss options: 5 popular diet approaches GI Diet- The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. High-index foods are associated with greater increases in blood sugar than low-index foods. But low-index foods aren't necessarily more healthy. Foods that are high in fat tend to have lower glycemic index values than do some healthy foods. Potential benefits from using the GI for meal planning if you have diabetes include: Improved blood sugar levels Decreased blood fats Reduced risk of obesity However, using the GI for meal planning is a fairly complicated process. Many factors affect the GI value of a specific food, such as how the food was prepared and what you eat with it. Also, the GI value for some foods isn't known. Another meal-planning tool is the glycemic load, which multiplies the GI of a food by the amount of total carbohydrates in a serving. For example, eating small amounts of a food with a high GI has less impact on blood sugar. Talk to a registered dietitian if you're interested in learning more about any of these meal-planning tools. He or she can help you incorporate proper changes into your diet. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/AN00754 __________________