Low Glycemic Foods

Want to Learn More About Low GI Foods?

If so, you have come to the right place. Here we offer a straightforward, user-friendly guide to the use of low glycemic foods (aka "low glycemic index foods") in weight loss and health management



Low Glycemic Foods: A Practical Guide

All of the practical information that you are likely to want to know about the use of low glycemic index foods (aka "low gi foods") to assist in weight management and improved health is presented in this website.

Here, you will get easily understood, straightforward answers to such basic questions as:


Why Should I Use Low Glycemic Foods?

The most compelling reason to adopt a diet based upon the use of low glycemic foods was nicely summed up by a team of Australian biological researchers and physicians*, who state:

"A large body of evidence, which now comprises observational prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic experiments in animal models, provides robust support for low GI carbohydrate diets in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease."
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* Brand-Miller J, Millan-Price J, Steinbeck K, Caterson I. Dietary glycemic index: health implications. J Am Coll Nutr 2009; 28 Suppl: 446S–9S.


These researchers further conclude that even though strict low-carb diets (such as Atkins) increase the rate of weight loss when compared to the glycemic index diet, they (.e.g., Atkins Diet, etc.) also exhibit the "potential for increased mortality".

Thus, of the currently available dietary regimes, a low glycemic diet based upon adequate intake of low glycemic carbohydrates would certainly appear to be the logical and best choice.

Is A Low Glycemic Diet The Same As A Low-Carb Diet?

Absolutely NOT. By definition, the primary focus of so-called "low-carb" dietary programs is reducing (or nearly eliminating) the total amount of carbohydrates consumed. Caloric intake is largely disregarded.

In contrast, glycemic index diets focus upon eating a balanced combination of foods in moderation - including adequate intakes of proteins, fats AND carbohydrates - so as to achieve and maintain healthy blood sugar levels and adequate (but not excessive) caloric intake. In fact, the glycemic index diet encourages the daily intake of amounts of "good" carbohydrates that would be considered unacceptable in most strict low-carb weight loss programs.

Site Organization

To facilitate quick access to the information presented here, our website is divided into four main sections:

Section 1: Key Concepts - We suggest you begin here. This "foundation" section presents essential information necessary to understand and properly use low glycemic foods. This section includes brief but essential articles on the core concepts of glycemic impact, glycemic index, and glycemic load.

Section 2: Best Carbs - This section of our website contains by far the bulk of our web pages and information. The main subsections are headed by pages that include a list of the best "carbs" (top low glycemic carbohydrate sources) for low glycemic dieters. Here we also include pages on easy, delicious low glycemic snacks, and sugar substitutes.

Section 3: Foods To Avoid - This section of our website provides a basic list of high glycemic foods that should be generally avoided while on a low glycemic diet.

Section 4: Weight Loss Tools and Tips - This section provies visitors with a few pracical and highly useful low glycemic dieting tools and tips.


Please Note: This site is hosted free of charge. The author of this website is a professional biological scientist and educator, but not a medical professional. Please be clear that unless a professional medical authority is specifically cited as the source of such information, any information or advice offered here is by a non-medical professional scientist. The information provided on this website is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician.