The GI Diet assigns a numeric rating to foods based on how their carbs will affect the level of glucose in the body. It was originally created by Dr. David Jenkins to help diabetic patients. For diabetics, this diet can be helpful in the difficult task of keeping the level of blood sugar level instead of rapidly rising and falling.

The foods are rated to show how their carbohydrates will break down while being digested. The number that is assigned to each food signifies how quickly glucose will be released because of the carbs. A quick rise in blood sugar is caused by high GI foods, while a slower rise is caused by foods with a lower GI number. Glucose is rated at 100. The foods receive a rating based on how close they are to pure glucose, with the lowest rated foods at zero. Foods that have been given a GI ranking of up to 55 are considered low GI. Ratings that are 56 to 69 will be considered foods with a medium GI. Foods with a rating of 70 or more are high GI foods.

To keep the blood sugar levels stable, the goal of the GI Diet is to eat mostly low GI foods. This will require the body to make less insulin. The foods that are rated with a low GI ranking will provide a much more stable source of energy and help the dieter to avoid being hungry later. To keep hunger away and energy level throughout the day, the dieter eats low GI foods. Eating foods with a high GI number provides energy rapidly, but it’s not energy that lasts. By keeping the glucose levels in the blood even, dieters can lose weight by avoiding cravings.

Another tenet of the GI Diet is to cut down on fat. Some low GI foods have a fat content that is too high. The diet doesn’t allow the higher fat foods. By staying on the diet, eating little fat and eating foods with quite a low GI number, a dieter can expect to lose around 1 or 2 pounds per week. The weight loss is steady, which is what doctors recommend for the healthiest weight loss.

The risk of heart disease and diabetes is lessened by the GI Diet, as shown in several studies. The GI Diet has garnered the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association for this reason. The diet is recommended by nutritionists and doctors because of its ability to lower weight and improve health. To reap the full rewards from the GI Diet, it’s important to stay on it over a long period of time and to follow a meal plan. Many meals have foods that have different GI values, which can make it hard to figure out the ranking for that meal. Low GI foods make up GI Diet meals, making it much easier to figure out the overall GI number for that meal. With a GI meal plan, a dieter can keep energy levels steady as well as lose weight.