Carbohydrates low. Carbohydrates and their glycemic index
More recently, doctors spoke negatively about the possibility of a woman with diabetes becoming pregnant. According to scientific data, in this case, the probability of having a healthy child was minimal.
To date, modern medicine has reached the level of development at which it is possible to conceive and bear a child with a disease of the 1st and 2nd type. First of all, for the implementation of the process, it is necessary to constantly control the level of sugar in the blood. To do this, without fail, any woman must purchase a glucometer. Checking should be done several times a day. Childbirth in a diabetic must be carried out in a hospital with special equipment. Not only childbirth is important, but also the process of planning and bearing the fetus itself. Only in this case, you can get a healthy and properly developed child.
That is why it became possible to say that pregnancy and type 2 diabetes are quite compatible things. A woman with diabetes can give birth to a healthy child, taking into account all external factors and the constant supervision of a doctor. It should be noted that during pregnancy in combination with diabetes mellitus, the risk of complications increases significantly, which can negatively affect the health of the unborn baby. During pregnancy, a woman should be constantly under the supervision of a doctor. For diabetics, the risk of pathologies increases significantly, so the course of pregnancy should be supervised by specialists in this field.
Types of Diabetes
Gestational diabetes - the disease occurs during pregnancy
Modern medicine distinguishes the following types diabetes:
- Diabetes, which is completely dependent on insulin. It is also known as type 1 disease. Most often, the pathology begins to manifest itself in adolescence.
- Type 2 diabetes, which is considered completely independent of insulin. Most often manifested in adults after forty years.
- Diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes.
Scientists note that for pregnant women, the manifestation of the 1st type of the disease is most characteristic. This is due to the fact that it is common in women of childbearing age. Type 2 diabetes is much less common during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that this type of disease is quite rare at this age. The disease is more typical for the period of menopause or before its immediate onset.
Gestational diabetes is also rare in women of childbearing age and does not cause too many problems when carrying a baby. Diabetes mellitus of this type can appear during pregnancy and disappear on its own after its completion in the form of childbirth. The main reason for the appearance is associated with a significant increase in the load on the pancreas. The process is exacerbated by the release of a large number of hormones that are opposite to insulin in their specificity. If a woman is healthy, then the body can cope with this situation. The manifestation of the disease begins in case of malfunction of one of the organs of the system.
The gestational type of the disease is not common, however, when the first symptoms of the disease appear. It is not possible to exclude all risk factors on your own and establish a diagnosis, so you should not neglect the advice of a specialist.
Factors that contribute to the formation of gestational diabetes in women during pregnancy:
The risk of developing the disease increases significantly when several factors are combined. This issue should be given due attention and not neglect the advice of a specialist in this field.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus has a pronounced specificity and symptoms. It can often occur without any special manifestations. Doctors note that even if the symptoms are pronounced, it is not always possible for a woman to determine the disease on her own. The main manifestations of the disease are as follows:
- constant manifestation of strong thirst;
- insatiable feeling of hunger;
- urination is very frequent;
- vision loses its sharpness.
It should be noted that these symptoms are typical for any pregnancy that passes without pathologies. To determine the disease in a timely manner, you should regularly donate blood for sugar. It is advisable to prescribe additional studies only after identifying deviations from the norm.
Contraindications for pregnancy
Pregnancy can successfully end in childbirth with this disease, only with proper planning and management. More often a large number of problems with type 1 diabetes. The 2nd type of the disease often discourages a woman from giving birth or she cannot conceive a child.
There are a number of contraindications in which it is categorically not recommended to become pregnant with diabetes. Even modern medicine has not invented in several cases the possibility of bearing and giving birth to a child to a woman with diabetes without risk to life.
Renal failure is a contraindication to pregnancy in diabetes
Pregnancy cannot be combined with the presence of the following pathologies in a woman:
- coronary artery disease;
- kidney failure;
- gastroenteropathy;
- the mother has a negative Rh factor.
Basic principles of pregnancy
Pregnancy management with diabetes naturally differs from the usual situation. Pathology can lead to additional complications, both for the mother and for the child. Doctors strongly recommend that you carefully consider not only management, but also planning the birth of a baby.
The gynecologist should be visited every week. In some cases, it is also advisable to make a hospitalization, which will include a daily check-up of the mother's health. In addition, it should be noted that during pregnancy with diabetes, a woman will have to spend several days in a hospital to check the health of the mother and child.
The first hospitalization is made before the twelfth week of pregnancy. This is necessary for a complete examination of the woman's health status. The expediency of preserving the fetus is also determined.
The second hospitalization must be made between the twenty-first and twenty-fifth weeks. During this period, the presence of pathologies in the fetus is determined. In some cases, additional treatment, ultrasound, is necessary. Additionally, the health status of the fetus is monitored.
The third hospitalization must be made at a period of thirty-four to thirty-five weeks. During this period, the woman is advised to stay in the hospital until delivery. During this period, an examination is also carried out, which is aimed at determining the method of childbirth, as well as eliminating the possibility of pathologies.
Diabetes and childbirth
Natural childbirth can take place even in the presence of diabetes. This option is considered the most acceptable in any case. A full-term pregnancy may not take place if there are abnormalities and pathologies. Childbirth in this case is artificially stimulated.
Situations in which a caesarean section is mandatory:
- the fruit has a large size and weight;
- presentation of the fetus;
- diabetes in the woman's body caused severe deviations, especially in the visual system.
Childbirth with this pathology has a number of features. Childbirth begins after the necessary preparation of the exit routes. If this process has not been performed correctly, then the first step is to pierce the amniotic sac. Childbirth is also enhanced by the introduction of the necessary hormones. In addition, it is necessary to use painkillers.
During the whole process, blood sugar levels and the work of the fetal heart are checked. For this, the KGT is used. If childbirth fades, then it is necessary to additionally introduce oxytocin. It may be necessary to use additional insulin. It can also be replaced with glucose if appropriate.
The glycemic index of foods (GI) is a measure of the effect of foods on the rate at which blood sugar rises. The concept of the glycemic index is actively used to form a diet for diseases of the endocrine, digestive systems, and for weight loss.
There are three product groups:
- Products with a low glycemic index have an indicator of up to 50-55 units. This group includes almost all vegetables and some raw fruits, as well as dishes high in protein and fat.
- The average level - from 50 to 65 units - have some types of vegetables, fruits and cereals. For example, bananas, pineapple, oatmeal, buckwheat, peas, beets.
- Food with a high GI has a digital value of more than 70 units. This group includes fast carbohydrates: sugar, beer, flour products from white flour of the highest grade, etc.
Why is it important to consider the GI of foods
After eating food, the glucose contained in the food enters the gastrointestinal tract and increases blood sugar levels (glycemia). At the same time, the effect of foods on glycemia differs depending on the rate of breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars.
Fast carbohydrates (or simple, consisting of simple sugars - monosaccharides) have a high GI and quickly increase the concentration of sugar in the blood to the highest levels (hyperglycemia). In turn, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin to lower sugar levels.
After eating fast carbohydrates, the concentration of glucose in the blood is extremely high, so a significant amount of insulin is released, which lowers the sugar level to below normal levels, causing hypoglycemia - a lack of glucose in the blood. This is the danger of products with a glycemic index above 80, since sugar surges, intensive work of the pancreas and the deposition of glucose in the form of fat reserves lead to diabetes and obesity.
In a completely different way, slow (complex) carbohydrates with complex polysaccharides in the composition, which, as a rule, have a low GI, act.
After eating a low GI food, blood glucose rises slowly, depending on the rate at which complex sugar molecules are broken down into simple ones. Thus, slow carbohydrates do not cause a jump in glucose and insulin, while an optimal state of all body systems is observed.
Who is a low GI diet for?
The use of foods with a low glycemic index, as the basis of the diet, is indicated for diseases of the endocrine system:
- when the pancreas cannot secrete enough insulin to lower glucose levels after eating simple carbohydrates, type 2 diabetes;
- with insulin resistance (pre-diabetic state), when insulin is released in excessive amounts, as a result of which cells lose sensitivity to the hormone;
- in chronic pancreatitis to reduce the load on the pancreas and reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Low glycemic index food table
Using the list of products makes it possible to quickly create a menu for diabetes or for weight loss, taking into account the glycemic index and calorie content.
Products with low GI have a number of advantages, as they have only a positive effect on the body, namely:
- contribute to a stable level of glucose in the blood;
- enable the body to use energy for life for a long time for 2-3 hours after eating;
- contain more fiber, which has a beneficial effect on digestion and maintains good microflora in the intestines;
- do not contribute to weight gain, since an increase in fat stores occurs during high blood insulin levels after eating a large amount of simple carbohydrates with a high glycemic index.
Grocery list | GI | Calories per 100 g |
---|---|---|
Bakery products, flour and cereals | ||
Rye bread | 50 | 200 |
Rye bread with bran | 45 | 175 |
Whole grain bread (no flour added) | 40 | 300 |
Whole grain bread | 45 | 295 |
Rye bread | 45 | |
Oat flour | 45 | |
Rye flour | 40 | 298 |
Flax flour | 35 | 270 |
Buckwheat flour | 50 | 353 |
Quinoa flour | 40 | 368 |
Buckwheat | 40 | 308 |
brown rice | 50 | 111 |
Basmati rice, unpeeled | 45 | 90 |
oats | 40 | 342 |
Whole grain bulgur | 45 | 335 |
Meat dishes and seafood | ||
Pork | 0 | 316 |
Beef | 0 | 187 |
Chicken | 0 | 165 |
Pork cutlets | 50 | 349 |
Pork sausages | 28 | 324 |
Pork sausage | 50 | Up to 420 depending on variety |
Veal sausage | 34 | 316 |
All kinds of fish | 0 | From 75 to 150 depending on the variety |
fish cakes | 0 | 168 |
Crab sticks | 40 | 94 |
sea kale | 0 | 5 |
Sour-milk dishes | ||
Skimmed milk | 27 | 31 |
Low-fat cottage cheese | 0 | 88 |
Curd 9% fat | 0 | 185 |
Yogurt without additives | 35 | 47 |
Kefir low fat | 0 | 30 |
Sour cream 20% | 0 | 204 |
Cream 10% | 30 | 118 |
Chees Feta | 0 | 243 |
Brynza | 0 | 260 |
hard cheese | 0 | From 360 to 400 depending on the variety |
Fats, sauces | ||
Butter | 0 | 748 |
All types of vegetable oils | 0 | From 500 to 900 kcal |
Salo | 0 | 841 |
Mayonnaise | 0 | 621 |
Soy sauce | 20 | 12 |
Ketchup | 15 | 90 |
Vegetables | ||
Broccoli | 10 | 27 |
White cabbage | 10 | 25 |
Cauliflower | 15 | 29 |
Onion | 10 | 48 |
Olives | 15 | 361 |
Carrot | 35 | 35 |
cucumbers | 20 | 13 |
Olives | 15 | 125 |
Bell pepper | 10 | 26 |
Radish | 15 | 20 |
Arugula | 10 | 18 |
Leaf salad | 10 | 17 |
Celery | 10 | 15 |
Tomatoes | 10 | 23 |
Garlic | 30 | 149 |
Spinach | 15 | 23 |
fried mushrooms | 15 | 22 |
Fruits and berries | ||
Apricot | 20 | 40 |
Quince | 35 | 56 |
cherry plum | 27 | 27 |
Orange | 35 | 39 |
Grape | 40 | 64 |
Cherry | 22 | 49 |
Blueberry | 42 | 34 |
Pomegranate | 25 | 83 |
Grapefruit | 22 | 35 |
Pear | 34 | 42 |
Kiwi | 50 | 49 |
Coconut | 45 | 354 |
Strawberry | 32 | 32 |
Lemon | 25 | 29 |
Mango | 55 | 67 |
Mandarin | 40 | 38 |
Raspberries | 30 | 39 |
Peach | 30 | 42 |
pomelo | 25 | 38 |
plums | 22 | 43 |
Currant | 30 | 35 |
Blueberry | 43 | 41 |
Cherries | 25 | 50 |
Prunes | 25 | 242 |
Apples | 30 | 44 |
Nuts, legumes | ||
Walnuts | 15 | 710 |
Peanut | 20 | 612 |
Cashew | 15 | |
Almond | 25 | 648 |
Hazelnut | 0 | 700 |
Pine nuts | 15 | 673 |
Pumpkin seeds | 25 | 556 |
Peas | 35 | 81 |
Lentils | 25 | 116 |
Beans | 40 | 123 |
chickpeas | 30 | 364 |
Mash | 25 | 347 |
beans | 30 | 347 |
Sesame | 35 | 572 |
Quinoa | 35 | 368 |
soy cheese tofu | 15 | 76 |
Soy milk | 30 | 54 |
Hummus | 25 | 166 |
canned peas | 45 | 58 |
Peanut butter | 32 | 884 |
The drinks | ||
Tomato juice | 15 | 18 |
Tea | 0 | |
Coffee without milk and sugar | 52 | 1 |
cocoa with milk | 40 | 64 |
Kvass | 30 | 20 |
Dry white wine | 0 | 66 |
Dry red wine | 44 | 68 |
Dessert wine | 30 | 170 |
glycemic index diet
The glycemic index diet is effective tool for weight loss, as the diet is based on low GI foods.
Eating high GI foods contributes to speed dial weight. High insulin levels cause glucose from the blood to replenish fat cells. Insulin also blocks the body's ability to take energy from fat stores.
A diet with a low glycemic index for 10 days leads to a weight loss of 2-3 kilograms, which is facilitated by the following factors:
- the absence of fast carbohydrates in products, as a result of which there is no increase in the supply of adipose tissue;
- in the absence of fast carbohydrates in the diet, edema decreases and excess water is removed from the body;
- decreased hunger caused by normal blood sugar levels.
The diet should be built according to the following principle: three main meals and 1-2 snacks in the form of fruits or vegetables. At the same time, it is forbidden to eat food with an indicator above 70 for the first time after the start of the diet.
Upon reaching the desired weight, you can diversify the diet by adding foods with higher rates in a limited amount: 100-150 grams once a week.
The diet has a lot of advantages, as it contributes not only to weight loss, but also to the improvement of the whole organism, namely:
- acceleration of metabolism;
- normalization of work gastrointestinal tract;
- strengthening immunity due to the lack of sugar in the diet, which significantly reduces the body's defenses;
- reducing the likelihood of heart and liver disease;
- lack of deficiency of vitamins and minerals due to the use of a large number of vegetables and fruits.
For type 2 diabetes
Proper nutrition is important element in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The use of foods with a low GI slightly increases the level of glycemia, which makes it possible to avoid insulin therapy.
In the treatment of the disease, a low-calorie diet of 9 tables or a low-carbohydrate diet with a reduced content of complex carbohydrates is used. At the same time, despite the choice of diet, it is imperative to abandon foods with a high glycemic index.
A proper diet for diabetes allows not only to maintain blood glucose within the normal range, but also to lose weight, which, as a rule, is combined with diabetes.
How to lower your GI
The glycemic index of food, in most cases, is a constant value, but there are some tricks that can reduce the performance of both a single product and a combined dish from different products, namely:
- The GI of raw vegetables is always 20-30 units lower than thermally processed.
- To reduce carbohydrates, you must simultaneously consume high-quality fat (cheeses, coconut oil, etc.) or protein (eggs, fish, meat). But this technique does not work with the simultaneous use of sugar and fat.
- The more fiber consumed in one meal, the lower the GI of the total meal.
- To lower the GI of rice, it is necessary to boil rice groats with the addition of vegetable oil(1 tablespoon per liter of water) and then drain and freeze. Oil and freezing change the structure of starch in rice, which leads to a decrease in glycemic values.
- The glycemic index level drops as the food cools down.
- Use whole grains instead of cuts, flakes, etc.
- Do not boil grains and vegetables during cooking.
- Eat vegetables and fruits along with the peel, as the peel is the best source of fiber.
- Refuel food with lemon juice, since acid slightly reduces the rate of breakdown of carbohydrates in the composition of dishes.
Glycemic index (GI) or fast and slow carbohydrates
Without carbohydrates, our body cannot process fats and proteins, and the liver will not function normally. Carbohydrates are absorbed in the form of glucose, the main “sweet tooth”, which simply refuses everything else, is the brain.
Eat carbohydrate-rich foods for breakfast and lunch, in the afternoon, carbohydrate metabolism tends to slow down. It is preferable to have dinner with protein foods.
Imagine a food pyramid- schematic representation of the principles healthy eating developed by nutritionists. The closer to the top, the less often you should eat this group of foods. The "base" of the pyramid consists of foods that should be eaten more often than others - these are vegetables, fruits and whole grains. They should account for about 65% of the total diet. But this does not mean at all that you have just received permission for the uncontrolled absorption of buns, cheesecakes and other cakes in myriad quantities. Even if the box of pastries has the coveted inscription “low-calorie product”, do not rush to buy! As a rule, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy on the part of the manufacturer. Firstly, it is unlikely that the production was without trans fats, and secondly, for comparison, always keep in mind the calorie content of the most common fresh cucumbers - this is 11 kk per 100 grams of product. Well, does a cake with a calorie content of 350 kk per 100 grams still seem like a low-calorie product to you?
All carbohydrates are traditionally divided into slow and fast- depending on the speed with which they are broken down in the body and converted into glucose - the main source of energy. To measure the speed, a special indicator was introduced - the glycemic index (GI).
- To slow (having low GI) include healthy carbohydrates. They can be eaten every day: brown rice, wholemeal bread, whole grain pasta, cereals (except semolina), vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cabbage) and non-sugar fruits: apples, kiwi, grapefruits.
- Low GI foods (less than 40): All legumes, including lentils, soybeans, white and red beans, chickpeas, baked beans. Barley (barley or shelled), whole wheat pasta. Apples, dried apricots, peaches, cherries, grapefruits, plums, oranges, pears. Avocado, zucchini, spinach, pepper, onion, mushrooms, leafy greens, leek, green beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes.
Fast carbohydrates (having a high GI), alas not so useful. Of course, they are not poison, but you should not eat them every day (alcohol also belongs to this group of carbohydrates). The best option is to count all kinds of desserts, pastries, etc. - Holiday food. By eating in this way, we not only monitor our weight, but also help the body. After all, the pancreas, which produces insulin, is literally exhausted from unbearable loads every time we eat such food. BUT blood sugar fluctuates, literally like rabbits in the spring - up, down. And along with it, the mood “jumps”.
If you sat on protein diet in winter, don't be surprised if you constantly feel depressed, gloomy or irritable. Carbohydrates in cold weather are a source of additional stimulation of serotonin - the hormone of good mood.
- High GI foods (over 60): Glucose, sugar, honey, pineapples, raisins, watermelons, ripe bananas. Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, parsnips, boiled carrots, pumpkin, turnips. Brown and white rice (except basmati), rye bread, whole grain bread, white bread, rice biscuits, couscous, bread sticks. Corn flakes, instant oatmeal, corn sticks, wheat crackers, pancakes, butter cakes. Melon, dried dates.
Cellulose
Behind the now fashionable phrase "dietary fiber" is the most common dietary fiber, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fiber is of two types - soluble and insoluble.
- Soluble (for example, pectin, which is found in apples and pears) helps slow down the digestion process and reduces blood cholesterol levels.
- Insoluble (for example, cereal husks) is not absorbed by the human digestive system - and is thus excreted from it undigested. Its consumption reduces the likelihood of developing diseases such as colon cancer and constipation.
Sugar
The food industry has learned to make sugar so pure that, alas, there is nothing left in refined white sugar but calories. "Competition" by the absence useful substances- only semolina (semolina) can make him vitamins and minerals. But it is unlikely that any of us in adulthood regularly eats semolina. But there are a lot of those who drink tea or coffee with sugar. Sugar accelerates the excretion of calcium from the body, so that sugary people risk not only gaining excess weight, but also acquiring osteoporosis. Do not justify your cravings for sweets by saying that without it your “head stops working”, since sugar is far from the only product from which the body can extract glucose. Fruits with natural sweetness are just as good!
If there is absolutely no sweet anywhere - depending on your preferences, refined sugar can be replaced:
* brown sugar(the darker the color, the less processed the product was)
* honey
* marshmallow, marshmallow or marmalade.
Remember that nutritionists do not recommend eating more than 30-35 kilograms of sugar per year. Do you think that is a lot? Do not forget to count all sugar (except sweet, it is literally in all "curds", "light yogurts", crackers and in the mass of semi-finished products, including the so-called "Korean" salads). special attention purchased juices deserve, which very often turn out to be not juices, but nectars. As a rule, they stand on the same shelf together with juices - mixed. The very word "nectar" is already a signal that the producers considered the natural sweetness of the fruit insufficient and added sugar.
Most diets are not complete without the concept of the glycemic index. Usually it is used to divide products into harmful and useful, based on this, a diet is built. However, a lot of misconceptions have formed around this concept, some healthy foods are unreasonably excluded from the diet of supporters of a healthy diet.
In the article, we briefly describe what the glycemic index, glycemic load and energy density of foods are. Pros and cons of foods with a high glycemic index, tables.
What is the glycemic index?
GI is a measure of how quickly glucose enters the bloodstream. The higher this indicator, the faster glucose enters the bloodstream and the sharper the jump in its level will be. The scale of glycemic indices is based on glucose - its GI is maximum and equal to 100. The higher the GI, the faster the blood sugar level will rise.
The term "glycemic index" came to sports from medicine. This concept was developed in the 90s of the last century by the Canadian nutritionist D. Jenkins. The scientist worked on a menu for diabetics and measured the blood sugar levels of volunteers after they ate various foods. So Professor Jenkins coined the term "glycemic index" (GI or GI). Then the concept of GI began to be used in dietetics and sports.
By regulating the level of glucose (sugar), you can improve performance and increase energy reserves. With a low level of glucose, brain work slows down, all processes in the body are inhibited, we feel it as hunger, loss of strength. It is worth something to eat, the level of glucose rises and there is a surge of energy. When the glucose level exceeds the requirements, the body stores the excess in reserves - fat. It is important to avoid sudden spikes in glucose levels so that the body has time to use it, and not store it.
How do foods with different glycemic index work?
After a snack, the amount of sugar in the blood rises within 30 minutes. If you ate fast carbohydrates, then this time is reduced. The pancreas seeks to reduce glucose levels, produces insulin and directs it to the needs of the body: either for energy or for reserves. It depends on what carbohydrates and how much you ate - fast or slow. Fast ones cause a sharp jump and create a surplus, while slow ones feed the body gradually. Therefore, when reducing the total calorie content of the diet, low GI foods are preferable - they retain a feeling of fullness longer with the same calorie content.
Pros and cons of a high glycemic index
Pros of high GI foods:
- Quickly saturate the body and restore glycogen stores
- Easily digested
- Delicious
Cons of high GI foods:
- Raise insulin levels quickly
- Excess carbohydrates go into fat stores
- After a short time, the feeling of hunger reappears.
Pros and Cons of a Low Glycemic Index
Benefits of low GI foods:
- Gradually nourishes the body and prolongs the feeling of satiety
- Does not cause a sharp increase in blood glucose
- They do not have time to get into adipose tissue, because. slowly spent on the needs of the body
Cons of low GI foods:
- They take a long time to replenish glycogen stores, so they are not suitable for quick receipt energy
- Low energy density. For example, it is impossible to get a large amount of carbohydrates from buckwheat, because such volumes are simply impossible to eat. Therefore, fast carbohydrates are needed to quickly replenish energy.
- Taste. Generally, low GI foods are not as tasty as high GI foods.
Glycemic index of foods
The following product groups are distinguished:
- Low GI (less than 40)
- Medium GI (40 to 70)
- High GI (above 70)
But not everything is so simple. Classifications are based on the glycemic index of a single product, but this almost never happens in nutrition. The diet consists of a mixture of foods with different carbohydrates and different processing methods - this significantly changes the overall GI of the dish.
The glycemic index can change depending on the temperature of the product, processing method, freshness and many other factors.
What does the glycemic index depend on?
- Fiber content. The more dietary fiber in a food, the longer it takes to digest and the lower its GI.
- Method of food preparation. Heat treatment food increases their glycemic index, so french fries and just boiled potatoes have a different GI.
- The content of fats and proteins. For example, eating pasta with meat sauce lowers the glycemic index of the dish.
- Acidic foods lower the GI, while salty foods increase it.
Why do athletes need a glycemic index?
Skillfully applying knowledge of GI, an athlete can get a lot of benefits:
- Recovery – High GI foods help you recover faster after a workout. It quickly increases the level of glucose in the blood, which the body immediately uses for its intended purpose and restores energy reserves. The key difference with a less active person is that this sugar is immediately consumed as fuel and is not stored as fat. Such foods quickly give energy to the body, so marathons consist mainly of foods with a high GI.
- Endurance – Low GI foods improve stamina. This is due to the slow release of energy. If it is better to eat foods with a high GI at the marathon and after it, then 2-4 hours before the marathon, you need mainly foods with medium and low GI.
What is glycemic load?
In addition to GI, there is also the concept of glycemic load (GL) - the amount of carbohydrates per 100g of product. The higher the glycemic load, the more carbohydrates will enter the body. The glycemic index is an indicator of speed, the glycemic load is an indicator of quantity.
For example, watermelon has a GI of 72, and the glycemic load is low - 4 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. 1 kg of watermelon contains only 40 g of carbohydrates, so watermelon is a useful product even when losing weight, despite the high GI. The same discrepancy in sports drinks, potatoes, carrots. Therefore, these foods should not be excluded from the diet only because of the GI value.
- 20 or more - high
- 11-19 - average
- 11 and below - low
Usually, to calculate the glycemic index (GI), a product of such a weight is used that will contain 50 grams of net carbohydrate. And to calculate the glycemic load (GL), use the formula GL = (carbohydrates per 100g of product) / 100 * GI. For example, for watermelon GN = 4/100 * 72 = 3.6.
Bottom Line: Should You Avoid High GI Foods?
You need to monitor the GI of the diet, but without fanaticism and taking into account other factors. There are no bad and good carbohydrates, they just have their own purpose. For example, after a hard workout, you should quickly recover with carbohydrates with a high glycemic index. Excess weight also recruited not from bad carbohydrates, but from the total excess of calories consumed.
You should not rely on GI data completely, because it can change depending on the combination of products, the type of processing, and even the time of consumption. For example, the GI of pasta can range from 40 to 80 units. Glycemic index tables contain approximate values and should be used as a guide only.
Important! If there are problems with insulin secretion, a consultation with a doctor is necessary to prescribe treatment and diet.
Glycemic index of products: tables
Glucose is the standard by which the GI is measured is 100. The glycemic index of foods is measured relative to glucose. Below are lists of high and low glycemic index foods.
Foods with a low glycemic index
List of high glycemic foods
List of foods with an average glycemic index
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The glycemic index (GI) is a dietary indicator that reflects the effect of food consumed on the concentration of glucose in the blood. For the first time this concept was used in 1981 by University of Toronto professor David Jenkins, who set himself the task of developing an effective and safe diet for people with diabetes. A Canadian scientist considered it unconvincing that all foods containing sugars have the same effect on changes in blood glucose levels. In order to refute this theory, Jenkins conducted a whole range of experiments that made it possible to track the processes occurring in the body.
During the study, the subjects were asked to try various foods containing a fixed amount (50 g) of carbohydrates and take tests to determine the concentration of sugar in the blood. The results of these analyzes were compared with the indicators obtained in the study of the blood of a person who ate 50 g of pure glucose. The result of scientific work, which lasted more than 15 years, was the development of a conceptually new classification of products.
In accordance with this classification, carbohydrate-containing products are divided into three large groups:
- with high GI (from 70);
- with an average GI (more than 40, but less than 70);
- with low GI (not higher than 40).
This article will focus on foods with a low glycemic index and their impact on the processes occurring in the human body.
Benefits of Including Low GI Foods in Your Diet
Eating foods with a high glycemic index is accompanied by a sharp increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood and the active synthesis of a pancreatic hormone called insulin. Insulin contributes to the uniform distribution of sugars throughout all organs and tissues. human body and partially converting them into fats. In addition, the hormone produced by the pancreas protects the body's already existing body fat from being broken down and converted into energy. Thus, the regular inclusion in the diet of foods with a high glycemic index contributes to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat and systematic weight gain.
When eating low GI foods, the situation changes radically. Products belonging to this group are digested for a long time in the gastrointestinal tract and do not provoke a sharp increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood. The pancreas synthesizes insulin in small quantities, which means that the prerequisites for overcrowding subcutaneous fat. In other words, including low glycemic index foods in the diet and eliminating high GI foods from it is one of the key conditions getting rid of excess weight. Along with this, following a diet based on eating foods with a low glycemic index has a beneficial effect on blood lipid profile and helps prevent the development of a number of cardiac diseases.
Low glycemic index food table
The list of foods with a low glycemic index includes:
- vegetables;
- pasta, for the preparation of which durum flour was used;
- most of the fruits and berries;
- raw oatmeal;
- greenery;
- whole grains, whole grain bread;
- nuts;
- legumes;
- mushrooms, etc.
Video recipe for the occasion:
For more information on low GI foods, see the table below.
List of low GI foods | Glycemic index |
Vegetables, herbs, legumes | |
4 | |
oregano | 4 |
Parsley | 6 |
Sorrel | 9 |
Leafy green lettuce | 9 |
Raw onion | 9 |
Fresh white cabbage | 9 |
Broccoli | 9 |
fresh tomatoes | 11 |
Green pepper | 11 |
Zucchini | 13 |
Radish | 13 |
Squash | 13 |
Spinach | 14 |
Black Eyed Peas | 14 |
dill greens | 14 |
Squash caviar | 14 |
Rhubarb | 14 |
Chilli | 14 |
Brussels sprouts | 14 |
Leek | 14 |
Boiled cauliflower | 14 |
Fresh turnip | 14 |
Chard | 14 |
Green onion (feather) | 14 |
Fennel | 16 |
Sauerkraut | 16 |
Celery (petioles, greens) | 16 |
Red bell pepper | 16 |
black olives | 16 |
Endive | 16 |
Cauliflower stew | 17 |
green olives | 17 |
Braised white cabbage | 17 |
artichokes | 18 |
fresh cucumbers | 19 |
bamboo shoots | 19 |
Yellow crushed peas | 21 |
eggplant | 21 |
Salted or pickled cucumbers | 21 |
boiled lentils | 23 |
Garlic | 29 |
black beans | 29 |
Fresh beets | 31 |
raw chickpeas | 33 |
Raw red carrot | 34 |
Dry green peas | 34 |
celery roots | 36 |
Fried cauliflower | 36 |
boiled chickpeas | 38 |
Eggplant caviar | 39 |
boiled beans | 39 |
fresh green peas | 39 |
garden beans green | 39 |
Falafel | 40 |
Fruits, berries, dried fruits | |
Avocado | 11 |
Black currant | 14 |
Physalis | 14 |
apricots | 19 |
Lemons | 21 |
Cherry | 21 |
plums | 21 |
grapefruit | 23 |
Cowberry | 24 |
Cherries | 24 |
Prunes | 24 |
cherry plum | 26 |
Blackberry | 26 |
strawberries | 27 |
Apples | 29 |
Red currant | 29 |
Peaches | 29 |
unripe bananas | 29 |
Sea buckthorn | 29 |
Dried apricots | 29 |
passion fruit | 29 |
white currant | 31 |
pomelo | 31 |
Strawberry | 31 |
Raspberries | 31 |
Annona (sugar apples) | 33 |
Pears | 33 |
fresh quince | 34 |
oranges | 34 |
dried apples | 36 |
grenades | 36 |
figs | 37 |
Applesauce | 37 |
Nectarines | 37 |
tangerines | 39 |
Gooseberry | 40 |
Canned quince without sugar | 40 |
Grape | 40 |
Cereals, cereals and flour products | |
Defatted Soybean Flour | 14 |
soy bread | 16 |
rice bran | 18 |
Barley porridge boiled in water | 21 |
Quinoa | 34 |
Wild rice (black) | 34 |
Chinese vermicelli | 34 |
Sprouted rye grains | 36 |
pumpkin bread | 38 |
Oat flakes (dry) | 39 |
Wholemeal macaroni | 39 |
Buckwheat porridge crumbly | 39 |
Grain bread | 40 |
Viscous oatmeal cooked with water | 40 |
Hominy (porridge made from ground corn) | 40 |
Viscous buckwheat porridge | 40 |
Buckwheat flour | 40 |
Milk and dairy products | |
tofu cheese | 14 |
Low fat sugar free yogurt | 14 |
Skimmed milk | 26 |
Fat-free kefir | 26 |
Fat-free cottage cheese | 29 |
Soy milk | 29 |
Cottage cheese (fat content 9%) | 29 |
Cream (fat content 10%) | 29 |
Sweetened condensed milk | 29 |
Whole milk | 33 |
Natural yoghurts (fat content 1.5%) | 34 |
low fat yogurt | 36 |
Seafood, fish | |
crayfish boiled | 4 |
sea cabbage | 21 |
Fish burgers | 39 |
Crab sticks | 39 |
Meat products | |
sausages | 27 |
Boiled sausage | 33 |
Oils, fats, sauces | |
Tomato sauce | 14 |
Pesto sauce (basil, cheese, olive oil) | 16 |
Soy sauce | 19 |
Peanut butter | 33 |
Mustard | 36 |
The drinks | |
Tomato juice | 13 |
Kvass | 29 |
Orange juice unsweetened | 39 |
carrot juice | 39 |
apple juice unsweetened | 39 |
Cocoa with milk without sugar | 39 |
Other products | |
Vanillin | 4 |
Cinnamon | 6 |
sunflower seeds | 7 |
Walnuts | 14 |
salted mushrooms | 14 |
Pine nuts | 14 |
Hazelnut | 16 |
ginger root | 16 |
pistachios | 16 |
Cashew | 16 |
cocoa powder | 18 |
Fructose | 19 |
Peanut | 21 |
Dark chocolate (over 70% cocoa) | 23 |
Almond | 24 |
Pumpkin seeds | 26 |
Berry marmalade without sugar | 29 |
Vegetarian cabbage soup | 29 |
dietary fiber | 31 |
Vegetarian borscht | 31 |
Yeast | 32 |
Fruit jams without sugar | 32 |
Almond milk | 32 |
Sesame | 34 |
Soy Milk Ice Cream | 36 |
Lactose | 38 |
Sorbet without added sugar | 39 |
It is easy to see that the above list does not include meat, fish, poultry and other protein products. This is explained by the fact that protein foods contain practically no carbohydrates, which means that its glycemic index tends to zero.
Factors affecting the glycemic index of foods
- One of critical factors, capable of increasing or decreasing the glycemic index, is the level cooking products. Refined foods (such as refined sugar or polished rice) and foods that have been cooked for a long time almost always have a higher GI. So, for example, the glycemic index of raw carrots is 34, and boiled - 86.
- Fibrous, tough foods that require a long digestion, as well as foods with high content fiber almost always has a low glycemic index. For example, the GI of ripe fresh apples is 29, while the glycemic index of apple juice without pulp and sugar is 39.
- Foods rich in simple (fast) carbohydrates have a higher glycemic index compared to foods rich in complex (slow) carbohydrates.
- The more fat and protein components in a food, the lower its glycemic index. Fats and proteins slow down the digestion of starch found in consumed foods and increase the time it takes for them to be fully digested.
- Foods that contain resistant starch have a lower GI than foods rich in easily digestible starches.
- The riper vegetables or fruits, the higher their GI. So, for example, the glycemic index of slightly green, unripe bananas ranges from 29–45, while overripe bananas reach 80–90.
- In most cases, acidic food has a low GI: the acids present in its composition slow down the process of assimilation of starches. Conversely, salt added to meals accelerates the absorption of glucose and significantly increases the glycemic index of foods.
- Grinding foods during cooking contributes to their glycemic index. The digestion of crushed food takes less time, which means that the absorption of the sugars contained in it occurs much faster.
- The glycemic index of foods directly depends on what sugars are present in their composition. For example, meals containing glucose (glucose syrups, some juices, sports nutrition, etc.) dramatically increase blood sugar and have a high GI. At the same time, foods containing fructose (many fruits and berries) practically do not increase the sugar content in the blood, which means they have a low glycemic index.