Planning Food Combinations for a Glycemic Diet Index

Glycemic diet index – first and foremost, you have to realize that the glycemic diet index should not be the only indicator that you should consider. You also have to take note of the nutritional content of the foods that you include in your diet. One example is coffee. Take note that coffee is beneficial for you even if it has high or low GI value. This means you should not just focus on the value alone. On the other hand, replacing carrots with diet coke just because it has low GI vale does not mean it is healthier. Remember that GI cannot change the ratio f carbohydrates and proteins contained in the foods that you eat. The ratio of these nutrients is often based on your own level of activity.

Proteins and fats…

Fortunately, most foods are following the same pattern which is based on the GI scale. Various stuffs like candies, which are often sugary, have high GI value. Both proteins and fats, on the other hand, have low GI. Vegetables have lower GI value compared to fruits, but this may vary according to the ratio of fiber and sugar. For example, ripe bananas and carrots may have high GI value, but these are still considered as healthy foods, as they do not contain high amount of calories and may not affect your glycemic diet index.

One thing that you should always look out for is the amount of starch contained in a certain food. Take note that almost all types of grains should be cooked before consumed. This cooking process is what usually causes the GI value of a food to become high. Once these foods are processed – like white rice and pasta – then you will surely get a value than is off the chart and this can definitely affect your glycemic diet index. Because of this, the consumption of such foods should be limited, cut or eliminated completely. However, you also have to realize that even if a processed food, like pasta, has high GI value; additional ingredients – like the sauce – can have an equalizing effect on it. So if you want to maintain a well-balanced diet, then you should know how to get the proper ratio of foods in a certain recipe.

Planning…

If you are still having a hard time planning the foods that you can add into your glycemic diet index, then you can simply visit a dietitian or a nutritionist for some advice. This way, you can be doubly sure that you are on the right path and that you are following the glycemic diet index properly.