Low GI Food List and Diet Tips for Using the Glycemic Index


The Glycemic Index (GI) is sometimes listed on food labels. It is a measure of how quickly the food (especially carbohydrates) breaks down in the body. The use of GI is related to the debate about whether unprocessed and whole foods are better for you as these foods have bulk and fiber and tend to release glucose more gradually than processed foods. High GI foods such as processed foods, or foods with added sugar, have high GI as the carbohydrates they contain tend to break down quickly causing a rapid injection of glucose into the bloodstream . Low GI foods tend to be digested more slowly, with slower release of glucose into the bloodstream.

The GI concept was developed in 1981 by Dr. David J. Jenkins at the University of Toronto to find ways of identifying the best foods for people with diabetes. The glycemic index is technically defined as the amount of glucose released from a sample of the food (usually 50 g) over a two-hour period. The current methods use white bread or glucose as the reference food, with glucose assigned a glycemic index value of 100 by definition. The GI is expressed as an index of the rate of appearance or glucose in the blood compared with glucose as a standard with a GI value set at 100. See this article for information on glycemic testing. See this website for a huge food GI database.

How the Glycemic Index (GI) of foods affects the timing of changes in blood sugar levels
How the Glycemic Index (GI) of foods affects the timing of changes in blood sugar levels

Choosing low-GI foods generally and for a low-GI diet plan has been generally linked to many health benefits. These advantages include helping control diabetes, losing weight, reduced insulin secretion, improve athletic performances, help to lower the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and many other claims. But what are the facts and how showed the GI of foods be used to develop healthy eating plans?

Benefits of Low-GI Foods

► Low-GI foods, have slower rates of digestion and absorption or nutrients and so produce more gradual rises in insulin levels and blood sugar. So, these Low-GI foods have established benefits for health and for weight loss. 

► Further, these diets have been shown to improve blood lipid and glucose levels in people who have with diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes). 

► Low-GI foods help people who are trying to lose weight or maintain their body weight because foods with low GI help to control appetite and delay the onset of hunger pangs. 

► Low GI diets have also been shown to lower insulin levels and help improve the insulin resistance response. 

► Recent research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that the risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes is strongly correlated with the GI of the overall diet. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) both recommended that people in industrialised countries shift their diets to low-GI foods to help lower people's risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and obesity.

GI Needs to be Considered in Relation to other Nutrients

GI only relates to carbohydrates and their chemical type (glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch or other complex carbohydrates) and how they are 'locked-up' in the food. Foods with no carbohydrate don't have a GI (e.g. chicken, beef, avocados and even some fruits). Many whole foods such as an apple may be rich in sugars but they are encased in fibres and cellulose cell walls. Apples only have a GI of 34 compared with French fries 75, Sucrose (Table Sugar) 65, Honey 35-58, Fructose 23.

So in choosing foods you can't just follow the GI classification - you need to consider all the other nutritional attributes of foods such as fat, calories, sodium, sugars, fibre and calcium. Surprisingly the GI of french fries is much lower than that of baked potatoes, but the calories and saturated fat in the fries is much higher, making them an unhealthy choice. Generally, whole foods are nutritious and have low GI. Fresh fruits and vegetables and wholegrains are better food choices than their processed derivatives.

Questions and Answers about the Glycemic Index

Does the GI increase with serving size?

No, the GI value always remains the same, even if you double the amount of carbohydrate in your meal. Remember that the GI is an index, that is the relative ranking of foods containing the "same amount" of carbohydrate. . 

What is the Glycemic Load (GL)?

The level of glucose in the blood rises and falls when you eat a meal containing carbohydrate. How far rises and how long it remains elevated obviously depends both on the amount of carbohydrate eaten and the GI of the carbohydrate. The Glycemic load (GL) is an attempt to combine both the quantity and quality of carbohydrate in one ‘number’. It can be used to predict the blood glucose impact of various food types and quantities of food. The GL can be regarded as the quantity of carbohydrate in a food ‘modified’ for its glycemic potency. The formula is:

GL = (GI times the quantity of carbohydrate) divided by 100.

For one apple - it has a GI of 40 and 15 g of carbohydrate.

GL = 40 times 15/100 = 6 g [ 100 calories ]

For a small baked potato - it has a GI is 80 and 15 g of carbohydrate.

GL = 80 times 15/100 = 12 g [ 161 Calories ]

So this suggests that the potato will have twice the metabolic effect of an apple. 
However a diet with a low GL can be a poor one for overall health as it can be full of the wrong types of fats and high in calories. Choosing healthy low GL foods with at least one at every meal will help reduce the impact of the carbohydrate in the diet and balance the amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins for a healthy diet. 

How Should the GI be Used to Choose Foods?

Remember that the GI only relates to carbohydrates. A food with a low GI can have very high calories relative to other foods that are rich in fats. The GI is best used a tool to help you choose between various food options in the same food group. For example to compare the GI values of breads, cereals and other foods rich in carbohydrates. Use the GI to identify your best carbohydrate choices - slow carbs, not necessarily low carbs. Whole foods generally provide carbohydrates in a slow release form. Always watch you portion sizes. GI by itself is not necessarily the best way of making healthy food choices. Chocolates, Candy bars, Soft drinks, and many ice creams have low to moderate GIs. Brown rice, whole-wheat bread and whole-grain spaghetti all have the same GI values as their refined white versions. The conclusion is that calories matter for weight loss not GI by itself! Energy restrictions and an increases in energy expenditure through exercise should be the main focus of weight loss programs and diets.

Why do High-Fiber Foods have a Relatively high GI value?

Dietary fibre consists of many different types of molecules and there are both insoluble and soluble and fibre types. Soluble fibre is often fairly thick and jelly-like, even in the small intestine and this delays digestion and release of the carbohydrate in the food. Therefore many foods rich in carbohydrate, with soluble fibre, such as oats, apples, many other fruits and legumes, have surprisingly low GI values.

Insoluble fibre, in contrast despite being tougher, does not provide the same protection and so does not slow digestion once the basic structure of the food is broken. When insoluble fibre is finely milled rapid digestion can occur. Fibre-rich wholemeal bread and fibre-poor white bread have similar GI values. Brown pasta and brown rice have similar values to their white counterparts.

Why are there no GI values for beef, fish, tofu, eggs, nuts, chicken, seeds, avocados, many vegetables, fruits (including berries), wine, beer and spirits

These foods contain little or no carbohydrate, or so their GI cannot be determined using the standard methods. These types of foods, eaten alone, will not affect your blood glucose levels because they contain so little carbohydrate.

Why Does Pasta have a low GI?

Pasta has a low GI because the starch granules are enshrouded in sponge-like protein network in the pasta dough. Pasta is very distinctive in this respect. Consequently most pastas of various shapes and sizes have a fairly low GI (30 - 60). Asian noodle types such as udon, hokkein and rice vermicelli also have low to moderate GI values. The GI value of pasta can be increased by over-cooking as this breaks down the protein.

Most Potato Dishes and Breads have a high GI. Are they Bad for You?

Potatoes and bread do have high GI as the starch in them can be readily converted to glucose. Choose varieties of bread that have lower GI values. Potato salad made from boiled potatoes, tossed with a dressing and stored in the fridge overnight has a much lower GI than freshly cooked potatoes. This is partially explained by the dressing slowing digestion and the effect of the cold storage on the availability of the starch.

Some High Fat Foods have Low GI. Isn't this misleading?

The GI of foods with high fat contents is often low, especially with saturated fat. For example the GI value of french fries and potato chips, which have high fat contents is lower than baked potatoes which if not smothered in oil have very low fat. High quantities of fat in foods act to slow the rate of digestion and so the rate the glucose appears in the blood stream. Yet the saturated fat is unhealthy and adds to the calories.

How relevant is the GI for athletes?

Studies have shown that the GI can be useful tool for helping athletes to choose the best carbohydrates to consume both after and before exercise routines and races. Low GI pre-exercise meals helps to sustain blood glucose concentrations during exercise. Eating high GI carbohydrates at the end of a race or exercise session increases insulin concentrations and plasma glucose levels and this helps to re-build the glycogen stores in the muscles. 

How do GI Diets work?

Diets based on GI index simply focuses on making choices to eat low GI foods that helps to prevent surges and drops in blood sugar, and helps dieters to feel fuller for longer after a meal. However, most GI diets also recommend cuts in fat consumption, especially saturated fat, and reductions in portion sizes and calories. This means that many surprisingly low GI foods that are rich in fats and calories - such as whole milk, chips, potato crisps and chocolate- are still restricted.

LIST OF FOODS RANKED BY GI VALUE (from Low to High)

Food
GI
Food
GI
Food
GI
Muesli
5
Chocolate milk
42
Mango
60
Hummus
6
Milk Chocolate
42
Papaya
60
Broccoli
10
Custard
43
Canned Potatoes
61
Cabbage
10
Grapes
43
Couscous
61
Chillies
10
Orange
43
Figs
61
Lettuce
10
Canned lentil soup
44
Hamburger bun
61
Mushrooms
10
Soy Milk
44
Icecream
62
Onions
10
Pinto Beans
45
Wholemeal Rye
62
Red Peppers
10
Coconut
45
Porridge Oats
63
Cauliflower
15
Heavy Mixed Grain
45
Ryvita
63
Eggplant/Aubergine
15
Macaroni
45
Beetroot
64
Green Beans
15
Pineapple juice
46
Canned apricots, light syrup
64
Low-fat yogurt, no sugar
15
Sponge Cake
46
Macaroni and cheese
64
Most non starchy vegetable
15
Wholegrain Pumpernickel
46
Raisins
64
Peanuts
15
Banana bread
47
Quick-cooking porridge
65
Tomatoes
15
Frozen Sweet Corn
47
Rye crisp-bread
65
Walnuts
15
Instant Noodles
47
Table sugar (sucrose)
65
Raw Carrots
16
Kiwi Fruit
47
Instant porridge
66
Lentils, Red
21
Long-grain rice
47
Nutrigrain
66
Nuts and Raisins
21
Bulgur
48
Pineapple
66
Cherries
22
Canned baked beans
48
Croissant
67
Pearled Barley
22
Grapefruit juice
48
Shredded Wheat
67
Peas
22
Green peas
48
Cornmeal
68
Artificially Sweetened Yoghurt
23
Oat bran bread
48
Gnocchi
68
Plums
24
Sourdough Rye
48
Maple flavoured syrup
68
Cashew Nuts
25
Sweet Potatoes
48
Taco Shells
68
Grapefruit
25
Nut & Seed Muesli Bar
49
Whole wheat bread
68
Slim-Fast meal replacement
27
Old-fashioned porridge
49
Special K (US)
69
Peaches
28
Whole Wheat
49
Tapioca
70
Prunes
29
All-bran (US)
50
Bagel
72
All-bran (UK/Aus)
30
Blackeyed Beans
50
Corn chips
72
Lentils, Green
30
Brown Rice
50
Watermelon
72
Peach, canned in natural juice
30
Oat bran
50
Fresh Mashed Potatoes
73
Wheat tortilla
30
Tortellini (Cheese)
50
Mashed potatoes
73
Haricot/Navy Beans
31
Buckwheat
51
Sultana Bran
73
Baby lima beans
32
Jam
51
Branflakes
74
Dried Apricots
32
Rolled Oats
51
Cheerios
74
Egg Fettuccini
32
Canned kidney beans
52
Puffed wheat
74
Fat-free milk
32
Kidney Beans (canned)
52
Weetabix
74
Skimmed milk
32
Orange juice
52
French Fries
75
Spaghetti
32
New Potatoes
54
Pumpkin
75
Yellow Split Peas
32
Potato chips
54
Donuts
76
Low-fat yogurt, with sugar
33
Sourdough Wheat
54
Coco Pops
77
Nutella
33
Special K (UK/Aus)
54
Oats in Honey Bake
77
Sweetened yoghurt
33
Wheat Pasta Shapes
54
Vanilla wafers
77
Apples
34
Linguine
55
Water Crackers
78
Custard
35
Oatmeal cookies
55
White bread
79
Yam
35
Oatmeal Crackers
55
Cornflakes
80
Butter Beans
36
Popcorn
55
Instant Mashed Potatoes
80
Pear
36
Sweet corn
55
Jelly beans
80
Soya and Linseed
36
Beans in Tomato Sauce
56
Watermelon
80
Whole wheat spaghetti
37
Sultanas
56
Pretzels
81
Tomato soup
38
White rice
56
Puffed Crispbread
81
Carrots, cooked
39
Pita bread
57
Rice Krispies
82
Frozen Green Peas
39
Wild Rice
57
Mashed potatoes, instant
83
Meat Ravioli
39
Bananas
58
Short Grain White Rice
83
Natural Muesli
40
Basmati Rice
58
Cornflakes
84
Oranges
40
Bran Buds
58
Glutinous Rice
86
Strawberries
40
Chinese (Rice) Vermicelli
58
Instant White Rice
87
Apple juice
41
Honey
58
Rice cakes
87
Boiled Carrots
41
Mini Wheats
58
Rice, instant
91
Coconut Milk
41
Blueberry muffin
59
Scones
92
Pears
41
Blueberry cupcake
59
French Baguette
95
Snickers Bar (high fat)
41
Digestives
59
French bread
95
Canned chickpeas
42
Baked Potatoes
60
Parsnips
97
Chick Peas
42
Bran muffin
60
Dates
99

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FOODS AND GI VALUES

Food
GI
Food
GI
Food
GI
All-bran (UK/Aus)
30
Glutinous Rice
86
Pineapple juice
46
All-bran (US)
50
Gnocchi
68
Pinto Beans
45
Apple juice
41
Grapefruit
25
Pita bread
57
Apples
34
Grapefruit juice
48
Plums
24
Artificially Sweetened Yoghurt
23
Grapes
43
Popcorn
55
Baby lima beans
32
Green Beans
15
Porridge Oats
63
Bagel
72
Green peas
48
Potato chips
54
Baked Potatoes
60
Hamburger bun
61
Pretzels
81
Banana bread
47
Haricot/Navy Beans
31
Prunes
29
Bananas
58
Heavy Mixed Grain
45
Puffed Crispbread
81
Basmati Rice
58
Honey
58
Puffed wheat
74
Beans in Tomato Sauce
56
Hummus
6
Pumpkin
75
Beetroot
64
Icecream
62
Quick-cooking porridge
65
Blackeyed Beans
50
Instant Mashed Potatoes
80
Raisins
64
Blueberry cupcake
59
Instant Noodles
47
Raw Carrots
16
Blueberry muffin
59
Instant porridge
66
Red Peppers
10
Boiled Carrots
41
Instant White Rice
87
Rice cakes
87
Bran Buds
58
Jam
51
Rice Krispies
82
Bran muffin
60
Jelly beans
80
Rice, instant
91
Branflakes
74
Kidney Beans (canned)
52
Rolled Oats
51
Broccoli
10
Kiwi Fruit
47
Rye crisp-bread
65
Brown Rice
50
Lentils, Green
30
Ryvita
63
Buckwheat
51
Lentils, Red
21
Scones
92
Bulgur
48
Lettuce
10
Short Grain White Rice
83
Butter Beans
36
Linguine
55
Shredded Wheat
67
Cabbage
10
Long-grain rice
47
Skimmed milk
32
Canned apricots, light syrup
64
Low-fat yogurt, no sugar
15
Slim-Fast meal replacement
27
Canned baked beans
48
Low-fat yogurt, with sugar
33
Snickers Bar (high fat)
41
Canned chickpeas
42
Macaroni
45
Sourdough Rye
48
Canned kidney beans
52
Macaroni and cheese
64
Sourdough Wheat
54
Canned lentil soup
44
Mango
60
Soy Milk
44
Canned Potatoes
61
Maple flavoured syrup
68
Soya and Linseed
36
Carrots, cooked
39
Mashed potatoes
73
Spaghetti
32
Cashew Nuts
25
Mashed potatoes, instant
83
Special K (UK/Aus)
54
Cauliflower
15
Meat Ravioli
39
Special K (US)
69
Cheerios
74
Milk Chocolate
42
Sponge Cake
46
Cherries
22
Mini Wheats
58
Strawberries
40
Chick Peas
42
Most non starchy vegetable
15
Sultana Bran
73
Chillies
10
Muesli
5
Sultanas
56
Chinese (Rice) Vermicelli
58
Mushrooms
10
Sweet corn
55
Chocolate milk
42
Natural Muesli
40
Sweet Potatoes
48
Coco Pops
77
New Potatoes
54
Sweetened yoghurt
33
Coconut
45
Nut & Seed Muesli Bar
49
Table sugar (sucrose)
65
Coconut Milk
41
Nutella
33
Taco Shells
68
Corn chips
72
Nutrigrain
66
Tapioca
70
Cornflakes
84
Nuts and Raisins
21
Team
82
Cornmeal
68
Oat bran
50
Tomato soup
38
Couscous
61
Oat bran bread
48
Tomatoes
15
Croissant
67
Oatmeal cookies
55
Tortellini (Cheese)
50
Custard
35
Oatmeal Crackers
55
Vanilla wafers
77
Dates
99
Oats in Honey Bake
77
Walnuts
15
Digestives
59
Old-fashioned porridge
49
Water Crackers
78
Donuts
76
Onions
10
Watermelon
72
Dried Apricots
32
Orange
43
Weetabix
74
Egg Fettuccini
32
Orange juice
52
Wheat Pasta Shapes
54
Eggplant/Aubergine
15
Oranges
40
Wheat tortilla
30
Fat-free milk
32
Papaya
60
White bread
79
Figs
61
Parsnips
97
White rice
56
French Baguette
95
Peach, canned in natural juice
30
Whole Wheat
49
French bread
95
Peaches
28
Whole wheat bread
68
French Fries
75
Peanuts
15
Whole wheat spaghetti
37
Fresh Mashed Potatoes
73
Pearled Barley
22
Wholegrain Pumpernickel
46
Frozen Green Peas
39
Pears
41
Wholemeal Rye
62
Frozen Sweet Corn
47
Peas
22
Wild Rice
57
Glucose
100
Pineapple
66
Yam
35




There are choices within food groups towards low GI which will avoid the peaks and roughs of high carb and processed foods
There are choices within food groups towards low GI which will avoid the peaks and roughs of high carb and processed foods
Summary of the benefits of Low GI foods and metabolic processes
Summary of the benefits of Low GI foods and metabolic processes
Choosing Low GI foods helps to avoid the hunger pangs caused by low sugar troughs. Keeping blood sugar levels even helps to keep hunger at bay
Choosing Low GI foods helps to avoid the hunger pangs caused by low sugar troughs. Keeping blood sugar levels even helps to keep hunger at bay
Food with low GI. Learn more about how to choose the best foods using GI in this article
Food with low GI. Learn more about how to choose the best foods using GI in this article
Eating highly processed food rich in carbohydrate can cause a huge peak in blood sugar level that can quickly plunge to low levels soon after. Eating Low GI foods avoids this.
Eating highly processed food rich in carbohydrate can cause a huge peak in blood sugar level that can quickly plunge to low levels soon after. Eating Low GI foods avoids this.
The GI Food Pyramid guide to healthy eating that keeps blood glucose levels relatively consistent
The GI Food Pyramid guide to healthy eating that keeps blood glucose levels relatively consistent
Key health benefits of a Low GI Diet
Key health benefits of a Low GI Diet
Dried fruit and nuts are high energy and high carbohydrate- food but their GI is relatively low and they fill you up, so they are a good snack food when eaten sparingly
Dried fruit and nuts are high energy and high carbohydrate- food but their GI is relatively low and they fill you up, so they are a good snack food when eaten sparinglyy
High Protein Low GI foods for a healthy diet that avoids the peaks and troughs of blood sugar associated with processed foods and hi carb foods
High Protein Low GI foods for a healthy diet that avoids the peaks and troughs of blood sugar associated with processed foods and hi carb foods