Low Glycemic Index Diet: Benefits & Food List

Decreased Risk for Diabetes

Several studies have shown that people who eat high GI carbs and low fiber diets actually double their risk for the development of Type II diabetes. According to a study of nearly 43,000 men which was performed by Harvard, a person can decrease their risk for developing diabetes by 42% just by eating low GI foods.

Decreased Risk for Heart Disease

Studies have shown that eating whole grains can lower one’s risk for a heart attack by 29%. Persistently high blood glucose levels increases the risk of heart attack. Eating low GI carbs like whole grains and oatmeal helps keep blood sugars stable. The low GI diet also decreases one’s risk for developing high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides and also it gives your body an adequate amount of heart-healthy cholesterol (HDL).

Reduces Inflammation

When cholesterol invades the walls of our arteries, the immune systems response is inflammation, as with any type of injury to our body. Eating low GI carbs that are rich in soluble fiber helps to alter this process by clearing out the bad cholesterol in our bodies.

Weight Loss

Studies have concluded that people who consume mostly low GI carbs tend to weigh less than others who incorporate foods that are sugary or starchy in their diets. Low GI foods keep you fuller longer which decreases appetite throughout the day. Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia recently concluded from a study that people who eat low GI diets were 2x as likely to lose 5% of their body weight and keep it off as opposed to those who ate a high carb, low fat diet. That 5% of weight loss decreases one’s risk for the development of diabetes by 58%.

Most healthcare organizations use a rating system to classify a food by its GI in the following ways:

• Low GI = 0–55

• Medium G I= 56–69

• High GI = 70 or above

So, let’s see some of foods based on this GI rating, and you can choose your favorite food items from this low GI foods list.

Vegetables – Basically, all vegetables are considered to have a medium to high GI, EXCEPT the following:

• Beets

• Corn

• Leeks

• Sweet Potatoes

• Potatoes

Fruits – The majority of fruits, EXCEPT the following, are considered to have a medium GI:

• Apricots

• Cantaloupe

• Figs

• Papaya

• Pineapple

• Raisins

• Watermelon

Nuts and Seeds – The following are rated as low GI foods:

• Flaxseeds

• Sesame Seeds

• Almonds

• Cashews

• Peanuts

• Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds

• Walnuts

Beans and Legumes – The following are rated as low GI foods:

• Soybeans

• Tofu

• Dried Peas

• Kidney Beans

• Garbanzo Beans

• Lentils

• Navy Beans

Meat and Seafood – The following are rated as low GI foods:

• Cod

• Salmon

• Sardines

• Shrimp

• Tuna

• Grass-Fed Beef

• Pasture Raised Chicken and Turkey

• Grass-Fed Lamb

Dairy Products – Some of low GI dairy products include the following:

• Grass-Fed Cheese

• Pasture Raised Eggs

• Grass-Fed Cow’s Milk and Yogurt

Grains – Some of low GI grains include the following:

• Barley

• Brown Rice

• Buckwheat

• Oats

• Quinoa

• Rye

• Whole Wheat