What are high glycemic index foods?
Recent fad diets have claimed that eating too many carbohydrates can lead to high insulin levels, resulting in health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Foods that score higher than 70 on the glycemic index (ie. potatoes, parsnips and donuts) are high GI foods, the reference food being pure glucose or white sugar at 100. High GI foods provide bursts of energy that may be followed quickly by blood sugar reductions and hunger. If taken in moderation, some high GI foods can be beneficial and should not be avoided altogether. However, overly processed foods containing excess sugar should be limited. We can make an effort to become aware of the glycemic reaction that certain foods cause and therefore make better-balanced food choices.
