You've probably heard the terms glycemic index chart, low glycemic index, and how it will improve your health and body.
But chances are, you wouldn't know how to interpret the chart if you saw one.
But knowing and understanding what these figures represent can do you a whole world of good.
It will improve not only your health, but your quality of life as well.
The Numbers The first thing you will notice about the are a list of food alongside their number scores ranging from zero to a hundred.
The numbers indicate how your blood sugar will spike.
A number like 92 will mean that it digests fast in your system, and will bring your blood sugar up high quickly.
A low glycemic rating signifies a slow response of the body to that particular food.
The smaller the number, the more favorable it is to you.
This is what those diagnosed with diabetes are aiming for as well.
Understanding what the rating system means is quite easy.
It is actually very simplistic in the sense that a zero means a low rating and a hundred means a high rating.
If you do not find a specific food item you are looking for on the chart, keep in mind that whatever it is, it is most likely to have the same rating as those foods that are in the same food group.
And even if you get confused if the number ratings on one chart differ from another, they are in fact just based on the same idea.
Low Scores So now you know that you should focus on eating foods that are low in glycemic ranking.
So why oh why then, are Snickers bars, lower in score than a bagel? The reason that this happens is that a Snickers bar not only has chocolate, but it has peanuts, which have plenty of protein.
The protein in the peanuts slows the digestion of the rest of the food, meaning that it takes longer to digest.
Therefore, should you wish to indulge on those foods that have high-ranking on the chart, combine them with protein-rich food.
Here's a trick: if you still want to eat that slice of French Baguette, fill it with smoked salmon slices.
Knowing this makes the entire chart so much clearer and less confusing.
How This Information Helps You Don't think that just because you are not diagnosed as having diabetes, you don't need to pay attention to this chart.
It is really important to comprehend what it means so that you can adjust your diet accordingly and maybe even lose weight, if that is your goal.
It will take time to really understand how to use the information you can find in a glycemic index chart properly, but you shouldn't hesitate to try to eat according to it before you've really mastered it.
After all, you learn from experience!