Australians are more informed than ever when it comes to making educated choices about what they’re eating. However between the endless dietary classification symbols, it is easy to get confused about what exactly they mean.
Symbols such as ‘refined sugar free’ or ‘no added sugar’ are quite self explanatory, but one classification that stumps many people is ‘Low GI’.
By definition, the glycemic index (GI) is a ranking given to food to describe how quickly the carbohydrate in the food is broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream.
Low GI foods are broken down and absorbed more slowly into the blood stream, and they result in a steady rise in blood sugar and insulin levels.[1]
According to Sheila Zhou, expert Scientist at USANA, leading producer of high quality supplements, “Many people don’t understand the significance of incorporating low GI foods into their diet, but it’s an easy way to maintain good health and improve your blood glucose levels. As low GI foods are digested slower, there are also numerous other significant health benefits that could significantly improve your quality of life.”
To help you understand why you should be consuming low GI foods, Ms. Zhou shares her expert advice:
- Keeps hunger at bay. As low GI foods take longer to digest, they provide a continuous supply of energy from meal to meal, without the sharp rise and fall of blood glucose. It helps control hunger so that you won’t feel like eating all the time. To fully maximise the benefits of not over eating, space your meals evenly apart (ideally every three hours) throughout the day. If you’re trying to avoid high GI foods,
- Helps keep blood sugar levels stable. If you’re looking for ways to keep your blood sugar levels stable, low GI foods are a great option as they provide a slower, more sustained release of sugar into the bloodstream. A perfect low GI snack that is both nutritious and delicious is USANA’s Peanutty Bliss and Fudge Delight bars, made specifically to curb your sweet tooth and provide you with extra protein.
- Assists with heart health. Foods that are low GI often also include ingredients that assist with helping your heart function at optimum levels, such as omega 3 and unsaturated fats. By adding foods, such as berries and nuts, into your diet you are consuming antioxidants while maintaining a healthy balance of good fats in your body, therefore helping your heart.