Glycemic Index
What is GI

Everyday your body has to take over 10,000 steps, think 40,000 thought, pump 36,000 litres (8,000 gallons) of blood round your system and deal with all the stresses and strains of modern life. To do this it needs energy ant it gets that energy from food.

The secret of glucose and the glycemic index.
The body’s preferred fuel is a sugar called glucose, which it makes from starches and sugars (carbohydrates) found in the food that we eat. Glucose is made in liver after the food has been digested in the stomach. The converted glucose is then sent to the body’s cells where it is either burned immediately as we run, walk or even think or stored in the muscles and fat stores for later use. This happens with just about every food that contains carbohydrates, whether it is a plate of spinach or a plate of doughnuts. What differs is exactly how fast this reaction happens - and in very simple terms the glycemic index is a measure of that speed. Foods with a high glycemic index known as high-GI foods) are converted rapidly to glucose; foods with a low glycemic index (low GI foods) are converted more slowly. Low-GI Foods take longer to digest, so you feel full for longer

What has this got to do with our Health?
The missing link is a hormone called insulin. When glucose is released into the bloodstream, it is the job of insulin to take it where it is needed. If the glucose is released slowly there is no problem – moderate levels of insulin are released and have time to “think” about where that glucose is needed most and send it there.

However, if high levels of glucose enter the bloodstream, the body panics, it might need glucose for fuel, but too much can be harmful. It therefore releases high levels of insulin which quickly transfer the glucose to the fat stores where it can do no harm. This can lead to weight gain if it happens too often. But weight gain isn’t the only consequence. If insulin levels are raised too often, the cells that normally respond to glucose become resistant to its signals. Less glucose is taken to where it is needed, and it remains in the bloodstream which causes cell damage, contributing to ageing, and other problems such as furring of the arteries. And because the cells aren’t getting enough fuel (which in itself causes fatigue) the body triggers the release of more and more insulin to try to rectify things. This boosts resistance further, and after many years can even trigger Type II diabetes.

Turnings things around
Switching to a low-GI diet reverses this process. By ensuring you eat only foods that cause a gently rise in glucose in your bloodstream, you prevent the panic reaction and balance your system. For healthy people this reduces the risk of insulin resistance occurring, and for the estimated 25 percent of people already suffering from the condition, it can give the cells enough of a break to allow them to resensitize. As you will see, the result can positively affect everything from your heart to your skin.

The GI Diet Plan
Helen Foster