The Glycemic Index - A Science Based Diet
S Thilakavathy and N Karthiga Pandeeswari
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore.
Abstract—Lifestyle diseases, like coronary disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity cause the predominant part of all the mortality worldwide as countries become more industrialized.. More importantly, they are potentially preventable and can be lowered by modifications in diet with low glycemic index foods,and changes in lifestyle and environment. Foods containing carbohydrates that are quickly digested have the highest glycemic index, since the blood sugar response is fast and high. Slowly digested carbohydrates have a low glycemic index, since they release glucose gradually into the bloodstream. A healthy low GI diet is easily able to achieve these goals, perhaps better than other dietary interventions. Low GI diet can achieve greater reduction in blood pressure, increase the body¡¯s sensitivity to insulin, improve diabetes control, reduce the risk of heart disease, and reduce blood cholesterol level, reduction in weight. Low GI foods, , delay hunger and help the body burn more fat and less muscle by increasing satiety or fullness after eating, low GI foods help reduce the calories consumed later in the day and reduce postprandial blood glucose levels, the beneficial role for low GI diets by reducing oxidative damage, thereby lowering heart disease risk.
Index Terms—Low Glycemic Index,Reduce blood glucose,Cholesterol,Heart disease, Dietary interventions
Cite: S Thilakavathy and N Karthiga Pandeeswari, "The Glycemic Index - A Science Based Diet," International Journal of Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 259-265, October 2012.