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Q. Just what is the "Glycemic Index"?
A. The "Glycemic Index" is simply a numerical ranking of foods based on their immediate effect to raise your blood sugar. It measures how fast the carbohydrate of a particular food is converted to glucose and enters the bloodstream. It's simple. A food with a high number enters the bloodstream faster than one with a lower number. Stick to the lower numbered foods and you lower your blood sugar.
Q. How is a "Glycemic Index" determined?
A. In a clinically controlled setting, 50-gram portions of food are fed to people who have fasted overnight. The rise in blood sugar is measured every 15 minutes for 3 hours and then plotted on a graph. The area under the curve is measured and indexed against glucose at 100. That number is the food's glycemic index. The higher the rise in blood sugar, the higher the glycemic index of that food.
Q. How does a Low Glycemic Diet work?
A. All carbohydrates are not the same. Some "gush" into your blood stream and spike your blood sugar. Others just "trickle" in slowly keeping it low. Knowing which carbs are which and then choosing "tricklers" not "gushers" is the secret to making the diet work. For example instant mashed potato (GI-87) will raise your blood sugar almost twice as much as an equal serving of brown & wild rice (GI-45). Stick to foods with a Low Glycemic Index and you'll lower your average blood sugar level for the day.
Important Note: As you start eating more low glycemic foods, your blood sugar response will decrease so you may need to adjust your insulin or medication. We recommend you check your blood sugars frequently and record your results. Consult with your physician or diabetes educator before you start the diet and always follow their advice.
Q. Will the Low GI Diet help control my diabetes?
A. Yes. And it works for people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. In study after study a Low GI diet reduced the HbA1c levels in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In a study of children with Type 1 diabetes the Low GI diet dramatically improved their blood glucose control and the diet was easier for them to understand compared to the American Diabetes Association approved diet. Ref: Diabetes Care 24:1137-1143, 2001.
Q. Will the Low GI Diet help me lose weight?
A. Yes. Losing weight is not just a matter of reducing the amount of food you eat. Since foods with a Low Glycemic Index are absorbed more slowly, the calories from the food you eat are more likely to be burned throughout the day as energy, rather than stored as fat. Low GI foods help your body burn more body fat plus they have the added advantage of filling you up and keep you from getting hungry. Studies have shown that even when calorie intake is the same, you can lose more weight eating Low GI foods vs. High GI foods.
Q. What research supports the use of the Low GI Diet?
A. Over the past 20 years 120 published research studies have been conducted on the value of a Low GI diet. There are two that are particularly noteworthy: (a) www.mendosa.com/diabetes.htm and (b) www.glycemicindex.com. In addition to this you may want to read: "The New Glucose Revolution Low GI to Diabetes” Dr Jennie Brand-Miller one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Low GI diet.
Q. Where can I learn more about the Low GI Diet?
A. For more information you can download The Low Glycemic Guide for Blood Glucose Control or request to have a booklet mailed to you.
Q. Why are Fifty50 products low glycemic?
A: Fifty50 works with food scientists to develop formulas for their products. Our formulas remove ingredients that will rapidly raise blood sugar levels and substitutes ingredients that will minimize rises in blood sugar without compromising taste.