
Gl and Carb Count of Common Foods
Food | Grams of Carbs | GI Range | Average GI |
White potato (medium) | 34 | 56-111 | High 80s |
Sweet potato (medium) | 24 | 44-78 | 61 |
Carrots (1/2 cup) | 6 | 16-92 | 47 |
Green peas (1/2 cup) | 11 | 39-54 | 48 |
- sugar and sugary foods.
- sugary soft drinks.
- white bread.
- potatoes.
- white rice.
Which fruits have the lowest glycemic index?
The Glycemic Index Table of Fruits & Vegetables
- Low GI Fruits. Many fruits have a low GI value, which makes them good choices for keeping your blood sugar levels under control and maintaining optimal health.
- Medium GI Fruits. ...
- High GI Fruits. ...
- Low GI Vegetables. ...
- Medium GI Vegetables. ...
- High GI Vegetables. ...
Which grain has the lowest glycemic index?
- Eating a variety of intact grains, legumes and low GI grain foods lowers the overall GI of your diet.
- Many intact grains are low GI, including oats, rye, barley, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, some rice varieties.
- Refined grain foods with a lower GI should be eaten in preference to higher GI varieties. ...
What vegetables have low glycemic index?
Vegetables. Fill your plate with vegetables that won’t spike your blood sugar by choosing broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, onions and red peppers, which all have a glycemic index of 10. Green beans, tomatoes, cauliflower and eggplant are not far behind with a glycemic index of 15.
What foods are high on the glycemic diet?
These factors can include:
- how refined the carbohydrate is
- the physical and chemical structure of the food
- the cooking method
- how much fiber the food contains
- how much protein, fat, and acid the food contains

What is the highest glycemic index?
low GI is 55 or less. medium GI is 56–69. high GI is 70 or greater.
Which vegetable has the highest glycemic index?
Higher GI fruits include bananas, oranges, mango, grapes, raisins, dates and pears. Lower GI vegetables include lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and peppers. Higher GI vegetables include carrots, potatoes, parsnips, beetroots and sweetcorn.
Are bananas high glycemic?
According to the International Glycemic Index Database, ripe bananas have a low GI of 51, with slightly under-ripe bananas even lower at 42; they have a moderate GL of 13 and 11, respectively.
Are sweet potatoes high glycemic?
In fact, sweet potatoes that have been peeled and baked for 45 minutes have a GI of 94, making them a high-GI food (13). This puts them on par with other high-GI foods, including white rice, baguettes, and instant mashed potatoes (14, 15, 16).
Are carrots high glycemic?
The GI for boiled carrots ranges from 32 to 49. That puts carrots in the low glycemic food group: Low glycemic index: 1-55. Medium glycemic index: 56-69.
What are low glycemic vegetables?
Low-Glycemic VegetablesCarrots.Green peas.Onions.Lettuce.Greens (spinach, kale, collards, beet)Green beans.Tomatoes.Cucumbers.More items...•
What is the glycemic index of vegetables?
The glycemic index of common fruits and vegetablesVegetablesGlycemic index (glucose = 100)Glycemic load per servingGreen peas, average514Carrots, average352Parsnips524Baked russet potato, average111334 more rows
Do tomatoes have a high glycemic index?
Fresh, whole tomatoes have a low glycemic index (GI) score.
What is the glycemic index?
The glycemic index (GI) is a relative ranking of carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect blood sugar. 1 When you have type 2 diabetes, one of the best ways to control your glucose levels is to eat foods that don't cause major blood sugar (glucose) spikes. Knowing the glycemic index of the carbohydrates you eat can help you fine-tune ...
What is the GI of a food?
The GI is a rating system where foods are ranked on a scale of 1 to 100 based on how much they raise blood sugar. Processed foods such as candy, breads, cake, and cookies have a high GI, while whole foods such as unrefined grains, non-starchy vegetables, and fruits tend to have a lower GI.
How many carbs are in an apple?
For example, an apple has a GI of 40 and contains 15 grams of carbs. (40 x 15)/100 = 6, so the glycemic load of an apple is 6.
What should I eat on a low GI diet?
If you aim for a low-GI diet, you'll naturally be focusing on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, as opposed to the higher-GI end of the spectrum, which includes more processed foods.
What is a low GI?
Remember that a low GI is a food that won't raise your blood sugar as much as a food with a medium or high GI. 1. For example, rice milk (a processed food without any fiber) has a high GI of 86, while brown rice (plenty of fiber) has a medium GI of 66.
Is GI a good tool?
Understanding the GI of foods can be a good tool to use in addition to carbohydrate counting to help control blood sugars, but it shouldn't be the only tool you use. Familiarize yourself with this chart and the GI concept, but note that the GI should be used as an adjunct to other lifestyle changes such as eating an overall balanced diet, practicing good portion control, and exercising regularly.
Does the GI of food change?
Where the Glycemic Index Falls Short. The GI of foods can actually change depending on a number of factors, which can make the measure unreliable in certain cases. The composition of a meal can change the effect of blood sugar rise.
What is the glycemic index?
As we’ve already discussed, the glycemic index (GI) is a numerical system that measures how much of a rise in circulating blood sugar a carbohydrate triggers—the higher the number, the greater the blood sugar response. The glycemic load (GL) is a relatively newer and better way to assess the impact of carbohydrate consumption on your blood sugar.
What is considered zero glycemic?
Zero-glycemic foods—those without carbohydrates—include items like meats, fish, and oils. Pure sugar has a glycemic index of 100. Low-glycemic foods have a glycemic load of 55 or lower and include most fruits and vegetables, beans, dairy, and some grains. Foods such as bananas, raisins, and sweet potatoes are considered to be medium-glycemic foods ...
What is GL in nutrition?
The glycemic load ( GL) is a relatively newer and better way to assess the impact of carbohydrate consumption on your blood sugar. The glycemic load gives a fuller picture than does glycemic index alone; it takes into account how much carbohydrate is in a serving of a particular food. You need to know both GI and GL to understand a food’s effect on ...
How to stabilize blood sugar?
Stabilizing your blood sugar is accomplished by lowering the overall glycemic load of your diet. Actually studying the glycemic loads of various foods is an interesting exercise, but it isn’t necessary as long as you eat regularly, choose the right carbs, and avoid white flour and sugars.
What is the GI of Kiwis?
The lower a food is on the GI, the lower the effect on your blood sugar. The standardized Glycemic Index ranges from 0 to 100.
Does low GI diet help with appetite?
Low GI foods (with a value below 55) cause blood sugar to rise more slowly, which helps regulate the appetite. Studies suggest that following the GI diet may help diabetics better manage their blood sugar, and there also is evidence the diet may help people maintain a healthy weight.
1. Breads made with white flour
White bread, bagels, and any other breads made primarily from white flour have a high glycemic index. White flour is processed from wheat that’s had the bran and germ layers removed, so it has less of the fiber you need to slow down digestion and keep blood sugar from spiking.
2. Breakfast cereals
Many breakfast cereals come in high on the GI index because of their carb content. One cup of cornflakes has a GI of around 79. The GI of oatmeal, which many of us think of as healthy, depends on how it’s been processed. Rolled or quick oats have a GI in the mid-range, at about 55. Instant oatmeal has a much higher glycemic index of about 83.
3. Sugary snacks
Since most pastries, cakes and cookies are loaded with carbs and sugar, they rank high on the glycemic index. Doughnuts come in at about 76, for instance, but there are some reasonable sweet choices out there. Dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa has a GI of only around 23, due to high fat content which slows down digestion.
4. Potatoes
Potatoes can be literally off the charts on the glycemic index. A medium-sized baked Russet potato has a GI of about 111. White boiled potatoes are a little better but still high, with a GI of about 82. If you’re looking for a healthier starch, pearled barley has a GI rating of around 33, and quinoa is around 55.
5. Rice and Pasta
White rice has been processed to remove almost all of the fiber, giving it a high GI of around 73. Brown rice is a bit lower, but you can also try substituting lentils, quinoa or farro, all of which have a much lower GI than rice.
6. Sugary soft drinks
Although soda sweetened with sugar has a lower GI than you might think, coming in at the mid-range around 60 depending on the type of soda, the calories add up. If you are at risk for or have type 2 diabetes, sugary soft drinks can contribute to obesity and are not a healthy option.
7. Certain fruits
Despite the sugar content, many fresh fruits are low GI because they have a lot of fiber and water. Apples, oranges, and berries are all good choices. Watermelon has a high GI of around 80, but it has very few carbohydrates, so you can eat about 1 ½ cups for a standard portion of 15 grams of carbs. Cantaloupe is similar.
Can glycemic index be measured?
The glycemic index can not be measured for such foods. To read more about this, you can visit our “Glycemic index of foods with no carbohydrates” page - https://foodstruct.com/articles/glycemic-index-of-0-no-carb-foods. If you are looking for foods with glycemic indices in a specific range, you can search for foods based on their glycemic index ...
Does the glycemic index fluctuate?
Naturally, the glycemic index of most foods can fluctuate depending on the variety of the food. We have included the glycemic index values of different varieties of the certain food from all accessible sources.
What is the glycemic index of food?
The glycemic index rates the effect of a specific amount of a food on blood sugar compared with the same amount of pure glucose. A food with a glycemic index of 28 boosts blood sugar only 28% as much as pure glucose. One with a GI of 95 acts like pure glucose.
What foods have low glycemic index?
Choose low glycemic foods 1 Low glycemic index (GI of 55 or less): Most fruits and vegetables, beans, minimally processed grains, pasta, low-fat dairy foods, and nuts. 2 Moderate glycemic index (GI 56 to 69): White and sweet potatoes, corn, white rice, couscous, breakfast cereals such as Cream of Wheat and Mini Wheats. 3 High glycemic index (GI of 70 or higher): White bread, rice cakes, most crackers, bagels, cakes, doughnuts, croissants, most packaged breakfast cereals.
Why is it important to eat healthy carbs?
Eating healthier carbohydrates can help prevent a host of chronic conditions, especially diabetes, but it can also ward off heart disease and various cancers. One way to choose foods is with the glycemic index (GI). This tool measures how much a food boosts blood sugar.
Does rice raise blood sugar?
A serving of white rice has almost the same effect as eating pure table sugar — a quick, high spike in blood sugar. A serving of lentils has a slower, smaller effect. Picking good sources of carbs can help you control your blood sugar and your weight.
Does eating carbs increase blood sugar?
If you have diabetes, you know all too well that when you eat carbohydrates, your blood sugar goes up. The total amount of carbs you consume at a meal or in a snack mostly determines what your blood sugar will do. But the food itself also plays a role.
What is the glycemic index?
The glycemic index, or GI, is a measure used to determine how much a food can affect your blood sugar levels. Several factors affect the glycemic index of a food, including the nutrient composition, ripeness, cooking method, and amount of processing it has undergone. Following a low glycemic diet may offer several health benefits, ...
Why is glycemic index important?
The glycemic index is a tool that’s often used to promote better blood sugar management. Several factors influence the glycemic index of a food, including its nutrient composition, cooking method, ripeness, and the amount of processing it has undergone. The glycemic index can not only help increase your awareness of what you’re putting on your ...
Why is it important to take both the glycemic index and glycemic load into consideration when
For this reason, it’s important to take both the glycemic index and glycemic load into consideration when selecting foods to help support healthy blood sugar levels ( 1. Trusted Source. ). summary. The glycemic index is used to measure how much a specific food increases your blood sugar levels.
What is the GI of a medium?
Medium: 56–69. High: 70 or above. Foods high in refined carbs and sugar are digested more quickly and often have a high GI, while foods high in protein, fat, or fiber typically have a low GI. Foods that contain no carbs are not assigned a GI and include meat, fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, and oils.
What is the GI of a food?
). Here are the three GI ratings: Foods high in refined carbs and sugar are digested more quickly and often have a high GI, while foods high in protein, fat, or fiber typically have a low GI .
What are some ways to lower GI?
Sugar-sweetened beverages: soda, fruit juice, sports drinks. Ideally, try to replace these foods with foods that have a lower GI whenever possible. summary. Following a low glycemic diet involves swapping out foods that have a high GI with low GI alternatives.
What are some vegetables that are not starchy?
Non-starchy vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, tomatoes. Whole grains: quinoa, couscous, barley, buckwheat, farro, oats. Legumes: lentils, black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans. Foods without a GI value or with a very low GI can also be enjoyed as part of a balanced low glycemic diet.
What is the glycemic index?
The glycemic index, simply put, is a measure of how quickly a food causes our blood sugar levels to rise. The measure ranks food on a scale of zero to 100. Foods with a high glycemic index, or GI, are quickly digested and absorbed, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar. These foods that rank high on the GI scale are often — ...
What foods lower glycemic index?
Pair a high GI food with a lean steak or a piece of salmon, a side of broccoli and a salad with vinaigrette, and the protein, fiber and fat all will serve to lower the glycemic index of the meal. In addition, the glycemic index doesn't take into account how much we're actually consuming.
How to determine GI value of food?
The GI value of a food is determined by giving people a serving of the food that contains 50 grams of carbohydrate minus the fiber, then measuring the effect on their blood glucose levels over the next two hours. A serving of 50 grams of carbohydrate in one sitting may be reasonable for a food such as rice, which has 53 grams of carbs per cup.
What is the GL of a cup of beets?
So for a cup of beets, the GL would be: 13 times 64 = 832 divided by 100 = a GL of 8.3.
Is a GL of 20 considered high?
As a frame of reference, a GL higher than 20 is considered high, between 11 and 19 is considered moderate, and 10 or less is considered low. The bottom line: Even though the glycemic index isn't a perfect system, it can be a useful tool to identify lower-glycemic foods that often are more nutrient-dense, as well as what foods are higher in refined ...
Do pretzels have a low glycemic index?
Pretzels, for example, have a glycemic index of 83. Meanwhile, foods with a low GI are digested and absorbed at a slower rate, and subsequently, cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels. These are typically rich in fiber, protein and/or fat.
What is the glycemic index?
The glycemic index (GI) is a numeric value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly they can increase your blood glucose levels. It is a rating system for carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods having a low GI are the ones that tend to release glucose slowly and steadily. By contrast, foods that fall high on the GI scale release glucose ...
What is considered low glycemic index?
Low glycemic index (GI) refers to a GI value of 55 or less. Low-GI foods include most fruits and vegetables, whole or minimally processed grains, beans, pasta, low-fat dairy products and nuts. Foods with a GI of 56 to 69 come under the category of moderate-GI foods.
What is the GI of a food?
Glycemic index (GI) is a numeric value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly they can increase your blood glucose levels. It is a rating system for carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods having a low GI are the ones that tend to release glucose slowly and steadily.
What foods have a high GI?
Foods with high GI include white bread, cakes, doughnuts, cookies, rice cakes, most crackers, bagels, croissants and most packaged breakfast cereals.
Why do people with low GI have to eat?
Foods with a low GI help to facilitate weight loss and promote satiety. People who have or are at a risk of diabetes should eat foods with a low GI. This is because they tend to have low amounts of insulin ( type 1 diabetes) or a high degree of resistance to insulin ( type 2 diabetes ).
What does a 30 GI mean?
Thus, if a food has a GI of 30, it means it will boost blood glucose by only 30% compared with pure glucose.
Does high glucose cause blood sugar to increase?
In its absence, blood sugars may increase when a person eats high-glycemic foods. Low-glycemic foods release sugar gradually and thus will prevent an abrupt increase in blood sugar. High-glycemic foods help with energy recovery after exercise. High-glycemic foods also aid recovery from low blood glucose levels ( hypoglycemia ).
