The Glycaemic Index Q&As

Q:

What is the glycaemic index (GI)?

A:

Carbohydrates provide energy for the human body to grow, repair itself and to fuel general activity and exercise.  Essentially, when we consume a food, the carbohydrate in that food is digested and converted to glucose.  The glucose then enters our blood stream. The GI measures the speed at which the body breaks down carbohydrates and converts them into glucose. The faster a carbohydrate based food breaks down, the quicker sugar is released into the blood stream - causing a higher glycaemic response and a higher GI. The lower the GI of a food, the smaller and more gradual the increase in blood glucose levels.

A GI value of 70 is HIGH
A GI value of 56-69 is MEDIUM
A GI value of 55 or lower is LOW

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