GI Diet - DR

The Glycemic Index Diet, or GI diet, classifies foods based on their glycemic index, which is basically a rating that tells how quickly the foods raise the blood sugar. Foods with high blood sugar raise insulin levels, which in turn cause the body to store fat.

How the Glycemic Index Diet Works
On the Glycemic Index diet, foods are categorized into "green" foods and "red" foods based on their glycemic index- like a traffic light, green means go and red means stop. There are also "yellow" foods, or those that should be eaten sparingly. Green foods have a glycemic index of 55 or lower; yellow foods have a glycemic index of 56-69, and red foods are those with a higher glycemic index, over 70, which raise the blood sugar.

There are books and websites available to help dieters know the glycemic index of certain foods. Green foods include grapefruit, skim milk, and bananas; yellow foods include ice cream, soda, and cantaloupe; and red foods include white bread, breakfast cereals, and mashed potatoes. While on the diet, dieters generally don't have to worry about counting portions - they are told to divide their plate into three sections, filling half with veggies, a quarter with lean meat or fish, and the rest with whole grains such as brown rice.

The glycemic index is a two-phase diet. On the first phase, dieters eat only "green light" foods to promote weight loss. This includes vegetables, many fruits, whole grains, and lean meats. ON the second phase of the diet, the maintenance phase, both green and yellow foods are allowed.

eview
We've reviewed this diet based on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest) based on the following criteria:
Health - 5. The Glycemic Index Diet is pretty healthy and contains a list of foods high in nutrients and vitamins. It is also a balanced diet, but portions should be controlled.

Cost - 2. The GI Diet is relatively inexpensive to implement. The majority of foods will be fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, which doesn't add much to the average shopping bill.

Ease of Implementation - 2. Determining which foods are green, yellow, and red is fairly difficult until you get the hang of it. Plan on keeping a list in the kitchen and taking one to the grocery store when shopping.

Ease of Adherence - 4. This is a diet that shouldn't be too difficult to adhere to. It's very balanced, so dieters aren't likely to feel deprived. Phase two of the diet introduces more foods as well.

Speed - 3. Weight loss speed for this diet is average. People on this diet can expect to lose a pound or two a week. How much weight you will lose depends on how it is prepared and how much is eaten, since portions aren't really regulated.

Long-term potential - 4. This is not a difficult diet to adhere to long term. It's a healthy and balanced eating program.

Busy lifestyle rating - 2. Some of the meals are time-consuming to prepare, and when you don't know the glycemic index of the foods, it's difficult to grab something and run.

Family Friendly - 5. The GI Diet is suitable for the entire family, so there really is no need to prepare separate meals for everyone.

Search our site for more information:

Rate This Post