Ranking the digestion rates of various foods may prove an important reference for diabetics and endurance athletes. Proponents of the Glycemic Index also argue for its potential as a weight-loss tool.
Researchers behind the G.I. believe it is possible even inevitable to lose weight and keep it off by consuming a diet composed primarily of foods that rank low on the Glycemic Index. Foods that are slow to be converted into blood sugar, they say, satisfy the appetite without piling on excess calories. In addition, most low-G.I. foods contain only small amounts of fat. It is this last assertion to which the American Diabetes Association takes particular exception. ADA points out that fats slow digestion, so several foods containing a high fat content, like chocolate and peanuts, end up scoring low on the Glycemic Index. It's possible, they say, that in seeking a diet exclusively defined by the Glycemic Index, an individual may put themselves at higher risk for heart attack and stroke. At this writing, there is not enough data to gauge its particular effectiveness as a long-term weight-management strategy. Only a few clinical weight-loss trials have yet been performed utilizing the Glycemic Index directly and exclusively. Until many more trials come in, the usefulness of the G.I. as a tool for permanent weight control must remain in question. It should be noted, however, that the weight-management strategy espoused by researchers who helped develop the G.I. in no way resembles the low-carb, high-protein plan of fad diets. Most of the foods with low G.I.s , in fact, are fruits, vegetables, grains and beans, so the diet espoused by Index researchers looks quite different from the meat-, milk- and cheese-based plans found on the bestsellers lists today.
Return to Diet main menu |
