What Are Glycemic Foods?

Glycemic foods are high in carbohydrates and sugar. Anyone who is concerned about their health should learn about the glycemic content of the foods that they eat. Diabetics, in particular, should stay away from glycemic foods.

Index

The glycemic index helps identify foods high in bad carbohydrates. Not all foods that contain high carbohydrates have the same effect on the increase of blood sugar. Eating foods with a low glycemic index helps you to maintain a steady blood sugar level and feel less hungry between meals.

Bad Carbohydrates

According to Dr. Ray Strandt, "The main consideration for a healthy diet is for you to understand that the major reason we are in this health care crisis today of obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus is because of the processed food industry and our fear of fat."

Highly processed carbohydrates are affecting health. The glycemic index identifies those foods and helps people avoid them. Almost all man-made processed foods are highly glycemic.

Good Carbohydrates

These are foods like apples, oranges, pears, grapes, beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, corn, nuts, carrots and whole grains. These carbohydrates are not to be avoided. The whole craze to "cut out all carbs" is not good advice.

All fruits are not the same. Cherries have a glycemic index of 22 while dates are 102.

Cereals

Most boxes of breakfast cereal are highly glycemic. Eating old-fashioned style cereals like oat meal and high fiber cereals, such as Cream of Wheat, can get you off to a good start.

Bread and Rice

Wheat bread actually has a higher glycemic index than white bread and can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. In contrast to the traditional food pyramid, doctors are now discouraging consumption of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and sugar. Also worth noting, white rice has a glycemic index of 87 while brown rice is 55.

Potatoes

Potatoes are a natural food that also carries a high glycemic level. A red skinned potato may look healthier than a sweet potato but it is not. The glycemic index is 87 to 44.