What Is the Glycemic Load?

So what exactly is glycemic load referring to? The glycemic load considers the "load" or stress on your pancreas from the amount of the carbohydrate in the food. The GL as it is sometimes called, is caused by eating high glycemic foods or eating too many low glycemic foods at once making your blood sugar rise rapidly. This turns off the hormonal process that converts stored fat to energy. It can remain turned off for several hours after you have eaten. This creates low energy and that sluggish feeling that is caused by an abnormal insulin response. This is why we get fat - eating the wrong foods (high glycemic) or overeating the right foods (low glycemic.)

A good example of eating too much of a good thing would be Ezekiel bread which has the low glycemic seal from the Glycemic Research Institute. This means it has been tested by the institute and found to be low glycemic. This is an excellent high fiber bread that is made from sprouted grains. According to the company's online information, maltose, (the grain sugar produced during the sprouting process) is the slowest absorbing sugar in the human body. Obviously, it is a good choice for your bread.

You couldn't select a better bread for a low glycemic eating plan. Eating 1 slice for breakfast would be perfectly fine. However, if you ate 3 or 4 slices at one meal you could create a glycemic load.

Juices are a very easy way to load up on too much of a good thing. Technically carrots are high glycemic but eating a few raw carrots won't raise your blood sugar. But it is very easy to drink an 8 oz. glass of the raw juice because carrots are so good for us, right? Yet, the volume of carrots taken to make the juice would be a glycemic load. This is why it's best not to drink any carrot or fruit juices because it is so easy to pack on calories and raise your blood sugar. Vegetable juices except for the high glycemic ones would not be a problem. In fact, most vegetables are very alkaline and juicing them is a great way to get more enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

There are some glycemic researchers publishing the GL, glycemic load, of a given food as well as the the GI, glycemic index. Please refer to Resources to find these indices from the research institutes themselves. It is not really necessary to get these calculations if you are trying to lose fat or just eat in a healthy way. As long as you pay careful attention to serving sizes and serving ratios you will be able to maintain a low glycemic eating plan using the glycemic index.

Remember to eat 4 - 6 small meals or snacks throughout the day. Include protein with omega 3 fatty acids like raw nuts or 1/4 of an avocado and some fresh, raw veggies and fruit. Have a glass of milk for a snack with an apple. Eat slowly, savor your food, eat with friends or family and in a pleasant setting. Stop eating when you feel nourished! It takes 10 minutes after eating before you will feel full. You will become more aware of being satisfied before you are tempted to eat too much of a low glycemic food.

Glycemic Index List of Foods

The glycemic index list of foods includes foods that lower blood sugar and help you to lose fat!

Portion Control Tips

This is the essential guide to figuring out serving sizes and what makes a low glycemic snack. You need to be eating these every 3 hours!

List of Raw Foods

This list of raw foods contains fruits and vegetables that are a powerhouse of nutrients and they are low glycemic, meaning you can eat as much of them as you desire!

Omega 3 Sources in Healthy Salads

Low Glycemic Foods: Super Healthy Whole Grains

Eating lots of super healthy low glycemic foods means that you are once and for all replacing the fat storing high glycemic carbs in your diet with the low glycemic complex carbohydrates....

High Fiber Foods: Delicious Grains and Legumes

There are extraordinary health benefits in eating fiber rich foods including a lifetime of fat loss!

Low Carb Pastas and Cereals

Great news for pasta lovers....you don't need low carb pasta because pasta is low glycemic!

Good Fats

Calcium Rich Foods

Taking a look at dairy products and just how these calcium rich foods affect the glycemic index chart...

Sugar Free Desserts and the Good Sugars

Sugar free desserts that taste good? Is a sugar free dessert a low glycemic recipe? Yes!

Soups, Oriental Cuisine, Protein Foods

This low glycemic index chart shows the soups, the oriental cuisine and the protein foods that do not raise your blood sugar.

Acidic Foods: High Glycemic Sugars

Any list of acidic foods will have sodas at the top of the list. These drinks are high glycemic and fat storing drinks!

High Glycemic Foods

Here are the high glycemic foods that need to be avoided most of the time in order to maintain your fat loss.

Controlling Food Cravings

Controlling food cravings means that you need to avoid the high glycemic foods on these lists! High glycemic sugars in foods stimulate the appetite and lead to food cravings.

Food Lovers Diet

Food lovers can celebrate good food and manage their weight at the same time!

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