The GI diet: List of low glycaemic foods
Here is a list of the foods and drinks you should be eating and drinking while on the Gi diet.
Print it off for an easy at-a-glance guide you can refer to.
LOW GLYCAEMIC CARBOHYDRATES
Vegetables
Avocado, lettuce, asparagus, mushrooms, green beans, olives, peppers, onions, broccoli, peas, brussels sprouts, peas, cabbage, carrots, potatoes (boiled new), cauliflower, radishes, celery, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, spinach, aubergine, tomatoes, courgette, leek.
Fresh fruits
Apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, oranges, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries.
Bottled, canned, frozen fruits
Canned peaches in juice or water, canned pears in juice or water, bottled apple sauce (unsweetened).
PROTEINS
Meats
Choose lean cuts or trim off visible fat. Back bacon, beef (lean cuts), chicken breast (skinless), minced beef (extra lean), lean ham.
Fish
A typical portion should fit into the palm of your hand and be about as thick. All fresh, frozen or canned fish and seafood is allowed.
This can include bass, trout, sole, sardines, herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna, fresh, tuna tinned in water, dory, cod, haddock, halibut, snapper, swordfish, calamari, oysters, clams, crayfish, lobster, crab, scallops.
Eggs
Ensure you buy omega-3 eggs - eggs laid by chickens who have been fed with omega-3 rich food. This is because these are lower in saturated fat.
Dairy
Buttermilk, fat-free cheese, low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese, sugar-free frozen yoghurt, sugar-free fruit yoghurt, low-fat and sugar-free ice cream.
Vegetarian options
Soy or whey protein powder - this is the highest value biological protein in the world. It's great for non-vegetarians too.
DRINKS
Filtered or sparkling water - 8 to 10 glasses a day, before and after each meal and snack, green or black tea in moderation, fat-free instant chocolate, decaffeinated coffee, sugar-free soft drinks, skimmed milk, sugar-free fruit juice.
FATS AND OILS
Almonds, rapeseed oil, flax seed, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts, fat-free mayonnaise, olive oil, fat-free salad dressings, polyunsaturated margarine, vegetable oil.
Glycemic Index
The number listed next to each food is its glycemic index. This is a value obtained by monitoring a persons blood sugar after eating the food. The value can vary slightly from person to person and from one type or brand of food and another. A noticeable difference is the GI rating of Special-K which produced considerably different results in tests in the US and Australia, most likely resulting from different ingredients in each location. Despite this slight variation the index provide a good guide to which foods you should be eating and which foods to avoid.
The glycemic index range is as follows:
Low GI = 55 or less Medium GI = 56 - 69 High GI = 70 or more |
Breakfast Cereal
Low GI |
|
All-bran (UK/Aus) | 30 |
All-bran (US) | 50 |
Oat bran | 50 |
Rolled Oats | 51 |
Special K (UK/Aus) | 54 |
Natural Muesli | 40 |
Porridge | 58 |
Medium GI |
|
Bran Buds | 58 |
Mini Wheats | 58 |
Nutrigrain | 66 |
Shredded Wheat | 67 |
Porridge Oats | 63 |
Special K (US) | 69 |
High GI |
|
Cornflakes | 80 |
Sultana Bran | 73 |
Branflakes | 74 |
Coco Pops | 77 |
Puffed Wheat | 80 |
Oats in Honey Bake | 77 |
Team | 82 |
Total | 76 |
Cheerios | 74 |
Rice Krispies | 82 |
Weetabix | 74 |
Staples
Low GI |
|
Wheat Pasta Shapes | 54 |
New Potatoes | 54 |
Meat Ravioli | 39 |
Spaghetti | 32 |
Tortellini (Cheese) | 50 |
Egg Fettuccini | 32 |
Brown Rice | 50 |
Buckwheat | 51 |
White long grain rice | 50 |
Pearled Barley | 22 |
Yam | 35 |
Sweet Potatoes | 48 |
Instant Noodles | 47 |
Wheat tortilla | 30 |
Medium GI |
|
Basmati Rice | 58 |
Couscous | 61 |
Cornmeal | 68 |
Taco Shells | 68 |
Gnocchi | 68 |
Canned Potatoes | 61 |
Chinese (Rice) Vermicelli | 58 |
Baked Potatoes | 60 |
Wild Rice | 57 |
High GI |
|
Instant White Rice | 87 |
Glutinous Rice | 86 |
Short Grain White Rice | 83 |
Tapioca | 70 |
Fresh Mashed Potatoes | 73 |
French Fries | 75 |
Instant Mashed Potatoes | 80 |
|
Bread
Low GI |
|
Soya and Linseed | 36 |
Wholegrain Pumpernickel | 46 |
Heavy Mixed Grain | 45 |
Whole Wheat | 49 |
Sourdough Rye | 48 |
Sourdough Wheat | 54 |
Medium GI |
|
Croissant | 67 |
Hamburger bun | 61 |
Pita, white | 57 |
Wholemeal Rye | 62 |
High GI |
|
White | 71 |
Bagel | 72 |
French Baguette | 95 |
Snacks & Sweet Foods
Low GI |
|
Slim-Fast meal replacement | 27 |
Snickers Bar (high fat) | 41 |
Nut & Seed Muesli Bar | 49 |
Sponge Cake | 46 |
Nutella | 33 |
Milk Chocolate | 42 |
Hummus | 6 |
Peanuts | 13 |
Walnuts | 15 |
Cashew Nuts | 25 |
Nuts and Raisins | 21 |
Jam | 51 |
Corn Chips | 42 |
Oatmeal Crackers | 55 |
Medium GI |
|
Ryvita | 63 |
Digestives | 59 |
Blueberry muffin | 59 |
Honey | 58 |
High GI |
|
Pretzels | 83 |
Water Crackers | 78 |
Rice cakes | 87 |
Puffed Crispbread | 81 |
Donuts | 76 |
Scones | 92 |
Maple flavoured syrup | 68 |
Legumes (Beans)
Low GI |
|
Kidney Beans (canned) | 52 |
Butter Beans | 36 |
Chick Peas | 42 |
Haricot/Navy Beans | 31 |
Lentils, Red | 21 |
Lentils, Green | 30 |
Pinto Beans | 45 |
Blackeyed Beans | 50 |
Yellow Split Peas | 32 |
Medium GI |
|
Beans in Tomato Sauce | 56 |
|
Vegetables
Low GI |
|
Frozen Green Peas | 39 |
Frozen Sweet Corn | 47 |
Raw Carrots | 16 |
Boiled Carrots | 41 |
Eggplant/Aubergine | 15 |
Broccoli | 10 |
Cauliflower | 15 |
Cabbage | 10 |
Mushrooms | 10 |
Tomatoes | 15 |
Chillies | 10 |
Lettuce | 10 |
Green Beans | 15 |
Red Peppers | 10 |
Onions | 10 |
High GI |
|
Pumkin | 75 |
Parsnips | 97 |
Fruits
Low GI |
|
Cherries | 22 |
Plums | 24 |
Grapefruit | 25 |
Peaches | 28 |
Peach, canned in natural juice | 30 |
Apples | 34 |
Pears | 41 |
Dried Apricots | 32 |
Grapes | 43 |
Coconut | 45 |
Coconut Milk | 41 |
Kiwi Fruit | 47 |
Oranges | 40 |
Strawberries | 40 |
Prunes | 29 |
Medium GI |
|
Mango | 60 |
Sultanas | 56 |
Bananas | 58 |
Raisins | 64 |
Papaya | 60 |
Figs | 61 |
Pineapple | 66 |
High GI |
|
Watermelon | 80 |
Dates | 103 |
Dairy
Low GI |
|
Whole milk | 31 |
Skimmed milk | 32 |
Chocolate milk | 42 |
Sweetened yoghurt | 33 |
Artificially Sweetened Yoghurt | 23 |
Custard | 35 |
Soy Milk | 44 |
|
How low-GI foods can speed up fat burning...
A sharp increase in glucose in the blood triggers the pancreas to release a rush of the hormone insulin, which removes any excess glucose. Insulin removes the surplus glucose from the blood and lowers the speed at which the body burns fat. A large surge in insulin, caused by eating high-GI foods, will start reactions in the body that leave you feeling lethargic, hungry and craving more sugar.
Eating low-GI carbohydrate foods causes a steady rise in the level of glucose in the blood, which in turn leads to a small and gentle rise in insulin. Small increases in insulin keep you feeling full and energised for hours after eating and also encourage the body to burn fat.
Foods with a GI of 70 or more are typically called 'high-GI foods' as they trigger a rapid rise in blood sugar. Foods with a GI of 55-69 are 'medium-GI foods' as they trigger a moderate increase. Foods with a GI below 55 are 'low-GI foods' because they have a minor impact on blood sugar.
Basic principles
- Low-GI foods provide natural, slowly released energy.
- Generally, the less processed a carbohydrate, the more likely it is to have a low-GI score.
- Foods that are white, including processed foods made with white flour and white sugar, tend to have a high-GI.
- High fibre foods take longer to digest and therefore produce a slower rise in blood sugar levels. Fibre also keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which helps prevent overeating. Most vegetables, whole-grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and fruits are rich in fibre when you eat them whole.