Low GI diets are making headlines as a popular option for losing weight. It helps to know what the GI is and how it works.

The glycaemic index, GI, is a measure of how fast glucose is released into the blood stream once someone has eaten. Glucose, which has a GI value of 100, is used as the reference in the index. Glucose tends to have the highest sugar content out of all foods, so all other foodstuffs fall between the range of 0 and 100.  GI diets are based on the theory that during digestion, foods with a low GI value break down slowly. In turn, they release sugar (glucose) into the blood slowly so that the body has a constant supply of energy. As a result, one feels fuller for a long time and this reduces the chances of them snacking.

On the other hand, foods with a high GI release high levels of sugar into the blood. This raises the blood sugar and is likely to leave your energy levels low.

Because some low GI foods may have high fat and calorie levels, you should observe the rules of healthy eating to see results. Find examples of low GI foods from the source site.