Glycemic Index
Think quality over quantity on this weight loss diet
Full Name: The Glycemic Index (G.I.) Diet
Origin: Developed by Dr. David Jenkins, a nutrition specialist from the University of Toronto, Canada
Description: It's the quality of the carbohydrates that matter, not the quantity that you eat
Likes: Low G.I. carbs - wholegrain breads and cereals, oatmeal, plain yogurt, most fruits and vegetables, pasta, lentils / beans, Basmati and Japanese rice and lots of salad and vegetables
Dislikes: High G.I. carbs - potatoes, instant rice, watermelon, ice cream, dried dates
Looking for: People who fall for the "healthy choice" diets
Works Well With: Anything really, as long as you balance the Low and High G.I. foods. a diet with no restrictions? Sounds too good to be true.
Most weight loss diets focus on limiting the amount of fatty foods one consumes. However, as many dieters can attest, restricting food leaves you hungry, which makes you more likely to binge on junk food - and before you know it, you'll have failed your weight loss diet miserably.
The Glycemic Index Diet, however, claims to be a diet you can stick with, because it does not restrict the amount of food you eat - just the types of food. This weight loss diet encourages you to eat low G.I. carbohydrates, rather than high G.I. carbohydrates.
The Glycemic Index measures the speed at which certain foods are broken down by the body and turned into glucose for energy. The index is normally used by people with Diabetes. Foods labeled as high G.I. are broken down faster and provide the body with a quick burst of energy. Low G.I. foods are broken down more slowly, and provide you with long-term energy - and leave you feeling full for longer. Low G.I. foods are also supposed to be healthier for the body, because they have not been stripped of essential nutrients.
One thing that is worth noting about this weight loss diet is that it does not actually restrict the amount of food that you eat. It only suggests that you choose low G.I. foods over high G.I. foods. However, even though it may be healthy, will a diet plan that has no restrictions on the amount of food eaten be successful? I guess you have to try it and see.
