Follow The GI Diet Without Calorie Counting by Andrew Mason

Do you think that it would be too much to expect somebody to come up with a "perfect" diet, something that could help each and every one of us that suffers through problems associated with weight loss? Would it be too much of a pipe dream to expect such a solution to come along? It seems that this is unfortunately just the way that it must be. After all, each one of us has a very different makeup and how could it be possible to come up with a commercially available diet across the board? A diet needs to be based on a variety of different factors and we need to look at our lifestyles, our genetic makeup, and our individual likes and dislikes too.

We base a decision to go on a diet for a number of different reasons. Most of the time these reasons are related to our health, but sometimes we come across a dietary plan that seems to cover a number of very important issues in one special system. The glycemic index diet is just such a plan.

What is the glycemic index? It's effectively a ranking factor categorizing each and every carbohydrate according to its effect on our body. When we digest foods, blood glucose is released into our system and scientists have calculated the effect that a 50 g portion of each different carbohydrate has, as it is processed. Pure glucose is allocated a factor of 100 and every other carbohydrate is placed between zero and this figure. We know that we need to steer clear of foods that are at the top of the index, as our blood sugar levels will be more adversely affected. This is known as the glycemic response and we need to factor into effect the portion size, whether the food is processed or not and how we actually prepare it for consumption.

The glycemic index diet is so important in society these days as it is known to help people who suffer from diabetes to regulate their blood sugar levels. Furthermore, it is also known to help people regulate their weight. Foods that are at the bottom of the index are great at regulating blood glucose levels, keeping our sugar levels in harmony and helping us to avoid those jittery peaks and troughs. No more cravings, hunger pangs and trips to the vending machine!

Most diets that are focused on the glycemic index are very rich in vegetables and fruits and emphasize the fact that we should eat these foods in as natural a state as possible to get the most nutrients and benefits. Count your portion size, though, as it is the glycemic load rather than simply the index that has the ultimate effect. The glycemic load is designed to help us identify how important a portion size is in the mix.

You will want to avoid foods such as white rice, baked potatoes and other heavy starches as these will push your sugar levels up too quickly. When this happens, fats are created and stored, which will certainly affect your weight regulation and you will have an elevated risk of developing diabetes. If you add lean protein with the correct amount of fat to a diet based on the low glycemic count you should be 'off to the races'. Always exercise and be active as well, though. The main thing to remember is that you have to focus on the quality of the carbohydrate and make sure that you regulate its quantity, on a daily basis.