5 Low Glycemic Index Foods You Can Still Eat (That You Probably Like)

Paying attention to what you eat and making the necessary changes will help you lose weight. Eating foods that are nutrient dense and low in simple sugars is an excellent way to reduce your weight and increase lean body mass.

Of course, your body often works against you in this effort. When you burn a lot of calories in a workout, your body needs to recover. Often, your body craves carbs because it is easy to convert them into glucose.

However, before you reach for the carbs your body is craving, consider the food's Glycemic Index.

What is the Glycemic Index?

A food's Glycemic Index (GI) is a measurement of how your blood sugar rises after you eat certain foods containing carbohydrates. The scale runs from 1 to 100. Foods scoring above 70 are high GI foods, and foods scoring below 55 are low. Foods in between are considered medium GI foods.

Low GI foods are nutrient dense and slow burning, meaning they keep you feeling full longer. High GI foods tend to have fewer nutrients and burn fast leaving you feeling hungry much sooner.

Here are 5 Low Glycemic Foods That You Probably Like:

1. Apples: An apple with the skin on is a low-GI food on the scale, with a 40 on the GI Index.

2. Bananas: ½ a serving of a banana scores 40 to 50 on the GI Index, depending on how ripe it is.

3. Carrots: Either cooked or raw, Carrots have a glycemic index of fewer than 35.

4. Eggs: Eggs are not scored on the GI because they don't have carbs. However, they are an essential part of a low-GI diet because they pack a lot of protein.

5. Kidney Beans: An excellent low-GI food are kidney beans, coming in with a low score of 24. With lots of protein and fiber, these beans have a lot of nutrients, including potassium.

It is essential to control your portion size no matter how low on the GI index a food scores. We support and applaud reducing the simple carbohydrates you consume while increasing your intake of vegetables, some fruits, and lean proteins.