Top 20 Foods with Low Glycemic Index
When you or a loved one has diabetes, you may be advised to include foods with lowest glycemic index (GI) in your diet for diabetes. Researching and picking such specific low GI foods can be challenging.
It’s best to learn more about foods with low glycemic index(GI), how to have them, and follow your diet plan strictly for effective diabetes management.
Understanding Low Glycemic Index Foods
The glycemic index measures the speed at which a food makes your blood sugar levels rise. The main idea behind using GI as a guiding factor in diet planning is to stabilise blood sugar fluctuations, control diabetes, promote weight management, and ensure sustained energy levels.
The glycemic index is usually categorised under the following ratings:
- Low glycemic index: 55 or less
- Medium glycemic index: 56 to 69
- High glycemic index: 70 and above
When a food item gradually raises blood sugar levels, its GI is usually low. Foods with a glycemic index of 55 or less are qualified as low GI foods.
A diet plan tailored to focus on foods with low glycemic index is called a low glycemic diet. It has a gradual or consistent effect on blood sugar levels.
Key Features Of Having Foods With the Lowest Glycemic Index (GI) In Your Diet
- You can combine a high-GI food item with foods with low glycemic index to reduce its overall influence on your blood sugar. Essentially, the GI of foods does not change, but its overall impact can be altered.
- When following a low GI diet, how you cook and combine meals is critical. A low-GI food behaves differently depending on how it is prepared. Boiling a potato, for example, has a lesser effect on blood sugar levels than baking it. Knowing how to prepare low-GI meals ensures that they are well-balanced for diabetes management.
Benefits of Foods With Low Glycemic Index
Here are a few advantages to a low glycemic diet:
- Better and more consistent blood sugar control
- Improved appetite fluctuations
- Better diabetes management
- Reduced likelihood of developing insulin resistance
- Diabetes complications are less likely to occur.
- Consistent energy levels
- Improved weight control
- Better heart health due to improved cholesterol control
List of Foods With Lowest Glycemic Index
Here is a list of foods in their raw state and their respective GI indices:
Type of Food | GI | Type of Food | GI |
Rajma/Kidney Beans | 24 | Brinjal/ eggplant | 15 |
Chole or chickpeas | 28 | Carrots | 16 |
Moong dal | 29 | Cauliflower | 10 |
Urad dal | 43 | Apple | 36 |
Toor dal | 22 | Capsicum | 15 |
Masoor dal | 25 | Dates | 42 |
Chana dal/Bengal gram | 8 | Tomatoes | 15 |
Matta Rice or Kerala red rice | 36 | Pears | 30 |
Soyabean | 16 | Curd | 28 |
Daliya | 41 | Paneer or cottage cheese | 27 |
Red poha | 38 | Chhaas or buttermilk | 20 |
Peanuts | 14 | Almonds | 10 |
Lobia | 33 | Cheese | 0-10 |
Bhindi/Okra | 20 | Kaala chana | 28-32 |
Green beans | 32 | Mushrooms | 10 |
Onions | 10 | Karela/ gourd | 18 |
Cabbage | 10 or less | Lauki/ bottle gourd | 15 |
Green peas | 22 | Palak/ spinach | 15 |
Radish | 8 | Multi-grain bread | 48 |
Cucumber | 15 | – | – |
GI acts as a speedometer for everything you eat. Foods with higher values quickly raise your blood sugar levels but also quickly drop them, creating a roller coaster ride for your energy levels and diabetes management.
A low GI diet, on the other hand, is a smooth, sustained leisure ride—ideal for maintaining stable blood sugar levels, weight control, and overall fitness.
Fittertake
Whether you are looking to stay fit or have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, including foods with the lowest glycemic index in your diet can be a real game-changer.
Consider consulting our expert diabetologists and dieticians on Fitterfly’s Diabetes Care Programme to learn when and how to prepare a GI friend diet chart.
You can speak with us by just giving a missed call at 08069450746, and we will definitely get back to you. Together, let us make the journey towards healing from diabetes more healthy and enjoyable.
This blog provides general information for educational and informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as professional advice.
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