The glycemic index list can have a MAJOR impact on our lives. More so than you may have imagined.

Many – or should I say most – of us experience blood sugar crashes every day. But, most of us have no idea just what is happening to our bodies and how to control it. When you do have a blood sugar crash, you will experience a general lethargy – you could also get the shakes and feel weak.

Our bodies need the sugar (glucose) in our bloodstream for energy and we perform at our best if the supply is steady and constant. Using the glycemic index list, we can easily choose foods that will provide a slow constant release throughout the day and avoid the (unhealthy) roller coaster highs and lows.

The glycemic index list is nothing more than a way to rank foods according to the effect they have on the blood glucose levels. Particularly carbohydrates. They are the ones that create the highs and lows. Fats and proteins are released more slowly and don’t cause spikes.

The glycemic index list measures how much a 50 – gram portion of various carbohydrates will raise your blood glucose levels as compared to a control. (Either bread or pure sugar.)

The temporary spiking affect is called the glycemic response. All carbs cause it but, it can vary by the amount eaten, the degree of processing, the type of carbohydrate and how it is prepared.

The glycemic index list ranks the various carbs on a scale from 1 to 100. the reference of 100 is pure glucose. Foods are considered high ranking if they are at 70 or above. the medium score is 56 to 69. And, the bottom is brought up by foods in the 55 and lower level.

Like pretzels? they come in at a whopping – fat inducing 81.

You could do better with a fruit cocktail at 55 (just about in the medium range) or even better is the 15 of broccoli.

In our bodies, for the glucose to work, it has to be accompanied by insulin. Glucose spikes cause insulin spikes which are bad for us on MANY levels that go well beyond this article. That’s why we care so much about the glucose spikes. Lower levels of insulin release is better for us.

True our bodies need glucose…but the extra caused by spikes has to be dealt with in some manner – so we store it as FAT! You can have the pounds effortlessly falling off of you by simply substituting foods high on the glycemic index list for foods that are lower on the glycemic index list. As a bonus, slower digestion means we feel full longer and will tend to eat less.

The glycemic index list measures quality, not quantity. It’s a constant 50 grams and the score is not affected by the amount you eat.

Portion control is still important to weight loss and blood sugar spikes.

With a little regular exercise and portion control, the glycemic index list can be a very effective tool for easily keeping your weight under control.

You can get a lot more information from my website. It has tons of information about the glycemic index list and other weight loss methods. Be sure to get your copy of my “Fast Weight loss Tips!” mini-course while it’s still free.