The Glycemic Index is a rating system for foods where any type of carbohydrate has a numerical value assigned to it based on its components and how each food affects the body’s sugar levels.

Benefits of the Glycemic Index are thought to include the following:

• Weight loss
• Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• Improved heart health
• Lower cholesterol

Dr. David Jenkins, a Canadian professor and scientist from the University of Toronto developed the concept of a rating index in March of 1981. Dr Jenkins felt that a better system needed to be developed due to the popularity of certain diets like Atkins and South Beach that vilified all carbohydrates and many fats. He wanted to show that it was too oversimplified to categorize carbohydrates as “simple” and “complex” or even worse, as “good carbs” and “bad carbs.” Most carbohydrates are too complex to label them in this manner.

He wanted to show the scientific community, and thereby the world, that all foods affect our bodies’ blood sugar levels differently and that they have many different degrees of being simple and complex, good or bad.

Basically, as food breaks down in our digestive system, many of the food’s components, like sugar or vitamins and minerals, are absorbed into our blood stream and immediately affect our system. Foods that break down quickly and have high glucose or sugar levels will give a “spiked” feeling of energy and euphoria. This feeling is commonly referred to as a “sugar high.” Other foods break down more slowly and release their sugars, starches and nutrients over a longer period of time, which avoids any sudden increases to sugar levels and keeps insulin levels low.

Dr. Jenkins proved that many carbohydrates were, in fact, very healthy and should not be avoided simply because of the fact that they were carbohydrates. As a matter of fact, he discovered that there are dozens of foods that in the past were categorized as unhealthy, but that turned out to be very beneficial. He also encountered some surprising results on foods that had always been considered “diet” foods, but when tested, he discovered that they tested very high on the Glycemic Index.