A LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX DIET OR A HIGH SUGAR DIET?

Eating foods low on the glycemic index are great way to live a healthier lifestyle. The opposite is true of eating foods high in sugar.

Fortunately, low GI diets and foods are becoming more and more popular. People realise just how easy a low GI diet is to follow everyday and every meal. More importantly, they feel the benefits of sustained energy levels and feeling fuller for longer.

On the other hand, excess sugar continues to dog our diet. It’s amazing just how many products we eat have high levels of sugar. No surprise about soft drinks but even those functional waters have loads of sugar included.

Eating museli usually makes people feel they are doing good by themselves and their diet. Don’t shoot the messenger but check the nutritional panel and ingredient list for just how much sugar is included.

Sauces like many chilli and BBQ sauces are full of sugar. Use sparingly. Or go for the real thing – a fresh chilli.

Are you eating a bowl of cereal or a bowl of sugar?

Breakfast cereal or breakfast sugar

Many, in fact, most breakfast cereals on your supermarket shelf are loaded with sugar. Even the so called ‘healthy’ cereals and mueslis have 25% sugar.

By including dried fruit the sugar index shoots up. Dried fruit is OK but you have to know what you’re eating. Much better is to add your own fresh fruit to cereal. It’ll taste better, fill you up for longer and you’ll get more fibre.

Where do I find the sugar index?

It’s on every packet of food you buy. It’s the nutritional panel and the ingredient list.

The nutritional panel will show you how much sugar is by serving or by the 100g. I prefer using the 100g information as it’s easy to work out what percentage of the product is sugar. For example, if the panel says there’s 18g of sugar then 18% of the food is sugar.

The ingredient list must show all the ingredients in order of quantity. If sugar is high on the list is also a good indication of a high sugar food.

Go Low

A low Glycemic Index diet won’t necessarily mean a low sugar diet but is a far healthier option for you. There’s all manner of low GI foods, some high in sugar, like many fruits. But in moderation and as part of a low GI diet you’re on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

Enjoy!