Low Glycemic Index Fruits and Vegetables to Add to Your Diet

Fruits and vegetables are important to any diet, but if you are going on a low glycemic index diet, it may be a bit more difficult to figure out which fruits and vegetables are the best ones to eat to keep you losing weight on this diet. Many people wonder about the fruits, since some of them can be quite high on the glycemic index, as can some of the vegetables as well. So, let's take a closer look at low glycemic index fruits and vegetables that are okay for you to consume and still stick to that good GI diet that will keep you losing weight.

First of all, you need to realize that not all fruits are high on the glycemic index. In fact, there are quite a few low glycemic index fruits out there. You'll find that oranges, kiwi, banana, mango, and grapefruits are all low on the glycemic index. Of course one of the higher ones to watch out for is watermelon, which runs about 72 on the glycemic index. However, even though there are some fruits, and also vegetables that can run a bit high on the glycemic index, if it is otherwise a food that is full of fiber and nutrients, you really don't need to worry about it all that much. You see, fiber in these fruits and vegetables can help to keep your blood sugar under control even if they are higher on the glycemic index.

While going on a low glycemic index diet can definitely help you to lose weight, you'll find that there can be a few pitfalls. You see, as long as you eat fruits, even the high glycemic index ones, but you keep them with a low fat diet, the insulin response to them is usually on the low side. However, if you begin eating high fat foods that are low when it comes to their glycemic index, you can begin to have problems. In fact, in some cases they can even lead to problems with diabetes. So, just looking at the glycemic index may not always be enough. Also, in some case you'll find that the glycemic index is not totally accurate, since some foods affect different people in different ways as well.

While you'll usually find that fruits and vegetables rate on the low to moderate side of the glycemic index, even the ones that are a bit higher on it are not necessarily harmful if they are eaten in context of a diet that is low in fat. In fact, some cultures have very low rates of diabetes, and their diet is mostly based around rice or potatoes. So, the glycemic index alone is not always the factor when it comes to weight loss of even diabetes.

If someone tells you that you cannot eat certain fruits or vegetables because they are supposedly too high on the glycemic index, you need to forget what they have to say. While low glycemic index fruits are definitely going to be the best choice, going with fruits and veggies that are higher on the index is not going to hurt you. Eating these foods will be better for you than going with a diet that is high in fat. You'll find that it is always the better choice to go with foods that are natural, instead of going with foods that are refined, no matter where they may happen to fall on the glycemic index chart. Just making your entire diet revolve around the glycemic index chart may not always be the best choice for you. Yes, it can help you to make better food choices in some areas, but remember that some of the high glycemic foods may be good for you, while some that are on the low side may not be a great choice. Use common sense here and you'll have the best results.