Question: What does Glycemic Index mean and do I need to incorporate that into my diet?

Answer: Glycemic Index (GI) is becoming a more popular term to use when taking about weight loss. GI is used to categorize different types of carbohydrates. The higher the GI of the carbohydrate the faster the body can breack down the starches and convert the carb into glucose for the body to use. Food sources with high GI will result in a quick spike in insulin release with an increase in energy followed by a quick drop in insulin. When these foods are ingested they will usually leave you craving more soon after. These foods are the most important to consume after a workout to help promote glycogen resynthesis (restoring muscle glycogen levels). Foods with a low GI will result in a slower increase in insulin levels and keep you satisfied for longer. Both high and low GI foods are useful and one should not be avoided despite claims of many diet systems. Also, GI can often be inaccurate since the index will change depending on if the carbs are consumed with fats and proteins which they most likely will be. When starting a weight loss routine remember the most important thing you can do is increase you activity level while decreasing you caloric intake.

Mike