Glycemic Index

(En español: Índice glucémico)

Say: gly-see-mik in-deks

The body breaks down most carbohydrates from the foods we eat and changes them to a type of sugar called glucose. Glucose is the main source of fuel for our cells. The glucose travels through the bloodstream to reach the cells. After we eat, the glucose from the food gets into the bloodstream fast, slow, or somewhere in between. It depends on the type of carbohydate and the food that contains it. The glycemic index is a way of measuring how fast this occurs and how a food affects blood glucose levels. Foods with higher index values raise blood sugar more rapidly than foods with lower glycemic index values do.