The number listed next to each food is its glycemic index.
This is a value obtained by monitoring a persons blood sugar after eating the food.
The value can vary slightly from person to person and from one type or brand of food and another.
A noticeable difference is the GI rating of Special-K which produced considerably different results in tests in
the US and Australia, most likely resulting from different ingredients in each location.
Despite this slight variation the index provide a good guide to which foods you should be eating and which foods to avoid.
The glycemic index range is as follows:
- Low GI: 55 or less
- Medium GI: 56 - 69
- High GI: 70 or more
Breakfast
Cereal
| Low GI |
|
| All-bran (UK/Aus) |
30 |
| All-bran (US) |
50 |
| Oat bran |
50 |
| Rolled Oats |
51 |
| Special K (UK/Aus) |
54 |
| Natural Muesli |
40 |
| Porridge |
58 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Bran Buds |
58 |
| Mini Wheats |
58 |
| Nutrigrain |
66 |
| Shredded Wheat |
67 |
| Porridge Oats |
63 |
| Special K (US) |
69 |
| High GI |
|
| Cornflakes |
80 |
| Sultana Bran |
73 |
| Branflakes |
74 |
| Coco Pops |
77 |
| Puffed Wheat |
80 |
| Oats in Honey Bake |
77 |
| Team |
82 |
| Total |
76 |
| Cheerios |
74 |
| Rice Krispies |
82 |
| Weetabix |
74 |
Staples
| Low GI |
|
| Wheat Pasta Shapes |
54 |
| New Potatoes |
54 |
| Meat Ravioli |
39 |
| Spaghetti |
32 |
| Tortellini (Cheese) |
50 |
| Egg Fettuccini |
32 |
| Brown Rice |
50 |
| Buckwheat |
51 |
| White long grain rice |
50 |
| Pearled Barley |
22 |
| Yam |
35 |
| Sweet Potatoes |
48 |
| Instant Noodles |
47 |
| Wheat tortilla |
30 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Basmati Rice |
58 |
| Couscous |
61 |
| Cornmeal |
68 |
| Taco Shells |
68 |
| Gnocchi |
68 |
| Canned Potatoes |
61 |
| Chinese (Rice) Vermicelli |
58 |
| Baked Potatoes |
60 |
| Wild Rice |
57 |
| High GI |
|
| Instant White Rice |
87 |
| Glutinous Rice |
86 |
| Short Grain White Rice |
83 |
| Tapioca |
70 |
| Fresh Mashed Potatoes |
73 |
| French Fries |
75 |
| Instant Mashed Potatoes |
80 |
|
Bread
| Low GI |
|
| Soya and Linseed |
36 |
| Wholegrain Pumpernickel |
46 |
| Heavy Mixed Grain |
45 |
| Whole Wheat |
49 |
| Sourdough Rye |
48 |
| Sourdough Wheat |
54 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Croissant |
67 |
| Hamburger bun |
61 |
| Pita, white |
57 |
| Wholemeal Rye |
62 |
| High GI |
|
| White |
71 |
| Bagel |
72 |
| French Baguette |
95 |
Snacks
& Sweet
Foods
| Low GI |
|
| Slim-Fast meal
replacement |
27 |
| Snickers Bar (high
fat) |
41 |
| Nut & Seed
Muesli Bar |
49 |
| Sponge Cake |
46 |
| Nutella |
33 |
| Milk Chocolate |
42 |
| Hummus |
6 |
| Peanuts |
13 |
| Walnuts |
15 |
| Cashew Nuts |
25 |
| Nuts and Raisins |
21 |
| Jam |
51 |
| Corn Chips |
42 |
| Oatmeal Crackers |
55 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Ryvita |
63 |
| Digestives |
59 |
| Blueberry muffin |
59 |
| Honey |
58 |
| High GI |
|
| Pretzels |
83 |
| Water Crackers |
78 |
| Rice cakes |
87 |
| Puffed Crispbread |
81 |
| Donuts |
76 |
| Scones |
92 |
| Maple flavoured syrup |
68 |
Legumes (Beans)
| Low GI |
|
| Kidney Beans (canned) |
52 |
| Butter Beans |
36 |
| Chick Peas |
42 |
| Haricot/Navy Beans |
31 |
| Lentils, Red |
21 |
| Lentils, Green |
30 |
| Pinto Beans |
45 |
| Blackeyed Beans |
50 |
| Yellow Split Peas |
32 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Beans in Tomato
Sauce |
56 |
|
Vegetables
| Low GI |
|
| Frozen Green Peas |
39 |
| Frozen Sweet Corn |
47 |
| Raw Carrots |
16 |
| Boiled Carrots |
41 |
| Eggplant/Aubergine |
15 |
| Broccoli |
10 |
| Cauliflower |
15 |
| Cabbage |
10 |
| Mushrooms |
10 |
| Tomatoes |
15 |
| Chillies |
10 |
| Lettuce |
10 |
| Green Beans |
15 |
| Red Peppers |
10 |
| Onions |
10 |
| High GI |
|
| Pumkin |
75 |
| Parsnips |
97 |
Fruits
| Low GI |
|
| Cherries |
22 |
| Plums |
24 |
| Grapefruit |
25 |
| Peaches |
28 |
| Peach, canned in natural juice |
30 |
| Apples |
34 |
| Pears |
41 |
| Dried Apricots |
32 |
| Grapes |
43 |
| Coconut |
45 |
| Coconut Milk |
41 |
| Kiwi Fruit |
47 |
| Oranges |
40 |
| Strawberries |
40 |
| Prunes |
29 |
| Medium GI |
|
| Mango |
60 |
| Sultanas |
56 |
| Bananas |
58 |
| Raisins |
64 |
| Papaya |
60 |
| Figs |
61 |
| Pineapple |
66 |
| High GI |
|
| Watermelon |
80 |
| Dates |
103 |
Dairy
| Low GI |
|
| Whole milk |
31 |
| Skimmed milk |
32 |
| Chocolate milk |
42 |
| Sweetened yoghurt |
33 |
| Artificially Sweetened
Yoghurt |
23 |
| Custard |
35 |
| Soy Milk |
44 |
|
Information provided by the University of Sydney and used with permission.