How to Understand the Glycemic Index

Lyle Hurd: Sherry, in your latest book, The Glycemic Index Made Simple, you talk about a number of things that are going to be very helpful to us in understanding what we nee to do to manage weight. Tell us, first of all, what the glycemic index is and a little bit more about why it is so important. Ms. Sherry Torkos: Well, the glycemic index is a tool that helps us understand how carbohydrates are processed in our body. Now, carbohydrates are present in foods such as fruits and vegetables, in our grains and starches and sugars. And when we eat carbohydrates, our body breaks them down into sugar. But the rate at which that occurs varies dramatically. For example, if we eat something such as a slice of white bread, it breaks down very quickly into sugar. And that type of a food is categorized into having a very high glycemic index because it processes very quickly into sugar compared to foods that break down slowly into sugar, such as whole grains and a lot of our vegetables and fruits. Now, what the research tells us with the glycemic index, is that following a low glycemic diet can help if you’re trying to lose weight; it can help reduce your risk of diabetes and it can even help reduce your triglycerides and your cholesterol. So in my book, I talk about the research on the glycemic index and how following a low glycemic diet can be advantageous for that. Lyle Hurd: Very interesting. And the book is? Ms. Sherry Torkos: The book is called The Glycemic Index Made Simple and it’s by John Wiley and Sons. In the book, I discuss the benefits of the glycemic index, what the research shows us and also strategies for reducing the glycemic impact of your meals—dietary strategies and also supplements such as Phase 2 and others that can help with glycemic control. Lyle Hurd: Great. Give us your website again. Ms. Sherry Torkos: My website is www.sherrytorkos.com. Lyle Hurd: Thanks. Ms. Sherry Torkos: Thanks you.