Diet Information
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Glycemic Index (GI) for CarrotsSome glycemic response studies show that carrots have a high GI - up to 95. This has led sellers of low-carb diets to issue warnings that carrots cause blood sugar spikes and should therefore be avoided. But this is bad nutritional advice. Glycemic Load of CarrotsTo measure glycemic index in a particular food, volunteers are fed whatever quantity of this food contains 50g of useable carbohydrate. Since carrots contain only about 7 percent carbohydrate, to get 50g of carbohydrate from carrots alone you would have to eat about one and a half pounds of carrots. Few if any people eat that many carrots at one time. How to Reduce Glycemic Effect of CarrotsAs with any higher GI foods, you can reduce the glycemic effect of carrots and ensure a slower rise in blood sugar by adding low GI foods to your meal. Nutritional Benefits of CarrotsCarrots are important dietary sources of protective phytochemicals, especially carotenoid pigments that are good anti-cancer agents. These nutritional benefits mean that advising people to avoid carrots because of effects on blood sugar is inaccurate dietary advice. Related Glycemic Index LinksGlycemic
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