Low Gi Diet FAQ's : The GI Diet Breakthrough

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best low GI foods for fighting cravings and hunger pangs?

ANSWER: Low GI foods combined with a little bit of healthy, monounsaturated fat will do the trick. For instance, try half an apple with a teaspoon of crunchy almond butter smeared on it, or eat a plum with 3 macadamia nuts. You could also have a piece of whole wheat toast with either ½ pat of butter or a teaspoon of olive oil.

Does the GI Diet work for diabetics?

ANSWER: Since the GI Diet is about lowering sugar consumption and reducing the possibility of a flood of insulin, it’s a great diet to keep diabetes in check.

Are all low carb products low GI?

ANSWER: No, just because something is low carb doesn’t mean it will also have a low glycemic index. This is something you have to watch. The carb that it does contain — even if it is a low amount — could be pure sugar. You need to carefully check ingredients.

Will the GI Diet ruin my metabolism like all the other diets I’ve tried?

ANSWER: Absolutely not. In fact, because of the thermogenic properties of low GI foods, it should increase your metabolism. “Thermogenic” means heat-producing, and it takes more energy for your body to burn low GI foods since they have a lot of fiber in them. Another way to increase your metabolism, of course, is to exercise more.

Does the GI Diet help you burn fat, especially belly and hip fat? Those are my worst areas.

ANSWER: Yes, this diet is designed to burn fat. Insulin makes you store fat, so the GI diet burns fat by preventing insulin from flooding your system. The diet also allows glucagon to circulate, and glucagon stimulates fat burning.

Is this diet a cleanse?

ANSWER: It’s not technically a cleanse, but it will probably make you healthier than any cleanse since you will be making lifelong dietary changes that are better for you.

Does it work for any body shape, like apples or pears? For that matter, does it work for everyone?

ANSWER: Yes, it works for everyone because it works the way our bodies are designed to work. We have not evolved far enough to be able to handle simple carbohydrates, so we respond poorly to them. Anyone and everyone will benefit from the increased energy and lower body fat levels that the GI Diet promotes.

Is this one of those diets where you have success for awhile and then just get stuck?

ANSWER: No, this is not the kind of diet that makes you plateau. Regular diets do that after about five weeks because you’ve lost only water and muscle during that time. Then, you get to the point where you can’t lose much more muscle. It’s really a false weight loss. The GI Diet works because the combination of low GI foods and exercise cause your body to use muscle to burn fat.

Is this the same thing as the South Beach Diet or the Atkins Diet? Those diets made me feel sick, and I almost went broke buying all the meat.

ANSWER: No, it’s not the same. Those diets are about 80 to 90% protein. That amount of protein can actually be toxic to your kidneys. This is a sensible diet in which you consume moderate amounts of protein, low GI carbs, and good fats.

Is this another one of those diets where you lose weight because the food tastes really bad, bland, and boring?

ANSWER: Not at all. The beauty of the low GI diet is that you can eat anything you want, in moderation. And adding a little healthy fat to low GI foods in the form of olive oil, macadamia nut oil, nuts, or avocados can make them taste very good. Did you know that most gourmet restaurants are actually serving low GI food?

What about water? Do I have to drink eight glasses of water a day on this diet?

ANSWER: You should be drinking that much water all the time anyway, regardless of your diet. Here’s the thing about water and weight loss: when you don’t drink enough water, your kidneys have to work overtime to get rid of waste products. What do you do when you need help? You ask someone else for assistance. In this case, your liver pitches in for your kidneys to get rid of toxins. This is bad for the liver because it has to neglect its own work, which is metabolizing fat so that you can excrete it. The bottom line is that water is necessary for your kidneys to function properly and for your liver to do its job of metabolizing fat. Also, if you exercise like I recommend, you will need to drink water to replace fat. Think of water as the lubricant that makes everything else in your body possible.

If I lose weight on this diet, can I keep it off? If so, how do I go about that? That’s always the hardest part.

ANSWER: Yes, you can keep it off. The GI Diet isn’t a temporary diet; it’s a lifestyle modification. As long as you continue to eat low GI foods, you will keep your weight down. It’s not hard once you get used to the change – low GI foods are fresh and delicious!