Question About Daily Glycemic Load

I have two questions about the use of Glycemic Load to control carbs:

1) Let's say you eat two foods at a meal, one with a GL of 7 and one
with a GL of 4. What is your GL for the meal? Is it the highest value
(7), the combined value (11), or something else? Since GL is based on
the number of carbs in a serving along with the GI, my guess is that
you can add the values to get a meaningful number. So if you want to
stay below 10 at any given point in time, you have to combine all foods
to get the cumulative GL.

An example -- if you make the Atkins lentil soup listed in his book,
you have to combine the GLs of the lentils, swiss chard, onions, etc.,
to get a GL for the meal you are eating.

2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?

Thanks.

If I recall correctly, GL assumes a portion size of 100 grams. So, you
would not only add them together, you might need to increase the number
according to your portion size.

My feeling is that counting carbs is sufficient. If a day's carbs are very
low, then the day's GL is too.

IMHO

Cubit
311/192.5/165

"taddy" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have two questions about the use of Glycemic Load to control carbs:

1) Let's say you eat two foods at a meal, one with a GL of 7 and one
with a GL of 4. What is your GL for the meal? Is it the highest value
(7), the combined value (11), or something else? Since GL is based on
the number of carbs in a serving along with the GI, my guess is that
you can add the values to get a meaningful number. So if you want to
stay below 10 at any given point in time, you have to combine all foods
to get the cumulative GL.

An example -- if you make the Atkins lentil soup listed in his book,
you have to combine the GLs of the lentils, swiss chard, onions, etc.,
to get a GL for the meal you are eating.

2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?

Thanks.

Two points-

GL is calculated, according to my knowledge, on the actual carbs
available, not 100g. So if you eat an apple, you'd have to know the
weight or at least approximate size in order to calculate a GL value.

Just controlling carbs and eating low GL foods, as Atkins advocates,
may indeed be the simplest way to go. But I want to understand the
alternatives.

Cubit wrote:
:: If I recall correctly, GL assumes a portion size of 100 grams. So,
:: you would not only add them together, you might need to increase the
:: number according to your portion size.
::
:: My feeling is that counting carbs is sufficient. If a day's carbs
:: are very low, then the day's GL is too.

I agree completely. Control carbs and the rest will work out.

taddy wrote:
:: Two points-
::
::: GL is calculated, according to my knowledge, on the actual carbs
:: available, not 100g. So if you eat an apple, you'd have to know the
:: weight or at least approximate size in order to calculate a GL value.
::
::: Just controlling carbs and eating low GL foods, as Atkins advocates,
:: may indeed be the simplest way to go. But I want to understand the
:: alternatives.

GI and GL are fuzzy concepts to deal with in the context of meals. So, good
luck.

"taddy" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have two questions about the use of Glycemic Load to control carbs:

1) Let's say you eat two foods at a meal, one with a GL of 7 and one
with a GL of 4. What is your GL for the meal? Is it the highest value
(7), the combined value (11), or something else? Since GL is based on
the number of carbs in a serving along with the GI, my guess is that
you can add the values to get a meaningful number. So if you want to
stay below 10 at any given point in time, you have to combine all foods
to get the cumulative GL.

An example -- if you make the Atkins lentil soup listed in his book,
you have to combine the GLs of the lentils, swiss chard, onions, etc.,
to get a GL for the meal you are eating.

2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?

Thanks.

You know, when you fly a small plane, there are weigjht and load ratios you
have to consider, not to mention density altitude and a few other factors.
You can spend hours with a calculator over all this, or you can just get a
feel for it without having to figure out what you can allow on the plane
without having to worry about being overloaded.

I would suggest just playing around with your food and not worry about
limits too much. You will learn what your body can do and what will work
for you. Put the calculator down.

Go to http://www.glycemicindex.com/ where Jennnie Brand-Miller has info
on GL. I think, in the end, you will have to make your own rules.

Cookie


taddy wrote:
I have two questions about the use of Glycemic Load to control carbs:

1) Let's say you eat two foods at a meal, one with a GL of 7 and one
with a GL of 4. What is your GL for the meal? Is it the highest value
(7), the combined value (11), or something else? Since GL is based on
the number of carbs in a serving along with the GI, my guess is that
you can add the values to get a meaningful number. So if you want to
stay below 10 at any given point in time, you have to combine all foods
to get the cumulative GL.

An example -- if you make the Atkins lentil soup listed in his book,
you have to combine the GLs of the lentils, swiss chard, onions, etc.,
to get a GL for the meal you are eating.

2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?

Thanks.

Cookie Cutter wrote:
2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?

I can't help but think this GL stuff is way more work than it's worth.
Why not just get a blood glucose meter and see what's really going on?

taddy wrote:
I have two questions about the use of Glycemic Load to control carbs:

1) Let's say you eat two foods at a meal, one with a GL of 7 and one
with a GL of 4. What is your GL for the meal? Is it the highest value
(7), the combined value (11), or something else? Since GL is based on
the number of carbs in a serving along with the GI, my guess is that
you can add the values to get a meaningful number. So if you want to
stay below 10 at any given point in time, you have to combine all foods
to get the cumulative GL.
Basically, it would be an average of 4 and 7 (ie. 5.5). Assuming the
portion sizes are equal. It's not 100% accurate, but gives a good
estimate.


2)What's a meaningful way to use GL on a daily basis? Can you have a
daily GL target, similar to the Atkins ACE, calculated by simply adding
all GL values for the day? If so, what are some good guidelines to
follow? What would be considered a low daily GL?
The GL value of a food is something to consider, just like calorie
content, when you are choosing a food. You wouldn't really set a
'target'.

Best would be to look at what you eat today that has a high GI
(expecially the carbs you eat) and try to replace that item with a low
GI food.

ie.
- replace white bread with sourdough, or whole-wheat bread.
- replace corn flakes with frosted flakes, or museli
- replace white pasta with whole wheat pasta cooked 'al dente'

It's more the effect of the 'spikes' on blood sugar which is the issue
(and the resulting insulin response)... so... for example, 120g of
carbs from whole wheat bread is good whereas 120g of carbs from white
bread would be bad. Exact same amount of carbs, but a very different
impact on the body.

It comes down to the saying 'it's not just the quantity of the carb,
but the quality of the carb' and, actually, more-and-more, it's
looking like it's mostly the quality that matters.

On 18 Feb 2005 17:18:57 GMT, Ignoramus29670
wrote:

I want to understand something.

Just why can't we use the carb count for the day as that daily
glycemic load? (ignoring protein breaking down into sugar).

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223/172.9/180