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The Glycemic Index Diet (G.I. Diet) was invented in 1981 as a treatment tool for diabetes to help diabetic patients maintain stable blood sugar.

The GI diet has now become a popular tool for healthy weightloss.The Glycemic Index rates the carbohydrate quality in foods according to its immediate effect on blood glucose level.

Carbs that break down quickly into glucose during digestion, causing a rapid rise in glucose levels, have a High GI value. Those carbs that break down more slowly, are given an Intermediate or Low GI value.

The theory behind the Glycemic Index Diet is that foods with a low GI value slowly release sugar into the blood, providing you with a steady supply of energy, leaving you feeling satisfied longer so that you're less likely to snack. In contrast, foods with a high GI value cause a rapid spike in blood sugar, rising then falling sharply, leaving you lacking in energy and feeling hungry within a short time. This results in you end up reaching for a snack. If this pattern is frequently repeated, you're likely to gain weight as a result of constantly overeating.

The glycemic index diet (along with Glycemic Load) has become the new standard for healthy carbohydrates. The GI Diet is widely praised, with the only criticism being that it can be complicated to follow, so we do recommend a book containing the GI tables and further reading before beginning this diet.

Foods only appear on the GI index if they contain carbohydrate. This explains why you won't find foods like fresh meat, chicken, fish, eggs and cheese in GI lists. However, you may find some processed foods like sausages or chicken nuggets in a GI list because they contain flour!

An additional benefit is that if insulin levels are kept low, the formation of fat is slowed, and it can be converted back into energy to be burnt, rather than stored.

Overall, a healthy diet plan that is suitable for vegitarians and ensures healthy eating so can be used for overweight children too, although, as always, you should consult a doctor before beginning any weightloss plan.