The G.I. Handbook: How the Glycemic Index Works (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

G.I., which is short for Glycemic Index—or blood-sugar index—must be maintained at an optimal level for weight control and sustained energy levels. Author Barbara Ravage recommends prudent dietary habits as she focuses on the varying effects of different carbohydrates on blood-sugar levels. Readers who follow her guidelines will conclude that it’s neither difficult nor disagreeable to substitute low GI-rated foods for others with higher ratings. For instance, she suggests pasta rather than potatoes, berry fruits rather than bananas, and wine rather than beer with meals. She also offers advice on cooking and processing foods for optimal GI ratings. Extensive charts list the GI ratings of everyday foods, specifying the grams of carbohydrates each serving yields. For easy reference, foods are grouped into types that include: breads and bread products; cereals and grains; cookies, crackers, and cakes; fruit and fruit juices; vegetables and legumes; rice and pasta; milk and dairy foods, sweets and chocolate; and drinks. Here’s a wealth of no-nonsense information in a compact volume for health-conscious readers.

From the Back Cover

[back cover]


The world is currently in the grip of “carbophobia,” but are all carbohydrates really so bad? What about all the fiber, antioxidants, and other healthy nutrients found in grains, fruits, and vegetables? Devised in 1981, the glycemic index, or G.I., makes sense of the carb confusion by ranking foods according to the effect they have on blood sugar. High-G.I. foods cause blood sugar surges, which play havoc with insulin levels, appetite, and fat storage capabilities. If you are affected by any of these problems, understanding the glycemic index is a vital first step in helping you control sugar surges and achieving steady and permanent weight loss.

The G.I. Handbook explains how to use the G.I. for healthier eating. It gives you a formula for a lifetime lifestyle that will help you reduce the risk of contracting many diseases and achieve optimum health, no matter what your age. The book contains a wealth of solid, no-nonsense information in a single compact volume, the perfect size to slip into a purse or pocket, for ready reference at any time.

[front flap]
The glycemic index (G.I. for short) is not a diet. It is a guide for healthy eating that can help you make the long-term changes you need to achieve your desired weight, reduce the risk of health problems, and get all the nutrients you need from a well-balanced diet. It allows you a wide range of choices without getting you hung up on numbers. Best of all, it offers freedom from hunger and cravings.

The G.I. Handbook is a compact guide to help you navigate the murky waters of the latest diet fads. It makes sense of the carbohydrate controversy, no matter what your goals. Find out all you need to know about:

What the glycemic index is

Who needs the glycemic index

How to plan meals at home and when eating out

The big picture: how to lose weight successfully

The G.I. way to healthy living

How to rate the foods you eat using the G.I. range of a large selection of everyday foods and ingredients



[back flap]


Barbara Ravage has been writing about nutrition, health, and medicine for more than 25 years. A graduate of Barnard College in New York City and a member of the National Association of Science Writers, she lives on Cape Cod.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764131605
• ISBN-13: 978-0764131608
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #223,373 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GI science made easy, June 17, 2005

By	Therese Mageau (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I did the South Beach diet without really understanding how and why it was working. This book does a much better job of explaining the science behind it. If you're trying to understand the latest hype about "low carbs," and to separate out inaccuracies from facts, then you need to read this book. Ravage explains in clear, accessible prose, how high glycemic foods affect weight gain, why the hype about a "low carb" diet is misleading & potentially unhealthy (there are lots of good & necessary carbs), why "diets" don't work, and how you can really change your eating habits to lose weight and improve your health. It has great advice and tips for healthy and delicious meals and snacks. And, best of all, there's an exhaustive list in the back of the book that rates every food that has been tested for its GI index and tells you whether that food is high (bad), medium (OK), or low (great!) on the GI index. Makes food shopping and menu planning so much easier. I highly recommend this book to people who are thinking about changing the way they eat.

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but simplistic, March 14, 2006

By	Holly King (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book to be a good introductory text. I was disappointed to find that the G. I. lists were not very extensive and did not include numeric values.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best reference for low carb diet, February 28, 2006

By	G. Flores (california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book after buying the Aitkens diet book, and found that it gave me more of a variety of foods to choose from. Not only have I lost just as much weight using this book, it is a handy reference for combining food groups to benefit your low carb diet. The g.i. guide is important if you seriously need to lower your weight and have health issues to deal with. I ordered three more of these books for friends who are also using them in their diet for daily reference, and they also find the information concerning the g.i. index an invaluable guide. The book has so much info and ideas for your diet, it is one of the best books you can buy.