via the Charlotte Examiner, read the full article here

The glycemic index is a system of categorizing foods based on how they affect your blood sugar. It was created in the early 80's at the University of Toronto. The GI system rates food on a scale of 1 to 100. The less impact the food has on blood sugar levels, the lower the number it's assigned.

Glycemic index of foods are determined in a laboratory setting. Consumers normally look at GI charts that are readily available to in order to determine the GI of specific foods.

Foods with little to no carbs will be very low on the GI scale. Foods with high amounts of sugar will score higher. It's important to understand that a high GI food is not synonymous with an unhealthy food. Many foods have a medium to high GI content, but still offer vital nutritional components. It's best to consume a balanced diet rich in whole foods of all kinds to maintain health.

Many people try a low GI diet in hopes of losing weight. There maybe some potential problems with the GI diet, according to Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D of the Mayo Clinic. The GI scale doesn't take all blood sugar factors into consideration, nor does it consider nutrient content or food combination factors, Collazo-Clavell reports.

There are some benefits to eating low GI foods, though. It will help control your blood sugar, which will lead to a more controlled appetite and potential weight loss. It could also reduce your need for diabetic medication, according to Collazo-Clavell.

Try adding some healthy, low GI foods to your diet, such as peaches, berries, and nuts. Many GI charts are available from online resources, such as Carbs Information and the Glycemic Index Foundation.