The glycemic index is the measure of how fast or high the blood sugar level rises after consuming certain carbohydrates. For example, foods with a high glycemic index are white flour and sugar-containing products. Their consumption quickly triggers a high blood sugar level, because the body does not have to do much to break down the food into its constituent parts. Due to the heavily processed nature of these products, the carbohydrates dissolve almost immediately and are absorbed by the intestine without having to do much digestive work.

On the other hand, foods with a low glycemic index hardly affect blood levels, such as with legumes, whole grains, meat or fish. They all have a high satiety level and are therefore suitable for a body-conscious diet.