Glycemic index of some common Egyptian foods

ABSTRACT

Glycemic index of beans, lentils and bread which represents some of the common Traditional Egyptian foods was done. Fifteen healthy adults were chosen for the study. They are classified into 3 groups of five. Blood sugar curve for every person in the 3 groups following 100 gm glucose and either of foods containing an equivalent amount of carbohydrate to 100 gm glucose was done. The blood sugar responses to the tested foods [Beans, Lentils and Bread] were much lower than that of the liquid glucose after 1/2, 1, and 2 hours post prandial. On the other hand the tested foods gave slightly higher blood sugar responses after 3 hours. This means that blood sugar curves of the tested foods are much more flat than those of the liquid glucose formula containing equivalent amount of carbohydrates. The glycemic index for beans was 27.4 +/- 3.07%, for lentils was 35.3 +/- 2.42% and that for bread was 67.2 +/- 2.87%. These results showed the importance of Legumes [beans and Lentils] to be much involved into the diabetic diets replacing other carbohydrate foods with higher glycemic indices [bread and simple sugars]. In addition these foods are cheap, available, palatable and of high nutritive value