People on low Glycaemic Index diet have reported 30 pounds of weight loss in less than 3 months. What is the nature of this diet and how does it help in losing weight? The Glycemic Index (GI) is a ranking of foods based on their overall effect on blood glucose levels. Slowly absorbed foods have a low GI rating (the GI rating is done with reference to glucose at 100), whilst foods that are more quickly absorbed will have a higher rating. This is important because choosing slowly absorbed carbohydrates can help even out blood glucose levels when you have diabetes. In other words, the GI is a system that tells you how fast a particular food triggers a rise in your blood sugar levels.

Lets see first the food items that are low in GI.

Low GI foods:

Apples, oranges, pears, grapefruits, cherries, beans, peas, pulses and lentils, bran cereals, porridge
custard, peanuts, dried apricots, skimmed milk

The Low GI Diet combines lean protein with low Glycemic carbs to help stabilize blood sugar and reduce hunger. This diet works on the principle that it is better to eat carbs with a low GI as they slowly release sugar into the blood, providing you with a steady supply of energy so you don't feel hungry. However, few experts opine that the problem of 'craving' is reduced.

A food with a high GI will cause a fast rise in blood sugar, while a food with a low GI will bring about a slower rise. The type of carbohydrate in food influences blood sugar levels.

You need to include some of the above mentioned food items in each meal or snack, but go for low-fat choices wherever possible, such as skimmed milk. If you want to lose weight, you'll also need to watch your portion sizes.

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Here is a word of caution. Never go only for low GI food. That will be an unbalanced diet. Some food items have a low GI, but are high in fat and high in salt, which is not at all healthy for our body. Always go for balanced diet, which should include a combination of starchy foods, fat and protein.

South Beach Diet:

South Beach Diet is different than other diets. It teaches a way of life where you rely on the right carbohydrates and fats. This diet works in phases. South beach diet also helps to get rid of food cravings according to some experts.

• Phase 1: The carb-restriction phase that lasts for about two weeks is the hardest part in this diet. For the first two weeks, you will be totally eliminating fruit, bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, sugar, alcohol, and baked goods from your diet. Low GI vegetables are allowed as well as low-fat cheese, nuts, and eggs. Dieters should expect to lose somewhere around 8 pounds.
• Phase 2: Some of the banned food is slowly introduced while weight loss continues to around 1-2 pounds per week. You should remain on it until you have lost your desired amount of weight.
• Phase 3: The final phase, which is for the remainder of one's life, requires one to follow the same in Phase Two and restrict the carbohydrate intake to a minimum and say "bye-bye" to junk food to remain healthy for a life-time.

A diet plan can certainly aid in losing weight, but a fitness regimen is a must for healthy weight loss. Losing a little or a lot of fat involves pretty much the same concept - a consistent balanced diet plan coupled with cardiovascular exercise and weight training. Always keep in mind that even the best diet plan will be worthless if you don't commit to changing your eating and living habits. The plan designed for you at AmazingWeightLoss.com is meant to eliminate all the "fad diet" aspects that dominate major diet trends, and focuses on firm science that guarantees a healthy, proven effective path to weight management.

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