SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

glycemic index

noun
Save Word

Definition of glycemic index

: a measure of the rate at which ingested food causes the level of glucose in the blood to rise also : a ranking of foods according to the glycemic index —abbreviation GI

Examples of glycemic index in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Brown rice is slightly higher in fiber than white rice, but the real difference is that brown rice has a significantly lower glycemic index than white rice. — Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Good Housekeeping, "5 Healthy Rices You'll Want to Add to Your Next Meal," 13 Sep. 2020 And be sure to eat a diet low in foods with a high glycemic index (simple and complex carbohydrates). — Katie Berohn, Good Housekeeping, "15 Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Tips for the Best Skin of Your Life," 26 May 2020 Soluble fiber in general is known for its ability to decrease the glycemic index in foods and lessen insulin resistance. — Adele Jackson-gibson, Good Housekeeping, "Is Chicory Root Coffee Good for You? Here's What to Know About Its Health Benefits," 3 Feb. 2020 Grapes are a low-calorie, fat-free food with a low glycemic index. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "10 Health Benefits of Grapes That'll Make You Want to Eat the Whole Bunch," 11 Dec. 2017 High glycemic index foods cause blood sugar levels to shoot up. — Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, "Why would dietary sugar harm your heart?," 23 Oct. 2019 Consuming 3 grams of powdered ginger per day helped patients improve their glycemic indices compared to a placebo, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Health Benefits of Ginger Water," 11 Jan. 2019 The glycemic index is a reference to how quickly a food is broken down and absorbed. — Jamie Pitlick, Quartzy, "The best and worst sugar substitutes for your health," 3 July 2019 Higher-quality carbohydrates tend to be lower on the glycemic index, minimally processed and higher in fiber. — Christy Brissette, Washington Post, "What are ‘hormone diets’ — and can they really help you lose weight quickly?," 5 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glycemic index.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of glycemic index

1981, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about glycemic index

Time Traveler for glycemic index

Time Traveler

The first known use of glycemic index was in 1981

See more words from the same year

Statistics for glycemic index

Cite this Entry

“Glycemic index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glycemic%20index. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for glycemic index

glycemic index

noun

Medical Definition of glycemic index

: a measure of the rate at which an ingested food causes the level of glucose in the blood to rise the insulin response caused by carbohydrate depends on the glycemic index…of the food— Trevor Smith also : a ranking of foods according to their glycemic index —abbreviation GI

More from Merriam-Webster on glycemic index

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glycemic index

Comments on glycemic index

What made you want to look up glycemic index? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

optimization

Listen to the pronunciation of optimization

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times

  • ducreux self portrait yawning
  • What is an earlier meaning of nice?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games