Glycemic Index, Food Exchange Values, and Exercise Performance

Abstract

This chapter examines how dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load affect health and exercise performance. Current available evidence suggests that there is an association between GI and various types of cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. GI has also gained interest in the field of sports nutrition over the last years. It seems that the intensity of the glycemic and insulinemic responses in the postprandial period and during exercise is considered as a main contributor to enhanced performance. It is argued that low-GI preexercise meals may enhance athletic performance with the results being contradictory. In addition, to that, the ingestion of carbohydrates during exercise after a preexercise meal with different GIs has not been adequately investigated. Food exchanges that can simplify meal planning and ensure a consistent, nutritionally balanced diet, are also discussed. © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.