Question
Thanks for your excellent food content tables.
I have a question: Why do you list the glycemic index (GI) of almonds as 10, whereas other web sites list it as zero? How are people calculating these GI’s (and thereby getting such different values?).
Answer
There is some confusion about glycemic index of foods.
Glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the rate of glucose break-down and absorption from foods eaten. GI can only be measured in foods that have any amount of carbohydrates in the foods – the higher the GI, the quicker the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and the more quickly this is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Almonds, like all nuts, contain some carbohydrates, protein and fat, so therefore their glycemic index cannot be zero.
The official glycemic index web site lists the glycemic index of mixed nuts (roasted and salted) as 24. This is the authority on glycemic index around the world. They have information about glycemic index on a number of different foods and they are the source of the information on glycemic index values on this web site.
When you find glycemic index values for foods on other web sites, you need to be sure that they are legitimate and have referenced their sources for the values they have used. I am not sure how other web sites find their information – it is up to you, as a user, to determine if the information you are viewing is legitimate or not.
Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult with your medical physician regarding appropriateness of using supplements in your healing process.
