The Lowdown on the Low-GI

Low-Glycemic index foods get more points for helping you stay slim.

Wondering why those pounds won't budge. A Danish study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reinforces the idea that a low-glycemic index (GI) diet can help. Made popular by diets like South Beach, low-GI foods (high-fiber, complex-carb foods like veggies, beans, nuts, lean meats, and whole-grain breads) slowly release energy into your bloodstream and keep you satisfied longer. Study participants who ate high-GI foods gained more wight, especially in the stomach area, over six years. To go low-GI choose whole foods like an apple with a little bit of peanut butter, over anything starchy, sugary, or refined.