Reply To: Materia Medica of Foods
Hi Cody,
Yes! Glycemic index of a fruit changes depending on ripeness. For example, a fully ripe banana has a GI of 51, while an unripe banana has a GI of 30. The GI measures how quickly carbohydrates from food enter your bloodstream and raise your blood sugar. As fruit ripens, its starches are converted to sugar, resulting in a higher GI. Blueberries have a GI of around 53, which is considered low. This means they have a minimal impact on blood sugar levels. Sour blueberries have the lowest GI of all blueberries.
Other factors that affect a food’s GI include:
1. Cooking: Cooking and processing foods usually increases their GI. For example, the longer you cook starches like pasta, the higher their GI.
2. Fiber: Foods with more soluble fiber have a lower GI.
3. Fat and protein: Consuming fat and protein with a meal can decrease the GI.
4. Acidity: Adding acidic foods like lemon juice or vinegar can lower the GI.
5. Food order: Eating starches or sugars first can cause faster increases in blood glucose levels.
Riley