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What Don't Vegetables Have a Glycemic Index?
Many Vegetables Don't Have a Glycemic Index Number

By Laura Dolson, About.com

Updated: September 16, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

chopped vegetablesPhoto © Alastair M. Robinson
Question: Why do so many vegetables not have a glycemic index listed? Does this mean that they do not raise blood sugar?

Answer: Not at all. It simply means that under the "rules" for the definition of the glycemic index, it is too difficult to get an accurate number. This is because an amount of the food including 50 grams of carbohydrate must be consumed at once in order to be tested. For example, the subjects of the study would have to eat about 19 cups of broccoli to get 50 grams of carbohydrate from it.

In general, the lower the amount of carbohydrate in a vegetable and the more fiber it has, the less the rise in blood sugar will be.

Laura Dolson
Guide since 2005

Laura Dolson
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