Watermelon - high GI - why is it OK?
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 07-12-2005 - 9:33am |
I am slowly reading the SBD book, and I am to the part where Dr. A covers the Glycemic Index. I scanned through all those items, and I saw that Watermelon has a glycemic index of ~103! 103? How is it okay for me to eat Watermelon with a GI that high? I think that M&Ms had a GI of 63, or something, wouldn't that say that I'm better off chosing M&Ms over Watermelon? Of course my intuition tells me otherwise, and maybe I'm looking at it too 1-dimensionally. Of course the fructose in watermelon is better than the sucrose in M&Ms, but if it's all about the numbers, the M&Ms would be a better choice (of course mixed in with fiber/fat/protein/acid). I just wanted to better understand the GI. If I look at the numbers, Watermelon is even worse than bananas! Right up there with white bread. Yikes...
As I write this, I am eating Watermelon, my new favorite daily fruit. Figures I would stumble across the GI section of teh SBD book right as I'm really getting into watermelon for the year.
Stephanie
125/119/115


I don't know about the hard and fast rules, but caloric-wise it makes sense that watermelon would be a better choice than M&Ms. LOL. But if you are prone to cravings (which I am!) then it might not be a good choice. Personally, I have to watch all fruit except berries. Since watermelon is so sweet you should eat it with a carb competitor to slow down that sugar rush. If I have watermelon, I will only have it with a meal.
I'm surprised that he says it's ok in the book? I have it on my own list of no-no's, but I can't remember if I edited that based on my own reactions.
Leslie
P.S. Edited to add that I borrowed my mom's book to look it up, and watermelon is in fact on the "avoid" list for P2, along with pineapple and a couple others.
Edited 7/12/2005 5:28 pm ET ET by lfbennett
I don't have my book here with me, but watermelon is on our foods to avoid list here on the board:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-fbsouthbeach&msg=11507.1&ctx=16384
On the "Avoid" column is:
FRUIT
Canned fruit, juice packed
Fruit juice
Pineapple
Raisins
Watermelon
As far as watermelon vs M&Ms - I think you have to look at more than just the GI number in evaluating a food! Watermelon doesn't fit great into SB, but it doesn't mean its a totally horrible food really. It has some good points - its a fruit so its natural (unlike M&Ms), it has no fat (unlike M&Ms), low calories (unlike M&Ms), and watermelon contains lycopene that may help reduce the risks of prostate cancer (well you guess it - unlike M&Ms!) Weight Watchers made watermelon their "pick of the Season" feature produce item and encourage it (my dad is doing weight watchers and ate a lot when he was here visiting!) I don't think you will ever see Weight Watchers featuring M&Ms! It doesn't mean I will be eating watermelon anytime soon - but if I HAD to chose between watermelon and M&Ms - I would chose watermelon as more healthy OVERALL.
spring06sig2
Hi Stephanie, are you on Phase 2?
Thanks guys! I actually didn't know that Watermelon was on the "avoid" list, of course I do have a copy of that list handy, and I reviewed it. I think I saw "Melon" on the "foods to reintroduce" for phase 2, and I assumed that meant, Canteloupe, Honeydew and Watermelon...
I'm out of Watermelon, and I'll reasses my fruits. I don't think I've gained, but it's good to know!
Stephanie
125/119/115
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130
I was trying to figure out how I could have overlooked the "avoid" on the watermelon, and there it was...Watermelon is on the list under "avoid" but when I printed it out, it was all in grey, and I just thought it was under "reintroduce". I guess it's a good thing I'm FINALLY reading the book! LOL! The book is great, though. He states everything in laymans terms so it's really easy to understand.
Thanks for clearing that up for me! I did eat my watermelon this morning with a string cheese so hopefully that helped at least a little bit! I'll mark that off my grocery list! ;)
Stephanie
125/119/115
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130