Glycemic Load Calculator

Calculate the glycemic load of a food from its glycemic index and carbohydrate content per serving. Classifies the result as low, medium, or high.

Independently verified for accuracy

Calculator by Toolsloft ↗
Glycemic load
21.6
Category
High

Glycemic index tells you how fast a carbohydrate raises blood sugar, but not how much carbohydrate is in a real serving. Glycemic load fixes that by scaling the index to the grams you actually eat, which is why a food can have a high index yet a low load.

How this is calculated

Glycemic load equals the glycemic index multiplied by the grams of carbohydrate in the serving, divided by 100. A load of 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 is medium, and 20 or more is high, the thresholds used in nutrition research. Glycemic index values come from published food databases.

How to use

  1. Find the glycemic index of the food from a reference table.
  2. Enter the grams of carbohydrate in your actual serving.
  3. Read the glycemic load and whether it is low, medium, or high.

Examples

  • GI 72, 30 g carbs (white bread slice): Glycemic load 21.6 (High)
  • GI 40, 10 g carbs: Glycemic load 4 (Low)

FAQ

What is the difference between glycemic index and glycemic load?
Glycemic index rates the carbohydrate itself on a 0 to 100 scale. Glycemic load accounts for portion size, so it reflects the real blood sugar impact of what you eat.
What counts as a low glycemic load?
A single serving with a load of 10 or under is considered low, 11 to 19 medium, and 20 or higher high. Daily totals under about 100 are often described as low.

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