Broccoli Glycemic Index (GI), Glycemic Load (GL), and Insulin Index (II)
Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
Due to low carbohydrate content, exact numbers for the glycemic index and load of broccoli have not yet been calculated.
A 100g serving of broccoli contains only 6.6g of carbohydrates. For this reason, the glycemic index and glycemic load of broccoli are assumed to fall in the low category.
Research has shown that adding one and a half servings of broccoli (250g) to a rice meal can limit glycemic response after a meal (1).
Another study has found that broccoli sprouts can be an excellent choice for supplementary treatment in type 2 diabetes due to a high content of beneficial phytochemicals such as sulforaphane. Sulforaphane consumption can result in increased antioxidant capacity and decreased insulin resistance and triglyceride levels (2).
Insulin Index
For foods with low carbohydrate content, the insulin index can be measured to quantify the body’s glycemic response.
Broccoli has been calculated to have an insulin index of 29 (3). This can be considered a low insulin index.
You can learn more about the insulin index and find II values for over 140 foods on our page.
References
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/7/1318/htm
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23631497/
- https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/11945
