The Glycemic Index

Dr. Elena Philippou is an Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, and a Visiting Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London, United Kingdom. As a registered dietitian, she also holds private consultations on diet-related issues, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. She obtained a BSc degree in Nutrition and a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics from King’s College London, London, England, in 2001 and 2002, respectively. She worked as a dietitian for the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and in parallel completed a postgraduate certificate in behavioral management of adult obesity awarded by the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England. In 2008, she completed her PhD studies at Imperial College London, focusing on the role of dietary carbohydrates and specifically dietary GI in weight maintenance and cardiovascular disease prevention. Her research has been published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented in scientific conferences. In 2012, Dr. Philippou obtained a postgraduate certificate in continuing professional academic development program in learning and teaching in higher education awarded by the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, England, and became a member of U.K.’s Higher Education Academy. She lectures on various topics, including public health nutrition, nutritional assessment, and medical nutrition therapy of various diseases. Dr. Philippou’s current research interest is in the role of dietary GI manipulation and the Mediterranean diet on cognitive function including investigation of the potential underlying mechanisms.

Introduction to the glycemic index (GI). Methodology of estimating the GI of foods. GI and Diabetes Mellitus (Type I, II) prevention and management including implications on insulin resistance. GI and cardiovascular disease risk prevention and management. Dietary GI manipulation in preventing and managing obesity in children and adults: implications on appetite regulation, satiety, weight loss and maintenance. GI and cancer prevention: is there any evidence on altering diet GI? Manipulating dietary GI as a means of improving exercise and sports performance. Dietary GI manipulation to improve cognitive functioning: is it possible? Women’s issues and the GI: Dietary GI use in management of the polycystic ovary syndrome and altering the diet’s GI during pregnancy (including gestational diabetes mellitus). GI use on food labels: informed food choice or misuse? The controversy. GI and eye health: dietary hyperglycemia and metabolic retinal diseases. Summary of recommendations and future research chapter.