The Glycemic Index for Raspberries

Eating foods with a low glycemic index can help prevent swings in blood sugar levels. This is especially important for people with diabetes. Because many fruits are sweet, they can be packed with sugar that increase their glycemic index. Raspberries, however, are relatively low in carbohydrates and have a low glycemic index.

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index measures how food affects blood sugar. Foods with high glycemic index values lead to a bigger jump in blood glucose levels, while foods with low glycemic index values lead to a smaller bump in blood glucose levels. Foods that have high amounts of fat and fiber have a lower glycemic index.

Raspberry Glycemic Index

The glycemic index value for raspberries is not listed in many reputable glycemic index databases. The Creative Gourmet website notes that raspberries have a low enough carbohydrate content that their glycemic index may be difficult to measure. The University of Sydney's Glycemic Index website does provide a value for no-sugar-added raspberry spread of 26. This spread can probably be taken as a good representation of raspberry glycemic index, and the value of 26 means that raspberries have a low glycemic index value. Foods with a glycemic index below 55 are classified as low glycemic index foods. A glycemic index of 56 to 69 is medium, and high glycemic index foods have a value of 70 or more.