GI Values Update

The latest GI values from SUGiRS: Ginger
Valued the world over as a culinary spice, condiment and home remedy with beneficial properties that have long been recognised and recorded, ginger has made its presence felt and entered the language with phrases like ‘ginger up’ and ‘ginger group’. Although grown in Asia and India for hundreds of years, we don’t know exactly where it originally came from. But we do know it’s a great grower when you plant those juicy rhizomes in the right spot. Buderim, about 100 km (60 miles) north of Brisbane (Australia) is one such spot.

Ginger root

Not long before World War 1, some pieces of raw ginger found their way to Buderim where the comparatively high rainfall and humidity provided ideal growing conditions. During World War 2, when the supply from China was non-existent, five local farmers saw an opportunity and formed The Buderim Ginger Grower’s Co-operative Association Limited with 25 pounds, two wooden vats and 14 tons of green ginger. Today, Buderim Ginger produces some of the world’s finest ginger, and exports to 17 countries around the world (check their website to order online or find your nearest stockist: www.buderimginger.com). It also makes the world first GI-tested ginger products.

Buderim Ginger Divine Date Spread (mix of dates and ginger): GI 29
Buderim Ginger Original Ginger Marmalade: GI 50
Buderim Ginger Ginger Spread (no cane sugar): GI 10
Buderim Ginger Sucrose-free Ginger (looks like candied ginger): GI 10

For nominal serve sizes, available carbohydrate and GL, check out the GI database at www.glycemicindex.com

For more information about GI testing at Sydney University, please contact:
Fiona Atkinson sugirs@mmb.usyd.edu.au
Research Manager, Sydney University Glycemic Index Research Service (SUGiRS).
Human Nutrition Unit, Department of Biochemistry (GO8)
Sydney University, NSW 2006 Australia

Fiona Atkinson

The mystery of BR16
Many readers have asked where they can buy ‘Bangladeshi rice BR16’ a long-grain, white rice with a GI of 39 that’s posted in the GI database. First the bad news. We have checked with numerous international rice suppliers and sadly no one can identify a commercial branded product of this rice you can buy. Now the good news. In the next month or so, we will be publishing the results of a new low GI rice that carries the GI Symbol and will be available in supermarkets in Australia initially and then internationally. So watch this space.