Cherry Pie: A Sweet Indulgence with Moderate Glycemic Impact
Cherry pie is a beloved dessert that combines sweet-tart cherries with a flaky crust. While delicious, it’s important to understand its nutritional profile and glycemic impact, especially if you’re monitoring blood sugar levels.
Glycemic Information
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Cherry pie has a Glycemic Index (GI) of 59, placing it in the medium GI category. Foods with a GI between 56-69 are considered medium glycemic index foods, causing a moderate rise in blood sugar levels.
The Glycemic Load (GL) of cherry pie is 23.01 per 100g serving. This is considered high, as any GL above 20 has a significant impact on blood sugar. The glycemic load takes into account both the quality (GI) and quantity of carbohydrates in a food.
Nutritional Profile per 100g
- Calories: 311
- Protein: 2.95g
- Fat: 15.3g
- Carbohydrates: 40.9g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Sugar: 19.5g
- Net Carbs: 39g
Understanding the Nutritional Impact
Cherry pie is relatively high in calories and carbohydrates, with a significant portion coming from sugars. The moderate fiber content (1.9g per 100g) helps slow digestion slightly, but the overall impact on blood sugar remains considerable due to the high net carb content.
The fat content (15.3g) primarily comes from the pie crust, which typically contains butter or shortening. This fat content contributes to the high calorie count but also helps slow digestion somewhat.
Dietary Considerations
For individuals monitoring blood sugar levels, cherry pie should be consumed in moderation due to its high glycemic load and sugar content. Consider these tips:
- Reduce portion size to lower the glycemic impact
- Pair with protein or healthy fats to slow digestion
- Consider sugar-free or reduced-sugar cherry pie alternatives
- Balance your meal plan if including cherry pie as a treat
Conclusion
Cherry pie can be enjoyed as an occasional treat, but its moderate GI and high GL make it a food to consume mindfully, especially for those with insulin sensitivity, diabetes, or those following a low-glycemic diet. Always consider your overall dietary pattern and individual health needs when including foods like cherry pie in your meal plan.