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Actually, whole grain bread is low on the glycemic index scale. Look it up. You may be thinking of whole wheat bread, which is different than whole grain bread.

Basmati rice and white parboiled rice is allowed on the low glycemic diet, as is pasta and tortillas, and oatmeal is particularly good.

The low glycemic index diet doesn't restrict all carbs. It restricts carbs that cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. That excludes a lot of carbs, including a good whole-grain bread.

It also doesn't allow a free for all with fats. Olive oil and other non saturated fats are allowed, even encouraged. Bacon, butter, heavy cream -- all examples of what a lot of low carbers include in their diets -- are avoided in a low glycemic index diet.

Here's a good summary that I found with a Google search: http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/carbs/8/

The glycemic index of food is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Carbohydrate foods that breakdown quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic indexes. Their blood sugar response is fast and high. Carbohydrates that breakdown slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the blood stream, have low glycemic indexes.

What is the significance of Glycemic Index?

* Low GI means a smaller rise in blood sugar and can help control established diabetes *

Low GI diets can help people lose weight and lower blood lipids *

Low GI diets can improve the body's sensitivity to insulin *

High GI foods can help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise

How to switch to a low GI diet *

Breakfast cereals based on wheat bran, barley and oats *

"Grainy" breads made with whole seeds

* Pasta and rice in place of potatoes *

Vinegar and lemon juice dressings

In short, the goal should be to build a good plan including the low Glycemic Index foods. This way, hunger is minimized, and there is less tendency to "cheat" or overeat. Consequently, you can continue to lose body fat or maintain your weight - once the excess pounds have been lost. The GI of foods has important implications for the food industry. Terms such as complex carbohydrates and sugars, which commonly appear on food labels, are now recognised as having little nutritional or physiological significance. The WHO/FAO recommend that these terms be removed and replaced with the total carbohydrate content of the food and its GI value. However, the GI rating of a food must be tested physiologically and only a few nutrition research groups around the world currently provide a legitimate testing service. The Human Nutrition Unit at the University of Sydney has been at the forefront of glycemic index research for over a decade and has tested dozens of foods as an integral part of its program. Jennie Brand Miller (JBM) is the senior author of International Tables of Glycemic Index published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1995.

Desirable Foods

Breads: Coarse European -Style, Whole Grain wheat or Rye Pita Bread, Cracked or Sprouted Whole wheat

Cereals: Compact noodle-like high bran cereals (All-Bran, Fiber One) Coarse Oatmeal, Porridge, Coarse Whole Grain (Kashi) Cereal mixed with Psyllium (Fiberwise)

Pasta, Grains and Starchy Vegetables: Pasta (all types) Barley, Bulgur, Buckwheat (kasha) Couscous, Kidney Beans dry, (Lentils, Black-eyed peas, Chick-peas Kidney beans, Lima beans, Peas, Sweet Potato, Yam (soybeans lowest) Most Vegetables.

Milk Products: Skim, 1%, cottage cheese, (lowfat or regular), Buttermilk, Low-fat plain yogurt, Low-fat fruited yogurt, Low-fat frozen yogurt ( artificial sweetener)

Fruit: Most fruit and natural fruit juices, including apple, berries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, honeydew, oranges, pears, grapes, peaches, applesauce, (Cherries, plums and grapefruit lowest).

Meats: Shellfish, "white" fish (cod, flounder, trout, tuna in water), Chicken, turkey, cornish hen, venison (white meat no skin), Egg substitutes (cholesterol free) cottage cheese

Moderately Desirable

Breads: 100% Stone Ground whole Wheat, Pumpernickel, 100% whole grain Rye Crisp Cracker

Cereals: Grape-nut cereal, medium-fine grain oatmeal, (5-minute variety)

Pasta, Grains and Starchy Vegetables: Rice, Boiled Potato, Corn Navy beans, Kidney beans (canned), Baked beans. Beets.

Milk Products: 2% milk, cheese, Regular plain yogurt

Fruit: Banana, Kiwi, Mango, papaya, orange juice.

Meats: Higher fat fish, (salmon, herring, lean cuts of Beef, Pork, Veal. Low-fat imitation luncheon meat, low-fat. cheese, Eggs.

Less Desirable Foods

Breads:

Breads: White bread, most commercial whole wheat breads, English muffins, bagel, French bread, most commercial matzoh

Cereals: Corn flakes, puffed rice, puffed wheat, flaked cereals, instant "Quick" or pre-cooked cereals. Oatbran, rolled oats. Shredded wheat, Muesli.'

Pasta, Grains and Starchy Vegetables: Instant rice, Brown rice, instant precooked grains, Baked potato, micro-waved potato, instant potato, Winter squash (acorn, butternut), carrots, parsnips.

Milk Products: Whole milk, ice milk, ice cream, Yogurt sweetened with sugar, Low-fat frozen desserts with sugar added, Low-fat and regular frozen yogurt with sugar added. Tofu ice cream.

Fruit: Pineapple, raisins, watermelon, fruit juices sweetened with sugar.

Meats: Most cuts of beef, pork, lamb, hot dogs (including "low-fat' versions) cheese, luncheon meats, peanut butter.