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Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

assafmo.github.io

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Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#2

Post by entropie »

> Glycemic index (GI) > GI is a measure of the effects of a foods carbohydrate component on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and rapidly release glucose into the bloodstream are characterized as having a high GI value, whereas carbohydrates that are broken down slowly and release glucose into the bloodstream in a more gradual manner are characterized as having a low GI value.

> Glycemic load (GL) > Glycemic Load takes into account a foods GI value and a standardized 100g portion size and is calculated as GL = GI x available CHO in a 100g serving / 100. Therefore the GL takes into account the amount of carbohydrate consumed and is a more accurate measure of the impact of a food on blood sugars. As a general rule foods that have a low GL usually have a low GI and those with a medium to high GL value almost always have a very high GI value.

http://www.diogenes-eu.org/GI-Database/Default.htm

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#3

Post by cranjice »

So I tried entering the term "pasta" and nothing happened. At first I thought it was broken, but then I entered pizza and there were results. An action button and some status detail (# of results found, etc.) might help the UI.

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#4

Post by mygo »

you only designed and implemented for the happy path. when a user submits something that isn’t in your database absolutely nothing happens. a submit button would be a start, as well as some sort of “no results found”. Feedback is important to the user.

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#5

Post by tommaho »

entropie wrote: post #2

> Glycemic index (GI) > GI is a measure of the effects of a foods carbohydrate component on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and rapidly release glucose into the bloodstream are characterized as having a high GI value, whereas carbohydrates that are broken down slowly and release glucose into the bloodstream in a more gradual manner are characterized as having a low GI value.…

Something I rarely see addressed as an outsider and occasional consumer of this kind of info:

I like bagels - this tool reports a GI / GL of 72 / 42 for 100g. I like peanut butter - 27 and 2.7 for 100g of creamy unsalted.

What is the GI / GL of a peanut-buttered bagel? Is it an average? Can I calculate it?

I don't see much advice around working toward an average glycemic load for a meal versus avoiding specific evils. Is that line of thought flawed?

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#6

Post by assafmo »

mygo wrote: post #4

you only designed and implemented for the happy path. when a user submits something that isn’t in your database absolutely nothing happens. a submit button would be a start, as well as some sort of “no results found”. Feedback is important to the user.

Thanks for your feedback! I'll address this.

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#7

Post by entropie »

tommaho wrote: post #5
entropie wrote: post #2

> Glycemic index (GI) > GI is a measure of the effects of a foods carbohydrate component on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and rapidly release glucose into the bloodstream are characterized as having a high GI value, whereas carbohydrates that are broken down slowly and release glucose into the bloodstream in a more gradual manner are characterized as having a low GI value.…

Something I rarely see addressed as an outsider and occasional consumer of this kind of info: I like bagels - this tool reports a GI / GL of 72 / 42 for 100g. I like peanut butter - 27 and 2.7 for 100g of creamy unsalted. What is the GI / GL of a peanut-buttered bagel? Is it an average? Can I calculate it? I don't see much advice around working toward an average glycemic load for a meal versus avoiding specific evils…

A portion or meal differs for like anyone. When I make a slice of bread its like twice the size the one my SO makes. That goes for everything. So you have to calculate it for yourself.

I dont have much knowledge about this kind of stuff; i "researched" what GI and GL actually means and pasted it for others also curious.

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#8

Post by dayjah »

assafmo wrote: post #6
mygo wrote: post #4

you only designed and implemented for the happy path. when a user submits something that isn’t in your database absolutely nothing happens. a submit button would be a start, as well as some sort of “no results found”. Feedback is important to the user.

Thanks for your feedback! I'll address this.

Also some form of typeahead prompt would be useful for a similar reason — for example: if one enters “bread”, being able to select the type of bread from a known list is helpful.

Re: Show HN: Glycemic load calculator

#9

Post by assafmo »

cranjice wrote: post #3

So I tried entering the term "pasta" and nothing happened. At first I thought it was broken, but then I entered pizza and there were results. An action button and some status detail (# of results found, etc.) might help the UI.

Weird, pasta is in the database. What happened to you is probably the slowness of the search. The database is loaded entirely to the client and searches are done in memory.

Right now it's pretty jumpy even on high-end hardware. I need to fix this.

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