Butternut squash on kitchen table
Image Credit: Szakaly/iStock/Getty Images Butternut squash has a moderate glycemic index ranking and a low glycemic load. It’s also low in calories, a good source of fiber and an excellent source of vitamins C and A, making it a healthful choice whether or not you need to watch your blood sugar.
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Glycemic Numbers
The glycemic index measures the effects of the carbohydrate in a given food on blood glucose levels. Foods are ranked on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the number, the more quickly a carbohydrate raises blood sugar. A more useful number is the glycemic load, which ranks food by both its glycemic index number and the amount of carbohydrate in an actual serving size of the food.
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Butternut's Glycemic Profile
Butternut squash has a glycemic index ranking of 51. Based on a serving size of 80 grams, or about 1/3 cup of boiled, mashed squash, butternut squash has a very low glycemic load of 3. These are numbers for plain squash. Adding sugar, butter or other ingredients can affect the vegetable’s glycemic index and load.
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references
Glycemic Index: Butternut Pumpkin, Boiled
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database: Squash, Winter, Butternut, Frozen, Cooked, Boiled, Without Salt
references
Glycemic Index: Butternut Pumpkin, Boiled
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database: Squash, Winter, Butternut, Frozen, Cooked, Boiled, Without Salt
Butternut squash on kitchen table
Image Credit: Szakaly/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Szakaly/iStock/Getty Images
Glycemic Index: Butternut Pumpkin, Boiled
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database: Squash, Winter, Butternut, Frozen, Cooked, Boiled, Without Salt
