Final answer:
The glycemic index is a scale that ranks foods based on how quickly they raise blood glucose levels, with the Bread/Cereal/Rice/Pasta Group being a key category containing complex carbohydrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The glycemic index is a ranking of foods based on their simplicity. This index rates foods on a scale from 0 to 100, indicating how rapidly a particular food causes increases in blood glucose levels. Foods higher on the glycemic index can cause a faster spike in blood sugar, whereas foods lower on the index provide a more gradual increase.
Items such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta fall into the Bread/Cereal/Rice/Pasta Group, which consists of foods composed mainly of complex carbohydrates. These foods take longer to break down, leading to a slower release of glucose into the bloodstream.
In addition to providing a steady energy source, they also offer dietary fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and protein. It is recommended to consume six to eleven servings from this group each day.