Glycemic Load (GL) Calculator
Glycemic Load (GL) factors in both how fast a food raises blood sugar (GI) and how much carb you actually eat — a more reliable indicator than GI alone. Enter GI and carbs per serving for an instant GL and classification.
Please enter a valid number
Glycemic Load
21.6
High GL
Per-serving scale
≤ 10 Medium GL
11–19 High GL
≥ 20
Cut-offs: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Formula
GL = (GI × grams of carbs per serving) ÷ 100
- · Low GL ≤ 10, Medium 11–19, High ≥ 20 (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
- · Daily total GL guideline: under 100 is considered low, over 120 high (typical adult).
- · GL changes with portion size: watermelon has high GI (72) but only 6 g carbs per serving, so its GL is just 4 — low GL.
- · Use net carbs (subtract fibre), since fibre is not digested.
- · Pairing carbs with protein, fat or fibre (nuts, cheese, vegetables) blunts the post-meal blood-sugar spike.
- · Individual response still varies with gut microbiome, activity level and cooking method — treat GL as a guide, not a verdict.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between GI and GL?
GI (Glycemic Index) only measures how fast a fixed 50 g carb portion raises blood sugar. GL (Glycemic Load) folds in how much carb you actually eat. A slice of watermelon has high GI but very few carbs (low GL), while a bowl of white rice has medium GI but many carbs (high GL) — GL captures that difference.
Should people with diabetes or trying to lose weight choose low-GL foods?
Generally yes — but it doesn't mean fully avoiding medium- or high-GL foods. Studies link low-GL eating to better blood-sugar control, lower HbA1c, and improved satiety. The practical approach: build meals around low-GL staples (legumes, vegetables, whole grains, nuts), keep high-GL portions small, and pair them with protein or fibre rather than eating refined carbs alone. For an individual plan, consult a doctor or registered dietitian.
Where can I look up GI values for foods?
The most authoritative source is the international GI database maintained by the University of Sydney (glycemicindex.com), with measured values for 2,000+ foods. Harvard's Nutrition Source and diabetes associations (ADA, Diabetes UK) also publish handy GI/GL tables of common foods.
Related tools
BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator
Enter height and weight to get your BMI and category (underweight / normal / overweight / obese).
BMR & TDEE Calculator
Estimate daily BMR and TDEE using Mifflin-St Jeor or Harris-Benedict, with calorie targets for cutting and bulking.
Body Fat Calculator (US Navy method)
Estimate body fat percentage using the US Navy circumference formula (neck, waist, plus hip for women).
Sleep Cycle Calculator
Suggest ideal bedtimes or wake times based on 90-minute sleep cycles, so you wake up between cycles instead of mid-deep-sleep.
Daily Water Intake Calculator
Estimate daily water intake from body weight, exercise duration and climate so you stay hydrated without overdoing it.
Running Pace Calculator
Compute pace per km / per mile from distance and time, or project finish time from a target pace — covers 5K, 10K, half- and full-marathon distances.
Heart Rate Zone Calculator
Compute 5 training heart rate zones from age and optional resting HR using the Karvonen formula (Z1 warm-up to Z5 max effort).
Lean Body Mass (LBM) Calculator
Estimate lean body mass (LBM), fat mass and body fat % from height, weight and sex using the Boer, Hume and James formulas.
Daily Macros Calculator (carbs / protein / fat)
Split a daily calorie target into grams of carbs, protein and fat at any macro ratio.
One-Rep Max (1RM) Calculator
Estimate one-rep max from a sub-maximal lift (weight × reps) with Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi and Lander formulas, plus a 50–95% intensity training table.
Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator
Estimate body surface area from height and weight using the Mosteller, Du Bois, Haycock and Boyd formulas — commonly used in drug-dosing, chemotherapy and cardiac-index calculations.
Race Time Predictor (Riegel Formula)
Project a finish time at one distance from a known time at another distance using the classic Riegel formula T₂ = T₁ × (D₂/D₁)^1.06.
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculator
Compute mean arterial pressure from systolic and diastolic blood pressure with clinical bands and pulse-pressure context: MAP = DBP + (SBP − DBP)/3.
Pack-Year (Smoking History) Calculator
Compute cumulative smoking exposure in pack-years from cigarettes per day and years smoked, with lung-cancer-screening thresholds.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) Calculator
Divide waist by hip circumference and check the WHO risk bands — a quick screen for central obesity and cardiovascular risk.
Exercise Calorie Burn (MET) Calculator
Use METs, body weight and duration to estimate calories burned for common activities (running, hiking, swimming, cycling and more).
Caffeine Half-Life Calculator
Pick the dose (mg) and the time you drank it; the calculator uses the standard ~5-hour caffeine half-life to project how many milligrams remain hour-by-hour, including the level at bedtime.
Body Adiposity Index (BAI) Calculator
Bergman’s BAI estimates body-fat percentage from hip circumference and height alone (BAI = hip ÷ height^1.5 − 18) — no scale required.
TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) Calculator
Enter age, sex, height and weight to compare all five activity levels side-by-side — instantly see the daily calories you need to maintain weight.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Calculator
Estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC %) with the Widmark formula from drinks consumed, body weight, sex and hours elapsed — and compare against the Hong Kong 0.05% drink-driving limit.
VO₂ Max Calculator (Cooper 12-Minute Run Test)
Enter your distance covered in a 12-minute run to estimate VO₂ max and read off the age/sex fitness category.
Daily Protein Intake Calculator
Enter your bodyweight and training goal to get a science-backed daily protein range (g/day) and per-meal split, based on RDA, ISSN and ACSM/AND/DC guidelines.
Ovulation & Fertility Window Calculator
Enter your last menstrual period (LMP) date and average cycle length to estimate the next ovulation day, fertile window and next period.
Total Body Water (TBW) Calculator
Estimate total body water (in litres) and the percentage of body weight using the Watson formula based on age, sex, height and weight.
Steps to Distance & Calories Calculator
Enter step count, height (auto-derives stride length) and body weight to estimate distance walked (km / mi), stride length, calories burned and your daily activity tier.
HbA1c ↔ Average Blood Glucose (eAG) Converter
Convert HbA1c (%) to estimated average glucose (eAG) in both mg/dL and mmol/L — and back again — to help diabetes and prediabetes patients read their lab reports.