A meal consisting of low-glycemic-index foods is almost always a healthier choice than, say, a bagel covered with jam. Because low-GI foods take longer to digest, they are less likely to cause an overflow in your glycogen stores and be stored as fat. As good as this is to know, there is actually another benefit to sticking to foods containing slower-digesting carbs, and it has nothing to do with your abs.

A study from Lund University in Sweeden revealed that consuming a low-GI meal may improve concentration and short-term memory. To start your day out right, you may want to pass on the white bread toast and instead opt for steel-cut oats.

Always bear in mind that avoiding low-GI carbs is not Atkins-esque, which preaches the abandonment of carbs of all kinds. A dietary deficiency in good sources of carbohydrates (eg. whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits) will leave you feeling lethargic, and will also affect digestion, muscle-building, and weight management.