I am starting a low gi index diet and wondered if there is a general rule when looking on back of food labels to help determine if a food is low GI index or not? Certain amount of carbs or sugars per serving?

For instance, carnation sugarfree vanilla carmel coffee creamer?

Coolwhip?
Fat free dressings from kraft for salads?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Only carbohydrate foods have a GI at all and the higher the fat, protein, and/or acidic content, the lower the GI would be . . . I honestly don't think you will find listings anywhere for those foods you mention. Suffice it to say, they likely have a relatively low GI.

HOWEVER, that alone does not make any of them a good food choice. For example, most candy bars have a pretty low GI and Cool Whip is one of the nastiest Frankenfoods around -- it is mainly HFCS and TransFat, but it definitely would not have a high GI/GL in the small amounts you should be eating.

You might want to look on a GI/GL website such as . . . http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm . . . but i doubt you will find the specific things you are looking for.