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Q: What is the meaning of your logo ? A: It ranks foods by carbohydrate figure of merit
	C o l o r My Data™

The logo embodies the system the meal-planner uses to rank carbohydrates. Moderating the body's insulin response through informed choice gives us the best chance to control weight and diabetes. The types and portion sizes of the carbohydrates we choose have the greatest impact on insulin response. The logo is designed to rank foods based on their potential for moderating or elevating the insulin response.

How Does It Work ?

The database functions inside the meal-planner calculate a figure of merit for each of the nutrition facts and for carbohydrate, protein and fat in particular. The figure of merit is used as a guide to search the database for foods most able to correct a nutritional imbalance. Collectively, these are called decision aids. The decision aids assign a color to each food item based on its figure of merit as follows.

Blue

A figure of merit with a blue background indicates the food is an ideal choice for correcting a nutritional imbalance. These are the ingredients that belong in a healthy diet.

Red

A figure of merit with a red background indicates the food is a likely cause of a nutritional imbalance. These are the ingredients that require the greatest portion control.

Yellow

A figure of merit with a yellow background indicates the food neither causes nor helps correct a nutritional imbalance. In some cases, these foods may need portion control, especially when other foods are causing an imbalance.

Green

Green is a blend of yellow and blue. It helps with balance but not as much as blue. When all the figures of merit are green or blue, the meal-plan is well balanced.

Orange

Orange is a blend of yellow and red. It contributes to an imbalance but not as much as red. Use portion control with these foods.

Pyramid Shape

The shape of the pyramid signifies the importance of portion control. The narrower the color band, the more important it is to exercise portion control.

Number Ranges

The number ranges inside the logo are the figure of merit for carbohydrate. The software calculates the carbohydrate figure of merit by dividing grams of total carbohydrate by grams of fiber. When you shop for groceries, look at the food label and calculate the carbohydrate figure of merit; then decide the appropriateness of the food in your diet. Color My Data uses the following definitions for essential, neutral and low-fiber carbohydrate:

essential (green or blue) - contains 25% or more fiber (ratio < 4:1).
neutral (yellow) - contains between 12.5% and 25% fiber (ratio of 4:1 to 8:1).
low-fiber (orange or red) - contains less than 12.5% fiber (ratio > 8:1).

Why Is This Figure of Merit Useful ?

Fiber is not absorbed into the bloodstream. It follows that foods with the highest percentage of fiber in the total carbohydrate will have the lowest glycemic index and by consequence the greatest moderating influence on insulin response. Most people don't shop with handbooks of glycemic index helping them make their decision. However, if all they need is a food label and the ability to divide a one or two digit number by a one digit number, then the logo provides a means to infer the glycemic index.

Where Did This Figure Of Merit Come From ?

For an 1800 calorie diet, 45% of calories from carbohydrate is 202 grams. A high fiber diet has at least 30 grams of fiber. This translates to a goal of 15% of fiber from carbohydrate (30/200 x 100%). To simplify the math the larger number (grams of total carbohydrate) is divided by the smaller number (grams of fiber) to yield the figure of merit. Like in golf, the lower this value the better. The ratio 1:1 is 100% fiber. The ratio 6.67:1 corresponds to 15% fiber. As fiber goes to 0, the figure of merit goes to infinity.

Are There Any Other Benefits ?

YES !!! The foods with the blue and green carbohydrate figure of merit generally score very well with vitamins and minerals. These are the very foods that are dense in antioxidants and micronutrients as well.

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