Nabulsi Kunafa
The Levant's crowd favourite: golden shredded pastry with local cheese and hot sugar syrup. Its glycemic index is high (72), and it raises blood sugar quickly because it soaks up so much syrup.
Glycemic index
Glycemic load
Calories
Protein
💡 Smart Nutritional Guidance
Consumption advice
If you have diabetes, have two small pieces at most, and ask the sweet shop to halve the syrup or replace it with a syrup sweetened with natural stevia.
Best preparation methods
The protein of the kunafa cheese partly helps slow the starch compared with sweets made with processed cream; drink a large glass of water afterwards.
Important Nutritional Note
For people with diabetes or insulin resistance, it is always recommended to consider the total glycemic load (GL) of the meal rather than relying on the glycemic index alone.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per typical portion (100 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 385 kcal | 385 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g | 8 g |
| Carbohydrate | 47 g | 47 g |
| Available carbohydrate | 45.8 g | 45.8 g |
| Fat | 19 g | 19 g |
| Dietary fibre | 1.2 g | 1.2 g |
The typical portion is approximate, for comparison purposes.
Comparison & smarter alternatives
Among the foods in Sweets & desserts with a glycemic index (11), it ranks 11 (lowest first).
Lower-GI alternatives:
Frequently asked questions
Is Nabulsi Kunafa good for weight loss?
It can fit a balanced plan with portion control: a 100 g portion gives 385 kcal, and what matters most is your total daily intake and the rest of the meal.
How does Nabulsi Kunafa affect blood sugar?
Its glycemic index is 72 (High), a clinically reviewed estimate rather than a laboratory measurement. A typical 100 g portion has a glycemic load of 33 (High), so it is best to reduce or split the portion and combine it with protein and fibre.
What is the nutritional value of a typical portion of Nabulsi Kunafa?
A typical 100 g portion of Nabulsi Kunafa provides about 385 kcal, 8 g protein, 47 g carbohydrate, 19 g fat and 1.2 g fibre.
Reviewed by the WiBo Health medical team · Last reviewed 13 October 2026
Disclaimer: This guidance is for nutritional lifestyle orientation and does not constitute a diagnostic medical device under EU Regulation MDR 2017/745.