Slowly digested carbs 'reduce signs of obesity'
Small changes add up to big differences and, if you change one thing this January, try looking at your intake of carbs. Researchers found low-GI foods, such as wholemeal bread, reduce inflammation that is associated with disease and obesity.
The study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar.
Low-GI meal plans are recommended by slimming clubs such as Rosemary Conley for slow-release energy and to help you feel full. This research also found a wholegrain-rich diet also reduced a biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein by about 22%, based ib a stydy of 80 healthy people, half of whom were overweight or obese.
"Glycemic load" refers to how the intake of carbohydrates, adjusted for total grams of carbohydrate, affects blood-sugar levels. Lentils or pinto beans have a glycemic load that is approximately three times lower than instant mashed potatoes, for example, and therefore won't cause blood-sugar levels to rise as quickly. Other low-GI foods include kidney beans and fruits such as apples, oranges, grapefruit and pears.
"This finding is important and clinically useful since C-reactive protein is associated with an increased risk for many cancers as well as cardiovascular disease," said lead author Marian Neuhouser.
