(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Women, beware: A high-carb diet may double your
risk of heart disease.
New research illuminates the health risk that foods with a high glycemic
index pose to the body -- particularly in women. Carbohydrates with a high
glycemic index raise blood sugar levels at a faster rate than foods with a
low index. Foods that are high on the glycemic index tend to be white and
starchy, like potatoes, white bread and doughnuts.
A study out of Italy finds women who ate the highest glycemic load in their
diet had 2.24 times the risk of heart disease compared to women with the
lowest glycemic load. Carbohydrate intake, glycemic index and glycemic load
did not influence heart disease risk in men.
Researchers say while further studies are needed to better understand the
relationship between glycemic load and heart disease in women, sex-related
differences in lipoprotein and glucose metabolism may play a role.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, April 12, 2010
