Why sugary carbs might hurt your heart
A prospective study of dietary glycemic load, carbohydrate intake, and risk of coronary heart disease in US women.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Glycemic index was a better predictor of heart disease than classifying carbs as ‘simple’ or ‘complex’.
For decades, nutrition labels and guidelines used ‘simple vs. complex’ carbs—this study shows that classification is outdated and misleading. A complex carb like white rice spikes blood sugar more than a simple one like fruit.
Practical Takeaways
Swap white bread, sugary cereals, and pastries for whole grains, legumes, and non-starchy vegetables to lower your glycemic load.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Glycemic index was a better predictor of heart disease than classifying carbs as ‘simple’ or ‘complex’.
For decades, nutrition labels and guidelines used ‘simple vs. complex’ carbs—this study shows that classification is outdated and misleading. A complex carb like white rice spikes blood sugar more than a simple one like fruit.
Practical Takeaways
Swap white bread, sugary cereals, and pastries for whole grains, legumes, and non-starchy vegetables to lower your glycemic load.
Publication
Journal
The American journal of clinical nutrition
Year
2000
Authors
Simin Liu, W. Willett, M. Stampfer, F. Hu, M. Franz, Laura K Sampson, C. Hennekens, J. Manson
Related Content
Claims (8)
Eating foods that spike your blood sugar quickly may double your chance of getting heart disease, even if you don’t have other risk factors like high blood pressure or smoking.
Eating a lot of foods that spike your blood sugar quickly may raise your chance of getting heart disease—even if you’re otherwise healthy or don’t smoke or have high blood pressure.
Women who weigh more or have a BMI of 23 or higher may be more at risk for heart disease if they eat a lot of foods that spike their blood sugar quickly.
For middle-aged women in the US, how quickly carbs raise blood sugar (glycemic index) might be a better clue about heart disease risk than just whether the carbs are 'simple' or 'complex'.
Women in their 40s to 60s who eat a lot of foods that spike blood sugar quickly—like white bread, sugary snacks, and refined carbs—are more likely to develop heart disease than those who eat fewer of these foods, with the biggest eaters having almost twice the risk.