Women whose diets are high in processed carbohydrate-rich foods may be raising their risk of heart disease. Such foods have what nutrition experts call a "high glycemic index," and typical examples are white bread, cakes and cookies, and sugary drinks. Overweight women are judged to be especially at risk.
Dutch researchers followed 16,000 women for about nine years. At the beginning of the study, all were between 49 and 70 years old, and none had heart disease. After nine years, 556 had heart disease, and 243 had suffered strokes. The research team found a link between the women's medical conditions and carbohydrate-rich foods, even after adjusting for other risk factors.
"A high glycemic load diet increases LDL, the bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, and may lower the good, HDL cholesterol," said Joline Beulens, one of the study team.
Beulens said it is important to avoid refined carbohydrates. "For example, choose whole grain bread instead of white or whole meal," she said. "Choose porridge or muesli instead of cornflakes."
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