A diet high in carbohydrates but low on the glycemic index,
which measures the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar
levels, may help promote weight loss, decrease body fat and
reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to a report in the
July 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals. Carbohydrates have been at the center of
recent debates about the best diet for weight loss, according to
background information in the article. Public attention has
focused on lowglycemic index and high-protein regimens.
Clinicians continue to recommend low-fat, high-carbohydrate
plans; concerned that many sources of protein are high in
saturated fats, physicians and nutrition experts have called for
more research into the benefits and risks of each diet. The
theory behind lowglycemic index diets holds that rapidly
digested, highglycemic index carbohydrates cause fluctuations in
blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels, contributing to hunger
and preventing the breakdown of fat. Joanna Mc