The differences between men and women continue to amaze me. Not only do our emotions come from different realms of the universe causing women and men to think and respond differently, but it appears that our physical responses may stem from opposite ends of the galaxy as well. According to an Italian research, men and women were found to respond differently to foods containing a high glycemic index. Women consuming food with a high glycemic index were more likely to develop heart disease than men eating the same foods. It probably comes as no surprise to many of us women that eating foods with a high glycemic index did not impact men in the same way.
The Italian study consisted of 47,749 Italian adults. Both men and women participated in the study with a demographic of 15,171 males and 32,578 females. All participants were given questionnaires to detail their dietary habits. Researchers evaluated the responses to determine the amount of carbohydrates consumed, the glycemic index of the participants’ diet and the overall glycemic load. Participants were followed for an average of 7.9 years. At the midpoint of the study, participants were evaluated for heart disease. Researchers found that 305 men and 158 women had been diagnosed with heart disease.
The glycemic index is measurement of how quickly our bodies turn carbohydrates into glucose. The glycemic load is a measurement based on the food’s content of carbohydrates and the glycemic index. Eating a diet of foods which have a high glycemic index increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and (of course) may result in unwanted weight gain. In addition to raising your glucose levels, a diet with a high glycemic index raises your triglyceride levels and lowers your good cholesterol (HDL) levels which also increase your risk of heart disease.
Researchers found that a woman eating a diet high in carbohydrates in general was twice as likely to develop heart disease as their counterparts whose diets were low in carbohydrate consumption. One of the interesting items researchers discovered in this study was that while consuming carbohydrates raised the risk of heart disease in women, not all carbohydrates were created equal in terms of the impact on women’s glucose levels. Researchers found that when consuming foods with a high-glycemic index, the risk of developing heart disease was much greater than women who consumed carbohydrates which had a low-glycemic index. They concluded that the overall amount of carbohydrates that a woman consumes is not the culprit when it comes to raising the risk of developing heart disease but rather the consumption of carbohydrates which have a high-glycemic index.
Carbohydrate consumption, glycemic index and glycemic load did not appear to raise the male participants’ risk of developing heart disease. While more studies will be needed to confirm the findings, researchers theorized that the difference in the results between men and women are the result of the different way women metabolize glucose and lipoproteins. In the meantime, the next time you have an urge for a pastry with your morning coffee, you may just want to consider a slice of pound cake (low glycemic index) instead of that donut (high glycemic index)!
Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy heart.
Sources:
JAMA and Archives Journals (2010, April 12). Women who eat foods with high glycemic index may be at greater risk for heart disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 13, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2010/04/100412161917.htm
American Chemical Society (2006, November 6). Unlocking The Secrets Of Slowly Digestible Starch. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 13, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2006/11/061106095612.htm
Glycemic Index Food Chart, South Beach Diet Plan.com, http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/glycemicfoodchart.htm,