Diet Low on the Glycemic Index Aids Weight Loss in People With Heart Disease
People with heart disease who eat a low-glycemic-index diet with lots of leafy greens, whole grains, legumes, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables may find it easier to lose excess weight and slim down around their midsection, a small clinical trial suggests.The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates from zero (foods with no glucose at all) to 100 (sweets and drinks that contain nothing but glucose). Simple carbohydrates that have more glucose are digested rapidly, causing dramatic spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates with less glucose are digested more slowly and help maintain steadier blood sugar levels throughout the day.All the people in the new clinical trial had coronary artery disease, which happens when plaque accumulation causes the heart’s major blood vessels to narrow and stiffen, limiting blood flow. Participants…