New Italian Study Finds Link Between Simple Carbs and Heart Disease in Women

Recently results of an extensive Italian study were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Those who conducted the study concluded that women who eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates like white rice, pasta, pizza and bread are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease as women whose diets are not as high in simple carbohydrates.

Background of the Italian Study

The Italian medical study had 47,000 participants of which 15,171 were men and 32,578 were women. The researchers studied the eating habits of the participants over multiple years by having them complete a dietary questionnaire listing the foods that they ate. According to study results, after seven years 463 of the participants in the study had developed coronary heart disease. The researchers concluded that women who had the highest GI levels had double the risk of heart disease.

What Do They Mean by High GI Levels?

Simple carbohydrates like white bread, pasta and white rice are high on the glycemic index, which means they have high GI levels. Foods with high GI levels release energy and raise blood glucose levels quickly. The Italian medical study has shown that women with the highest GI level (those who consumed diets highest in simple carbohydrates) had higher rates of cardiovascular disease. The study did not support the same results in men and further research will need to be conducted in order to find out why similar findings did not occur in the male participants.

What Foods Make Up a Heart Healthy Diet?

According to the experts at Cleveland's Mayo Clinic both women and men should consume a heart healthy diet. A heart healthy diet is one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grain and low fat dairy. A heart healthy diet also includes limiting the intake of saturated and polyunsaturated fats and Trans fats. In order to eat a heart healthy diet you should have a goal of consuming five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The experts at the Mayo Clinic also advocate eating a diet rich in Omega 3's. Foods such as salmon and trout are good choices. For those who do not like fish, taking a fish oil supplement can work well.

If you are a woman like me who enjoys nothing more than a piece of fresh baked bread with butter try replacing the white bread with whole wheat and multigrain varieties. White rice and white pasta can be replaced with brown rice and whole grain pasta. It takes a little while to get used to the switch, but once you do you won't miss those unhealthy simple carbs. Not only will your heart thank you for the change, you may find that your waistline shrinks as well.

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8615537.stm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041

http://topnews.us/content/216687-women-could-develop-heart-disease-diet-rich-carbohydrates-research-says