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Informing food choices and health outcomes by use of the dietary glycemic index.
Chiu, CJ, Liu, S, Willett, WC, Wolever, TM, Brand-Miller, JC, Barclay, AW, Taylor, A
Nutrition reviews. 2011;(4):231-42
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Abstract
Considerable epidemiologic evidence links consuming lower glycemic index (GI) diets with good health, particularly upon aging. The GI is a kinetic parameter that reflects the ability of carbohydrate (CHO) contained in consumed foods to raise blood glucose in vivo. Newer nutritional, clinical, and experimental data link intake of lower dietary GI foods to favorable outcomes of chronic diseases, and compel further examination of the record. Based upon the new information there are two specific questions: 1) should the GI concept be promoted as a way to prolong health, and 2) should food labels contain GI information? Further, what are the remaining concerns about methodological issues and consistency of epidemiological data and clinical trials that need to be resolved in order to exploit the benefits of consuming lower GI diets? These issues are addressed in this review.
2.
Overview and perspective in human nutrition.
Willett, WC
Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition. 2008;:1-4
Abstract
For the last decade, the focus of nutritional advice for prevention of chronic disease has been to limit or reduce total fat intake and to consume large amounts of carbohydrate. However, this advice is inconsistent with many lines of evidence indicating that unsaturated fats have beneficial metabolic effects and reduce risk of coronary heart disease. More recent evidence has also shown that the large majority of carbohydrates in Western diets, consisting of refined starches and sugars, have adverse metabolic effects and increase risks of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, a major opportunity for health improvement has been lost by failing to distinguish healthy from unhealthy forms of carbohydrates and fats. Recent analyses indicate that moderate changes in diet, together with regular physical activity and not smoking, can prevent the large majority of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. These findings have substantial relevance for many populations in Asia, where incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly.