An Italian study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday (April 12) warns women about the danger of eating too much white bread. Women who eat lots of carbohydrate rich in sugar, like white bread and starchy foods, are more at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
La Fondazione IRCCS Instituo Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan followed the eating habits of 15,171 women and 32,578 women.
By analyzing responses to detailed questionnaires, the researchers determined the amount of carbohydrates and the glycerol index of food that study participants ate. The study found that the higher the glycerol index, the higher these foods increase blood sugar levels quickly.
Scientists wrote Monday (April 12) that "a high consumption of carbohydrates from high glycemic index foods, rather than the overall quantity of carbohydrates consumed, appears to influence the risk of developing coronary heart disease."
The quarter of women who ate the most carbohydrates was twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease, whereas among men, this risk was not present.
Besides the blood sugar increase, scientists noted an increase in harmful fats that lower good cholesterol levels which expose people to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.