Low Glycemic Load Diet Reduces Biomarker Of Inflammation – And Risk Of Chronic Disease

Overweight and obese individuals who stuck to a “low glycemic load” diet of grains, legumes and other slowly-digested, high-fiber foods experienced a significant reduction in a biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein, a U.S. study has found. The biomarker is associated with chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hardening of the arteries. For the 28-day study, 80 healthy males, half of whom were obese or overweight, ate either a high glycemic load diet (carbohydrates that are typically low-fiber, highly processed carbs) or a low glycemic load diet (carbohydrates higher in fiber). Among participants who followed the low glycemic load diet, the inflammation biomarker was reduced by 22 percent.