Whole grains good for glucose

In this new study, 10 men (average age 21 years) ate an evening meal of white bread or cooked barley kernels. The next morning they were given a glucose drink and had various blood tests including measurement of glucose and insulin levels. Results showed:

• Glucose levels were 29% lower in men who ate the barley compared with men who ate the white bread.
• The men who ate the barley had higher insulin sensitivity (which means their bodies were better able to handle glucose) compared with men who ate the white bread.
• Blood tests that measure inflammation were higher in the men who ate white bread compared with men who ate the barley.

Tips for healthy eating

• Choose healthy carbohydrates. Include a variety of healthy carbohydrates in your daily diet including whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, and avoid highly processed foods.
• Choose whole rather than refined grains. Whole grains such as barley, brown rice, and whole wheat bread have more nutrients, protein, and fibre than refined grains such as white rice or white bread.
• Limit sugar. Avoid high sugar foods that offer few nutrients. Also limit sweets, processed foods, fizzy drinks, and other high sugar drinks.
• Choose fruit or vegetables for snacks. It may be hard to change habits at first but sticking with it can pay off. Choose fruit or vegetables for snacks instead of processed snacks which usually contain high amounts of sugar, fat and/or salt.
• See a doctor. If you already have diabetes or other chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, check with your doctor about a diet that is right for you.

(Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:90–7)