Looking inside the arteries of students eating a variety of foods, researchers visualized exactly what happens inside the body when the wrong foods are eaten. They found that foods with a high glycemic index distended brachial arteries for several hours.
Elasticity of arteries anywhere in the body can be a measure of heart health. But when aggravated over time, a sudden expansion of the artery wall can cause a number of negative health effects, including reduced elasticity, which can cause heart disease or sudden death.
“We’ve explained for the first time how high glycemic carbs can affect the progression of heart disease,” say the researchers. During the consumption of foods high in sugar, there appears to be a temporary and sudden dysfunction in the endothelial walls of the arteries.
Talk to me about healthy snacks and/or alternate bar ideas to better maintain your energy level and your heart health. For example, there are delicious, fructose-free snack bars that boast nutritious whey, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, glutamine, phosphatidyl choline and antioxidants for immune support and quick, satisfying nutrition. In addition, they may support improved blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity with a low carbohydrate load, as well as prebiotic sweeteners like maltitol and xylitol that have minimal blood glucose effects.