A diet full of processed foods is also associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis of 24 studies that included 125,000 adults found that those who ate the most low-fiber, easily digested foods such as white bread or potatoes were more likely to develop the metabolic condition. The researchers used a measure called glycemic load, that factors in how readily a food makes blood sugar rise and also how much one eats of it. Low-glycemic index foods such as fish, meat, cheese, nuts and high-fiber vegetables and fruits were not associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The CDC recently found that about 11 percent of the calories in the American diet are from fast food vendors that mainly sell high-glycemic index foods.
[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March, 2013]
The People's Perspective on Medicine