..and especially for those of diabetics. With cardiovascular disease being an increased risk for diabetics, controlling blood sugar levels by following a low glycemic index (GI) diet is already recommended, and as beans have one of the lowest GI values it makes sense to include them in the diet. But how does eating beans compare to eating other low GI foods such as whole wheat?
A group of 121 participants with type two diabetes were split into two groups, one increasing bean or legume consumption by one cup per day, the other increasing consumption of whole wheat for a duration of three months. The results? Both groups showed a reduction in coronary heart disease risk but the reduction in the legume group was larger than the whole wheat group.