Are you one of those people who can't resist Samosa, India's beloved snack? Are cakes and cookies your comfort food? Then it's time to read this report.
An unprecedented clinical trial has revealed a link between foods rich in advanced glycation end products (AGEs), such as ultra-processed foods and fast foods, and India's status as the diabetes capital of the world.
A government-funded study conducted by researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) recently found that International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition.
Let's take a closer look.
How was the research conducted?
To conduct this clinical trial, 38 adults who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes were divided into two groups.
One group was given a low AGE diet for 12 weeks, and the second group was given a high AGE diet for the same period of time.
AGEs are harmful compounds that are formed when proteins or fats combine with sugars in the bloodstream in a process called glycation. health line.
High AGE foods are foods that have been prepared using methods such as baking, frying, or shallow frying. Low AGE foods also include foods prepared by boiling or steaming.
What we learned from the research
The study found that participants who consumed low-AGE foods had improved insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of future type 2 diabetes compared to the high-AGE food group.
Insulin sensitivity refers to how well cells respond to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar (sugar) levels.
After 12 weeks, the researchers found that the insulin oral diathesis index, which measures insulin sensitivity, was significantly elevated in the low-AGE diet group compared to the group consuming the high-AGE diet.
This study also shows that consuming a diet high in AGEs can cause inflammation in the body, which is the root cause of diabetes.
“This is because glycation, a non-enzymatic chemical process in which sugar molecules attach to protein or lipid molecules, can cause harmful reactions in the body,” the paper says.
Foods that contain a lot of AGEs include potato chips, fried chicken, samosas, pakorabacon, beef, baked goods such as cookies and cakes, processed foods such as roasted nuts, sunflower seeds, and mayonnaise.
Researchers say that overweight people (BMI over 25) and obese people (BMI over 30) can reduce oxidative stress in their bodies by consuming foods low in AGEs. Masu. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants that can cause inflammation and cell damage.
“This dietary intervention may reduce the burden of obesity-related type 2 diabetes,” the study authors note.
Why is research important?
This is a groundbreaking study that explores how a diet rich in AGEs is fueling India's diabetes crisis.
“For the first time, a study from India reveals that a low-AGE diet may be a potential strategy to reduce diabetes risk,” the researchers said.
Previous studies have linked consumption of highly processed foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and AGEs to an increased risk of chronic disease.
The ICMR study fills the data gap on AGEs in the Indian diet. Researchers say this data is needed because Indians are more susceptible to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman of MDRF and one of the authors of the paper, said: the print Understanding foods high in AGEs and the cooking processes that lead to high levels of AGEs could help fight India's diabetes crisis.
According to a 2021 study, 10.1 billion Indians have diabetes. “The increasing prevalence of diabetes in India is mainly caused by obesity, lack of physical activity and consumption of an unhealthy diet rich in AGEs,” he said. NDTV.
Dr Mohan said the study results show that throughout the Indian context, healthy foods and unprocessed items such as fruits and vegetables are low in AGEs.
“Also, if you boil food without frying, baking, roasting, or adding lots of oil, Ghee Or adding other fats can keep the AGEs of the diet low,” Dr. Mohan told Digital News Media.
“By adopting a healthier diet such as non-starchy green leafy vegetables and fruit, boiled rather than fried foods, and reducing baked goods and sweet foods, you can eat a diet that is low in dietary AGEs. “It can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes,” he reportedly said. Hinduism.
Based on opinions from agents