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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 Why the disparity? High-glycemic index carbs are known to spur a big spike in blood sugar, and the researchers believe that a meal rich in low-glycemic carbs, which elicit a lower blood sugar response, may boost the body's use of body fat for burning rather than for blood sugar.
Each breakfast totaled about 265 calories, but the low-glycemic meal had more fiber, the team noted.
The study was funded by Mars UK, the food and candy company. It is published in the May issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
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The take-home message, according to Stevenson: To burn more fat, focus on the low-glycemic foods. "LGI foods tend to be whole grains, porridge, some whole grain cereals, soy and linseed bread," she said.
The new study makes sense and builds on previous research, said Barry Braun, director of the Energy Metabolism Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who has done his own research on post-workout eating.
While Stevenson's study findings are limited to healthy-weight women, Braun said he suspects it will also hold true for those hoping to shed excess pounds. "Eating large amounts of high-glycemic carbs right before exercise is probably as detrimental for overweight people as it is for normal-weight," he said.
Like Stevenson, he said he is talking about pre-exercise meals for those who work out at less than triathlon intensity. "There may be a place for these high-glycemic carbs" when an athlete needs high energy immediately, such as before running a marathon, Braun said.
Last year, Braun's own research found that the type of food eaten after exercise can make a difference in weight control for everyday exercisers.
Based on his studies, Braun suggests that eating a meal low in carbohydrates after working out at moderate intensity, is potentially better for weight control than eating a meal high in carbs.
More information
There's more on carbohydrates at Harvard University.
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