Scientists finally discover how white bread causes heart disease

White bread, cornflakes and other foods high in carbohydrates can cause heart disease – and now scientists know why. 

Processed ‘white’ foods and drinks such as sodas have a high glycemic index, and they put stress on the arteries for several hours afterwards.  Over time, the arteries’ elasticity weakens, and it can lead to heart disease or even sudden death from heart attack.

Researchers from the Tel Aviv University proved how high-glycemic foods affect artery health when they gave different foods to four groups of volunteers.  They were either given cornflakes, sugar, bran flakes or water, and only those who drank the water had normal arteries afterwards.  The rest suffered poorer arterial functioning, and for several hours.  Arterial stress was especially evident in those who had been given the cornflakes or the sugar, both high-glycemic foods. 
(Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2009; 53: 2283-7).