When you are trying to cut carbohydrates to improve your health, even a little bit can count.
That's what Japanese researchers demonstrated in a small experiment with a group of 41 patients with type 2 diabetes who wore continuous glucose monitors. All they changed in the participants' diets was the carb count of the bread they consumed at each meal, swapping a low-carb version for the normal, high-carb bread.
The result? The participants' blood sugars and lipid markers improved, as well as other markers of pancreatic function and metabolism. The researchers concluded: "These results indicate that changing only the carbohydrate content of the staple food has benefits on glucose and lipid metabolism."
Pubmed: Low-carbohydrate diet by staple change attenuates postprandial GIP and CPR levels in type 2 diabetes patientsWhile the researchers did not divulge their recipe for low-carb bread, Diet Doctor has more than a dozen tasty low-carb bread recipes that can help you swap out your high-carb versions and get your carb load down.
In fact, we have low-carb versions of many favorite high-carb staples like bread, rice, potatoes and pasta.
Many people find that once they adapt to a low-carb way of eating - which satisfies hunger, keeps blood sugar stable and cravings under control - they lose their need and desire for those old, high-carb staples.
If you are looking for other ways to reduce your carbohydrate load, check out our popular guide, "Six steps down the carb mountain" which will show you other easy ways to get rid of extra sugar and starch in your diet.
So, whether you go in big or go in small, it's all good news: cutting carbs wherever you can makes a positive impact on your blood sugar.
