Meet Us at Experimental Biology Mitch Kanter, PhD, a scientific advisor to APRE, will be attending Experimental Biology (EB) in Chicago later this month. If you are planning to attend EB and would like to learn more about APRE’s research program, or if you have ideas for future science needs on the roles of potatoes in healthful lifestyles, please email us at research@apre.org. Potatoes May Help Boost Alertness Among Tweens and Young Teens Researchers at Ryerson University recently investigated how different carbohydrate sources (50 grams each of mashed potatoes, French fries, hash browns, rice, or beans) consumed at breakfast may impact the cognitive performance and satiety of tweens and young teens (ages nine to 14). The results, which will be presented at Experimental Biology later this month, indicate that potatoes (in the form of hash browns, mashed potatoes and French fries) may contribute to increased alertness when compared to beans or meal skipping. Additionally, mashed potatoes increased satiety more than the other carbohydrate sources studied. The study’s findings will be presented on Sunday, April 23 between 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm in Hall F, poster board #C32. This study was supported by a research grant from APRE. Lee JJ, et al. Effects of Potatoes and Other Carbohydrates Consumed at Breakfast on Cognition, Glycemia and Satiety in Children. To be presented at Experimental Biology 2017, abstract #3224. Glycemic Index May Be an Unreliable Marker of Blood Glucose Levels A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that glycemic index (GI) may be an unreliable marker of blood glucose levels when carbohydrates are consumed with protein, as part of a mixed meal. More specifically, the study found that glycemic responses were reduced, and measured meal GI and glycemic load (GL) were lower, when carbohydrate-containing foods were consumed in combination with protein, but not with carbohydrate-, fat-, or fiber-containing foods. According to the researchers, “these findings suggest that the use of individual glycemic values to calculate GI and GL values of meals containing equal amounts of carbohydrate and protein may overestimate the actual effect and, thus, may provide uncertainty regarding the prediction of meal GI and GL values.” The findings of this study add to a growing body of literature that shows the glycemic index of individual foods, such as potatoes, does not predict glucose or insulin responses to a mixed meal in children or adults. Meng H, et al. Effect of macronutrients and fiber on postprandial glycemic responses and meal glycemic index and glycemic load value determinations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017; 116.144162. Potatoes Are a Core Component of the Mediterranean Diet A Mediterranean-style diet – which traditionally includes potatoes, whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil and fish – is widely estasblished in scientific literature as a healthful eating plan. Research has associated a Mediterranean-style diet with benefits including the prevention of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, certain types of cancer and age-related cognitive decline. Despite scientific knowledge on the healthfulness of the Mediterranean-style diet, more education is needed to promote this research and adherence to this style of eating, even within the Mediterranean region. For example, one recent study revealed that only 23 percent of the study participants in southern Croatia, an area that traditionally has followed the Mediterranean diet, were adherent to the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is one of three eating patterns recommended by the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). In addition to being a core component of the Mediterranean-style diet, potatoes can also healthfully fit into the Healthy U.S.-Style and Healthy Vegetarian eating patterns also recommended in the 2015-2020 DGAs. Kolčić I, et al. Mediterranean diet in the southern Croatia - does it still exist? Croat Med J. 2016;57:415-24. For more nutrition information about the role of potatoes in healthful lifestyles, please visit www.APRE.org. |