Low glycemic index (GI)
foods have been shown to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).1, 2 Legumes, also known as pulses (dried beans, chick peas, and lentils), were the first class of
foods recognized as having low GI values3 and have been recommended in many national DM guidelines.4 - 6 However, few studies have assessed the effect of legumes in DM, 7 even fewer have documented the quantity used to improve glycemic control, and none have reported their effect on cardiovascular risk.8 Not only are legumes
good sources of slowly digested starch, but they are also
relatively high in fiber and vegetable protein.
Since legumes, nuts, and seeds are among our
best WHFoods
sources for magnesium and since these
foods can usually be stored for
relatively long periods of time, stability problems with magnesium in stored
foods are not typically a concern.