Consumption of ultra-processed and fried foods can lead to chronic inflammation in the body, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in overweight/obese Asian-Indian adults, according to the latest study by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, an ICMR Centre for Advanced Research in Diabetes. The first-of-its-kind study in India has shed light on the consumption of fried and ultra-processed foods that are rich in Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). AGEs are a group of compounds that accumulate in the body over time and are associated with chronic diseases.
Dr V Mohan, chairman of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, and Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre explained that the AGEs are formed in the blood. "But now we know that diet can also play a role in this. So there are diets which have high AGEs and diets which have low AGEs," Dr Mohan said, reported PTI.
Diets with high AGEs include red meat, french fries and other fried foods, bakery products, paratha, samosa and sugary foods among others. Also Read: Refined Oil Vs Cold Pressed Oil: Which Is Healthier For Cooking? Expert Weighs In The government-funded study has shown that low-AGE diets could be a potential strategy to reduce diabetes risk. Low-AGE food includes green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish, boiled items and brown rice, Dr V Mohan said.
The study also noted that cooking methods like frying, roasting and grilling elevate AGE levels while boiling keeps them in check. The study included 38 overweight .