Brunswick are creating a tuber to help diabetics and dieters.
The Fredericton branch of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has developed 13 new potato selections and sent them for industry trials.
One of the potatoes has a lower glycemic index (GI) than ordinary potatoes. John Morrison, spokesman for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, said research has shown low-glycemic diets help to manage diabetes and weight loss.
Dr. Benoit Bizimungu, a breeder at the Potato Research Centre, said a low-glycemic potato could create a niche market for farmers.
"The benefit of lower GI, in potatoes and other foods, is that they don't cause spikes in blood glucose levels. Instead, you have a steady release into the bloodstream," he said.
Mary McKenna teaches nutrition at the University of New Brunswick. She said a diet with low-glycemic index food has benefits for everyone.
"If blood glucose levels go up too high, then the glucose starts participating in reactions that it shouldn't be participating in. Having that blood glucose level go up slowly, then insulin gets released, then it goes back down — nothing is jarring the system. That is better for all of us," she said.
Industry to test potatoes
The next step is for the potato industry to test the new spuds and see what they think.
Other new breeds include potatoes for the chip and french fry business, a red-flesh potato, and one high in starch for industrial starch use.
Bizimungu is using new technologies to speed the development of potato variety.
A near infrared spectrometer and a rheometer at the Potato Research Centre allow scientists to measure starch content and composition of potatoes with a simple test, cutting years of trial-and-error that was required to identify desirable characteristics.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/02/15/nb-potato-for-diabetics.html
Graham
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4 comments:
Spuds, spuds have you lost the plot lad. Get a grip, the satan food must be put behind you. Low GI spuds, good grief. You will be tucking into toast next !
Eddie
http://potatopower.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-never-need-to-graze-interweb-for-very.html
Stand and tremble !
I read this slightly differently !
As the article states the need for Clycemic Control has been recognised by the Very Farma group that it affects .......... which is good. The message is getting home.
Why cant the "Experts see it ??? "
The downside is that if Indeed you are still inclined to eat tatties as a regular part of your diet then the Lo Starch variety will probably only encourage you to eat more of it for that very reason which is obviously self defeating.
WTF! I would not be were I am today if it were not for starch, leave our Tatties alone.
Potato power
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