Research
Macro partitioning
Ultra-processed foods drive obesity primarily through their high glycemic load and disrupted cellular structure, which accelerates digestion and hormonal response, rather than just their energy density.
Minimize ultra-processed foods, especially those high in carbohydrates. Whole foods retain cellular structures that slow digestion and blunt glycemic spikes, reducing the hormonal drive for fat storage.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The cellular structure of plants, including cellulose and soluble fibers, protects intrinsic carbohydrates from enzymatic digestion and diffusion to the gut wall. Extensive food processing disrupts this structure, resulting in acellular starches and sugars with markedly increased GL and adverse health effects.
Why this rating
Supported by Table 3 and references to studies on food structure and glycemic response.
Source
Competing paradigms of obesity pathogenesis: energy balance versus carbohydrate-insulin models
David S. Ludwig et al. · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2022
narrative_reviewCited 101×
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