EarthFresh
Farms of Waterdown is marketing a potato variety that has a lower
glycemic-index response and is therefore better for diabetics.
Joanne Lewis,
director of nutrition and diabetes education with the Canadian Diabetes
Association in Toronto, says the new variety, Carisma, is good not only for
diabetics, but also for everyone.
EarthFresh has
only limited quantities of Carisma this year, so they will be available in some
stores.
"The nice
thing about having a potato that's low glycemic index is that people lately
have become more careful about the type of carbohydrate that they consume and
potatoes sort of have been given a bad rap because it's considered like a white
starch," says Lewis.
"But
having a low glycemic index potato is kind of a win-win because you can still
basically enjoy your potatoes."
A food is
designated low glycemic if it is rated 55 or less on a scale of 100 when
compared to a standard — usually straight glucose or white bread.
Testers look at
the impact on blood sugars within a two-hour range from consumption in
comparison to the standard.
"What
that's demonstrating is that the blood sugars don't rise as much after
consumption as if you were to have another food with a higher glycemic index
and so there's a lot of health benefits to low glycemic index," says
Lewis.
