Beets and carrots are higher in sugar than many other vegetables. They

Beets and carrots are higher in sugar than many other vegetables. They are also high on the glycemic index, a scale that measures the rate at which a food increases blood sugar levels. But while nutritionists usually advise people to avoid high-sugar and high-glycemic-index foods, despite any nutritional benefits they may confer, they are not very concerned about the consumption of beets and carrots.

Which of the following, if true, would best explain the nutritionists’ lack of concern?

A. Foods with added sugar are much higher in sugar, and have a larger effect on blood sugar levels, than do beets and carrots.
B. Most consumption of beets and carrots occurs in combination with higher-protein foods, which reduce blood sugar fluctuations.
C. Beets and carrots contain many nutrients, such as folate, beta-carotene, and vitamin C, of which many people fail to consume optimal quantities.
D. The glycemic index measures the extent to which a food increases blood sugar levels as compared to white bread, a food that is much less healthy than beets and carrots.
E. Nutritionists have only recently come to understand that a food’s effect on blood sugar levels is an important determinant of that food’s impact on a person’s health.


CR09090.01