Consider, for example, the carbohydrates which are whole versus those which are refined.  The refined products, such as many cereal items, process out much of the fiber; and it's been shown that "higher consumption of whole grains (has been) associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease."

Then there is the more recently popular "glycemic index", which "ranks foods based on rise in blood (sugar levels) compared to its rise following ingestion of glucose or white bread.  Several studies suggest that starches like spaghetti and oatmeal, and those grains with a high level of "viscose soluble fiber", such as oats, barley and rye, are more slowly digested and thus have lower glycemic indices -- and bring down blood levels of fats, and the greater the quantity of  high glycemic index foods you take in, the higher, according to one large study, is the risk for heart disease.

Simple and complex, the sugars, the logic, the studies -- the road to understanding what "carbs" to eat for better cardiac health.  For a copy of this script visit our web site, speakingofhealth.com.  Speaking of Health, I'm Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, for CBS News.

Ref:  JAMA Nov 27, 2002 -- Vol 288, No. 20., pgs. 2569-2578.