A study in the journal of Diabetes Care found an association between the intake of both phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2) with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. [Diabetes Care, 2010 Apr. 27]
Life Extension
A number of studies from 12 different agencies showed that high intakes of all types of meat were associated with a 17 percent increase of type-2 diabetes. The study on processed red meat resulted in a 40 percent increase in diabetes risk.
The World Cancer Research Fund in a 2007 report directly linked diet to cancer, with alcohol and red and processed meats posing the greatest risks.
For the whole story read “Meat linked to increased diabetes risk: Meta-analysis”, October 28, 2009: www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science-Nutrition
Low levels of vitamin D are known to nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now think they know why.
They have found that diabetics deficient in vitamin D can’t process cholesterol normally, so it builds up in their blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The new research has identified a mechanism linking low vitamin D levels to heart disease risk and may lead to ways to fix the problem, simply by increasing levels of vitamin D.
“Vitamin D inhibits the uptake of cholesterol by cells called macrophages,” says principal investigator Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D., a Washington University endocrinologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “When people are deficient in vitamin D, the macrophage cells eat more cholesterol, and they can’t get rid of it. The macrophages get clogged with cholesterol and become what scientists call foam cells, which are one of the earliest markers of atherosclerosis.”
From Circulation, August 25, 2009, htt://circ.ahajournals.org
A recent Harvard study reported that women who drank one or more fructose-sweetened soft drinks per day were 83 percent more like to develop type-2 diabetes than women who drank less than one a month. Correspondingly they also gained more weight.
I found this article quite interesting. You can read the whole article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/health/17well.html?_r=2&ref=science
New York Times, February 17, 2009
Vitamin Pills: A False Hope? By TARA PARKER-POPE
“Ever since the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Linus Pauling first promoted “megadoses” of essential nutrients 40 years ago, Americans have been devoted to their vitamins. Today about half of all adults use some form of dietary supplement, at a cost of $23 billion a year.
But are vitamins worth it? In the past few years, several high-quality studies have failed to show that extra vitamins, at least in pill form, help prevent chronic disease or prolong life.”
They did a number of studies of over 200,000 men and women. In the article it said that a well-balanced diet “typically provides an adequate level of these nutrients, and today many popular foods are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals.” What they didn’t tell you was that farm raised salmon typically doesn’t have much omega-3 because they are fed corn and soy. Wild salmon eat smaller fish which have fed on algae and are rich in omega-3.
Another question is: How many men and women in these studies are following the popular low fat-high carb food regimen that has been popular the last 50 years?
How many are on statin drugs which not only lowers cholesterol but also weakens muscles, including the heart? Statin drugs also lowers CoQ10 which ever cell in the body needs because CoQ10 supplies the energy to the body.
How many people are taking omega-3 which does a better job than statin drugs in lowering cholesterol? That $23 billion mentioned above on vitamins is less than the pharmaceutical companies are making on the statin drugs. And the vitamins are not doing the harm that statin drugs do.
How many people are loading up with foods saturated with hydrogenated oils? It’s hard for me to find any processed food that isn’t loaded with hydrogenated oils. And I’m looking. How many people just pull some food off the shelf and don’t look at the label?
How many people are using butter and lard instead of Crisco (a hydrogenated oil)?
When you’re taking poison into your system by way of hydrogenated oils vitamin pills are at a loss for doing their job.
How many people are using pure coconut oil that is not contaminated? Much of the coconut oil we find has been dried in the sun and then chemically processed to take out the impurities. Pure coconut oil doesn’t need this contamination process.
In these studies of over 200,000 men and women how many were eating healthy? Other studies tell us that most people do not eat healthy, they fill up on hydrogenated oils in their food, like margarine, vegetable oils processed by hydrogenation, and French fries (loaded with 40% hydrogenated oil – the high heat also contaminates food)?
My take on this: If you want a true test of vitamins, ignore what the government says about the daily recommended amount of vitamins. This was basically set in World War II to keep young soldiers alive. Go back to butter, lard, and eat plenty of green vegetables. Most of what the average American eats lead to obesity, type-2 diabetes, inflammation of the arteries, and poor health. Just look around you.
For more on this just peruse my blog on eating.
To Your Health and Wellness.
About 57 million Americans have prediabetes, and most don’t know it. Everyone’s blood sugar level goes up after eating, and those with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that go up much higher than normal. This could cause physical damage well before a person becomes diabetic. Overweight and no exercise is a good indication of the possibility of a person become diabetic. It is estimated that most people 45 or over are prediabetic.
The more fat tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps your body metabolize sugar and get it out of your bloodstream.
Inactive people are likely to be overweight. Exercise actually helps your body use insulin. Some people are predisposed genetically. If you fall into the at risk category it is good to be tested.
Just because you fall into the prediabetes category doesn’t mean you have to become diabetic. Eating patterns should change to include whole grains, fruits and nuts. A study showing people eating refined grains and high-fat foods have an 18 percent higher risk of developing diabetes.
One of the important things we are learning today is that we have more control over our lives than previously thought. Grease filled chips and fries should be taken off your menu. If you are sedentary now begin by walking briskly for 15 minutes five days the first week. Then increase it to 30 minutes the next and by the third week walking 45 minutes will help you maintain your current level. To get the most from your cardio exercise you are getting your heart rate up for a minimum of 20 minutes and the longer the better. Next consider strength training. As you build muscle it affects your whole body and you will find that the wrinkles come more slowly. Look into your breathing as well. Breathe from your diaphragm so that air gets all the way to the bottom of your lungs.
As your eating, breathing and exercise take shape so will you. Your body will thank you for it.