Insulin breakthrough could see end to needles for diabetics

Breakthrough Australian research mapping how insulin works at a molecular level could open the door to novel new diabetes treatments, ending daily needle jabs for millions, scientists have announced.

A Melbourne team have been able to lay out for the first time how the insulin hormone binds to the surface of cells, triggering the passage of glucose from the bloodstream to be stored as energy.

Lead researcher Mike Lawrence on Thursday said the discovery, more than 20 years in the making, would make new and more effective kinds of diabetes medication possible.

“Until now we have not been able to see how these molecules interact with cells,” said Lawrence, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Full Article

5 Surprising Culprits Behind Obesity and Weight Gain

In this interesting article below by Mike Barrett featured on Infowars, we see some things you may not have thought of that will promote weight gain and even obesity. We know that diet and exercise play a major role but many who take care of these factors are still challenged when it comes to keeping their weight in line. Here is the article which offers some good food for thought. Of course the role of detoxing the body with greens and cleanses and giving it optimal nutrition must never come in to question. These things are and will always be essential components of a healthy life.

There is no doubt that the Western diet holds most of the weight regarding the escalating obesity epidemic we are facing today.

Ingesting overly large portions of foods containing fat-promoting ingredients coupled with an inactive lifestyle is the perfect recipe for a gigantic disaster.

While these obesity contributors are widely known, there are actually some other very surprising factors to consider when analyzing the reason for the nation’s continued growth.

Antibiotics Could be to Blame for Excess Weight

As surprising as it may seem, antibiotics have actually be pinpointed as being a promoter for obesity as well as diabetes and metabolic syndrome. While antibiotics succeed in destroying bad bacteria, which is their intended use, they also destroy good bacteria in the gut known as friendly flora.

This lack of bacterial discrimination leads to a shortage in friendly gut bacteria which are responsible for regulating overall health, including weight management.

Pollution has been Connected with Weight Gain

Not many people would point their finger at pollution when searching for a cause for obesity. And while poor air quality certainly isn’t a primary reason for extra weight, it does indeed have a link to extra weight. Research has shown that ingesting toxic chemicals found in both food and the air leads to increased fat storage in babies. A defense mechanism is triggered in unborn babies when mother’s take in these toxic chemicals which is supposed to protect the baby. It just so happens that this defense mechanism is the formation of fat.

Shampoo, Plastic, and Pesticides

There is growing concern regarding various chemicals used in products today and their impact on our health. Chemicals like bisphenol-A, phthalates, PCB’s, POP’s, and pesticides, which are all endocrine disruptors,  have been tied to many health ailments such as infertility, asthma, diabetes, and obesity. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, an expert on metabolism and environmental toxins at Stirling University in Scotland, was one of the first to point out the connection between environmental toxins and obesity. She noted that:

Overlooked in the obesity debate is that the earth’s environment has changed significantly during the last few decades because of the exponential production and usage of synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals

Environmental toxins are lesser known evils when it comes to health complications, but it may be time people started seriously considering these toxins when evaluating their health. 

Natural health and diabetes

There are other methods to deal with type 2 diabetes. You don’t have to rely exclusively on drugs. Diet, exercise and alternative therapies can reduce the impact of this deadly illness.

Online PR News – 24-May-2010 – Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic problem where the body can’t deal appropriately with blood sugar. Specifically, the body’s insulin—which is produced in the pancreas—is not able to get into the body’s cells because the cells become resistant to it. That causes elevated levels of blood sugar which then get into different parts of the body and wreak havoc.

“I eliminate processed foods from a patient’s diet and incorporate more organic food. Exercise is essential for their overall progress. The goal of the exercise is to decrease the body fat and increase muscle mass, because muscle mass dictates metabolism.”

Dr. Rojo says, “I eliminate processed foods from a patient’s diet and incorporate more organic food. Exercise is essential for their overall progress. The goal of the exercise is to decrease the body fat and increase muscle mass, because muscle mass dictates metabolism.” “I include nutritional support in the form of vitamin and mineral supplements. I use herbs such as bilberry to help support blood vessels, antioxidants to decrease the damage to the tissue and pycnogenol to decrease inflammation and help to lower blood sugar overall.” “While there’s a genetic component to diabetes, it’s definitely a disease of lifestyle. For those patients who follow my recommendations about diet and exercise, they definitely see improvement within twelve to sixteen months.”

Naturopathic Medicine is a natural medicine model that emphasizes the identification and treatment of the root cause of the disease or health condition in order to restore health. Conventional and alternative diagnostic testing is used to evaluate the root cause of disease symptoms and then diet and lifestyle modifications are prescribed along with appropriate nutrients, botanical medicine, homeopathic remedies and other natural therapies to enable healing of the affected areas of the body.

Mr. Cook says, “Natural living works because the body will heal itself when given the right conditions. When people take full responsibility for their food choices and lifestyle choices that affect overall health and also decide to work with a qualified natural medicine professional such as a Naturopathic Doctor, symptoms of Diabetes can disappear.” To watch the video of Dr. Rojo share how she successfully diagnoses and treats Diabetes, visit http://www.thenaturalguide.com/nd/lr-diabetes.html. To learn more about natural living, visit http://www.thenaturalguide.com.

Media Contact

Larry Cook, Author

The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living

larry@thenaturalguide.com

So improve your diet and get some exercise. Consider more alternative and less chemicals in your regimen.

Natural Living Cures for Diabetes

We will continue to see more ‘Natural Cures’ , and that is a great thing! I hope that people and the ‘medical’ community begin to see the efficacy of alternative approaches to health and wellness.

Natural Living Cures Diabetes with Organic Food, Exercise and Natural Medicine

In a new four and a half minute video produced by natural living expert Larry Cook, Dr. Simon Barker, ND – a California Licensed Naturopathic Doctor – explains how he uses the principles of natural living to reverse Diabetes.

Online PR News – 16-March-2010 – In a new four and a half minute video produced by natural living expert Larry Cook, Dr. Simon Barker, ND – a California Licensed Naturopathic Doctor – shares how he uses the principles of natural living, such as eating whole organic food, exercising and using natural medicine, to successfully treat and reverse Diabetes.

Type II diabetes is a metabolic problem where the body can’t deal appropriately with blood sugar. Specifically, the body’s insulin—which is produced in the pancreas—is not able to get into the body’s cells because the cells become resistant to it. That causes elevated levels of blood sugar which then get into different parts of the body and wreak havoc.

“When someone with Diabetes comes to see me, I’ll run a blood test to check a variety parameters, including how their kidneys, liver and heart are doing. Since Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, I’ll thoroughly investigate their diet as well.”

Dr. Barker says, “When someone with Diabetes comes to see me, I’ll run a blood test to check a variety parameters, including how their kidneys, liver and heart are doing. Since Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, I’ll thoroughly investigate their diet as well.”

“I always remove processed foods and sugars from the diet and ask that a whole, organic foods diet be adopted. This is absolutely crucial, and treatment will not work without this step. I also advise that a regular exercise program be adopted. I’ll use botanical medicine and nutritional support when warranted, but my primary treatment is dietary change and exercise. When patients follow my guidelines, the majority of them reverse their diabetes and no longer need to take their conventional medications,” says Barker.

Naturopathic Medicine is a natural medicine model that emphasizes the identification and treatment of the root cause of the disease or health condition in order to restore health. Conventional and alternative diagnostic testing is used to evaluate the root cause of disease symptoms and then diet and lifestyle modifications are prescribed along with appropriate nutrients, botanical medicine, homeopathic remedies and other natural therapies to enable healing of the affected areas of the body.

Mr. Cook says, “Natural living works because the body will heal itself when given the right conditions. When people take full responsibility for their food choices and lifestyle choices that affect overall health and also decide to work with a qualified natural medicine professional such as a Naturopathic Doctor, symptoms of Diabetes will completely disappear.” To watch the video of Dr. Barker share how he successfully diagnoses and treats Diabetes, visit http://www.thenaturalguide.com/nd/sb-diabetes.html. To learn more about natural living, visit http://www.thenaturalguide.com.

I hope we see more of these type of videos and articles.

Coffee and diabetes…good news!

I sure hope that the science here is right on! Anything one can do to subdue the effects of diabetes is great! Maybe more folks will get interested in our NutriCafe, organic coffee with additives to also enhance immunity!

Coffee’s anti-diabetes benefit strengthen

By Stephen Daniells, 16-Mar-2010

Regular coffee drinking may reduce levels of inflammatory markers linked to diabetes, according to new findings from a human study.

Scientists from Germany, Finland and Denmark report that daily coffee consumption was associated with improved cholesterol levels and blood levels of inflammatory compounds such as interleukin-18.

“Our study represents the first intervention trial to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of coffee and to develop and test coffee-derived compounds in plasma as biomarkers of coffee intake during long-term coffee consumption,” stated the researchers, led by Christian Herder from Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf.

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the European scientists also note: “Coffee consumption appears to have favourable effects on some markers of subclinical inflammation and oxidative stress and to increase plasma concentrations of potential biomarkers of coffee intake.

“Because subclinical inflammation is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, our results suggest one mechanism that could mediate the reduced risk of type 2 diabetes among individuals who habitually consume coffee for years.”

Coffee and its extracts

The beverage, and its constituent ingredients, has come under increasing study with research linking it to reduced risk of diabetes, and improved liver health.

Coffee, one of the world’s largest traded commodities produced in more than 60 countries and generating more than $70bn in retail sales a year, continues to spawn research and interest.

Indeed, a recent report by Mario Ferruzzi from Purdue University in Physiology & Behavior (doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.01.035) stated that coffee is one of the richest sources of polyphenols in the Western diet, with one cup of the stuff providing 350 milligrams of phenolics. Of these, the most abundant compounds coffee are chlorogenic acids, making up to 12 per cent of the green coffee bean. The most abundant of these compounds is caffeic acid.

New data

The new study, supported financially by the Institute of Scientific Information on Coffee, which is a consortium of major European coffee companies, involved 47 regular coffee drinkers. The participants stopped drinking the beverage for one month, then llimited themselvs to four cups a day for another month, and then drank eight cups per day for a third month.

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Results showed that blood levels of caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid metabolites increased following coffee consumption. Furthermore, levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-18 and 8-isoprostane (a marker of oxidative stress) decreased by 8 and 16 per cent, respectively.

Furthermore, adiponectin levels increased by 6 per cennt. Adiponectin is a protein hormone linked to various metabolic processes, and levels are inversely related to body fat levels.

Improvements in cholesterol levels were also detected following the third month, with total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol increased by 12, 7, and 4, respectively. On the other hand, the ratios of LDL to HDL cholesterol decreased by 8 per cent, they added. Glucose metabolism was unaffected by coffee consumption.

“It is noteworthy that our study showed no effects of coffee on fasting and oral-glucose-tolerance-test– derived markers of glucose metabolism,” wrote Herder and his co-workers. “We cannot exclude that the short duration of the present trial compared with coffee consumption over years in prospective studies could have contributed to this null result.

“Although we report herein favorable effects of coffee on IL-18 and adiponectin, which have been implicated in the risk of type 2 diabetes, the changes observed we observed were smaller than the differences between baseline concentrations of these markers in low- and high-risk individuals,” they added.

Despite the null result regarding glucose metabolism, the researchers concluded that the impact of inflammation on the progression of diabetes may support an anti-diabetic role for the beverage.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, doi: doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28548

“Effects of coffee consumption on subclinical inflammation and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a clinical trial”

Authors: K. Kempf, C. Herder, I. Erlund, H. Kolb, et al.

Still the best way to dampen the effects of diabetes is to not get it in the first place…again diet, diet and then exercise are the keys. Also, watch the sugar intake and try to make any sweets low glycemic…like coconut palm sugar!

Obesity wipes out health gains

Not surprising statistic today saying that obesity has wiped out all the health gains over the past several decades that were attributed to reduction in smokers. Seems like we are just searching for a self destruct mechanism.

Obesity May Wipe Out Benefit of Anti-Smoking Effort, Study Says

Dec. 2 (Bloomberg) — About 40 years of health improvements from declining numbers of smokers may be undermined because too many U.S. adults are obese, researchers said.

Under one scenario of obesity and smoking trends, by 2020 the future life expectancy of a typical 18-year-old would be shortened 8 months, according to a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The number of adults who were obese more than doubled in 25 years to 72 million people, or 34 percent of U.S. adults, in 2006, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public-health programs and rising cigarette taxes reduced smoking rates to 21 percent in 2008 from 37 percent in 1970, according to the CDC.

“We found that in a horse race between obesity and smoking, obesity won, in a bad way,” said Susan Stewart, an author of the study and a researcher at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Obesity-related medical costs reached $147 billion in 2008, or about 10 percent of U.S. medical spending, according to a CDC study published July 27. Other studies have found the obesity epidemic threatens efforts to reduce deaths from heart disease and breast cancer.

Today’s analysis found obesity accounts for 5 percent to 15 percent of U.S. deaths each year, while smoking is tied to 18 percent of deaths. Failing to change continuing increases in obesity could erode the steady gains in health seen in recent decades.

National Health Assessment

Researchers from Harvard University, the University of Michigan and the economic research bureau used data from three large U.S. health assessment surveys to forecast life expectancy through 2020. Obesity was defined as having a body-mass index of 30 or greater, or about 192 pounds for person who is 5 feet 7 inches tall. Body-mass index is a method to determine body fat.

“If past obesity trends continue unchecked, the negative effects on the health of the U.S. population will increasingly outweigh the positive effects gained from declining smoking rates,” the authors wrote in the study.

The effort to reduce smoking “is probably one of the greatest health achievements in the 20th century,” said Sara Bleich, an obesity researcher at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, who wasn’t involved with the study. “Reduction of obesity should be the primary focus of public health efforts in the 21st century.

As of 2005, a typical 18-year-old male was expected to live to about age 76, while an 18-year-old woman would live to about age 81, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Reduced Life Expectancy

If current obesity and smoking trends continue, by 2020 the life expectancy ages would subtract 0.71 years, or 8 months from future gains, according to today’s research.

If every U.S. adult stopped smoking and reached a normal weight, life expectancy for an 18-year-old would increase by 3.76 years, the authors estimated.

“Life expectancy will continue to rise but less rapidly than it otherwise would have” because of obesity, the researchers wrote.

The study is a “sophisticated analysis’” of the comparative risks of obesity and smoking in the general public, Bleich said in an interview. The study wasn’t designed to examine variations by race and ethnicity, which may produce “important differences” in life expectancy, she said.

Future Trend

The authors said recent data suggest U.S. obesity rates “may be decelerating.” About 32 percent of children ages 2 to 19 were at risk for being overweight or obese from 2003 to 2006, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May 2008. The high rates in children mean increases in obesity among adults are “likely to occur,” the researchers wrote.

Policy and environmental factors may cause obesity rates to change, the authors said.

“It could vary from someone inventing a pill that gets rid of obesity to someone developing a therapy that markedly changes the care for diabetes or heart disease,” Allison Rosen, an author of the study and researcher at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said in an interview.

San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mountain View, California-based Vivus Inc. and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. of La Jolla, California, are developing late-stage weight-loss drugs aimed at people who are obese.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, Harvard University and the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, a New York-based a nonprofit biomedical research organization.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is named for Michael Bloomberg, New York’s mayor and the principal owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Olmos in San Francisco at dolmos@bloomberg.net

Give our EnerFood weight loss a try if you haven’t yet. Use your will power, and it is powerful, to get control over your eating habits. Cleanse and detox your body.