Pycnogenol prevents diabetes complications

(NaturalNews) A research study conducted by G D'Annunzio University in Italy evaluated the benefits of a popular form of pine bark extract in helping diabetics. Published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, findings revealed that people with diabetes can avoid developing retinopathy and maintain proper micro-circulation by supplementing with pine bark.

A total of 46 diabetic patients were involved in the randomized, controlled study. Twenty-four of them were treated with pine bark extract once a day for three months while the remaining 22 were given a placebo. All the patients had diabetes for at least four years and all were beginning to develop retinopathy. Seventy-five percent of patients in the pine bark group experienced improvement in their vision while none in the placebo group did.

Dr. Robert Steigerwalt, one of the lead researchers of the study, confirmed that not only does pine bark extract halt the progression of diabetic retinopathy, it can cause it to regress by sealing the leaky blood vessels in the eye that lead to the disease. Such results were witnessed in as little as two months. He also noted that diabetics in the early stages of the disease can prevent such complications from ever occurring by supplementing with pine bark extract.

Pycnogenol, the branded formula of the antioxidant plant extract derived from the French maritime pine tree, has proven itself time and time again to be a powerful protective nutrient, particularly for diabetics. When administered during the early stages of diabetes, many studies have shown that pine bark is effective at preventing and treating the diabetic retinal diseases.

Mediteranean diet-good for diabetes control

(NaturalNews) For the first time, a long-term health study has demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet may help diabetes patients control their blood sugar without the use of medication.

"A Mediterranean-style diet is a very important part in the treatment of diabetes," said endocrinologist Loren Greene of New York University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. "We knew that, but there just hasn't been a good study to confirm this before."

In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers assigned 215 overweight, adult residents of Naples, Italy, to adhere to one of two diets. Participants in one group were assigned to follow a Mediterranean diet -- eating large quantities of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and certain healthy fats such as olive oil; favoring lean protein sources such as nuts, poultry and fish; and gaining no more than half their daily calories from carbohydrates. Participants in the other group were assigned to follow a low-fat diet similar to that recommended by the American Heart Association -- with no more than 30 percent of its daily calories from fat and 10 percent from saturated fat; low in sweets and high-fat snacks; and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

All participants were instructed to limit their caloric intake to 1,800 calories per day for men and 1,500 per day for women. They were given regular nutrition counseling and urged to exercise regularly.

After four years, 56 percent of the participants in the Mediterranean diet group were able to manage their diabetes without drugs, compared with only 30 percent of those in the low-fat group. Participants eating a Mediterranean diet also maintained more weight loss and more improvement in levels of HDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides.

Greene noted that as most patients dislike taking medication, the new study might provide an incentive for more diabetics to watch their diets.

"If you are told, 'If you don't want to go on medicine, stick to this diet,' then that's a pretty valuable tool at least for patient compliance," she said.

Sources for this story include: www.time.com.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of brest cancer

(NaturalNews) Discovering that physiological changes found in about 47 million Americans could be causing breast cancer may not sound like good news, but it is. Here's why: new research just published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, concludes there's a strong link between metabolic syndrome (also sometimes called insulin resistance syndrome) and the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. And because metabolic syndrome is virtually totally preventable and usually reversible through healthy living the new study could well mean that many cases of breast cancer can be prevented, naturally, too.

Metabolic syndrome consists of several signs and symptoms including abdominal obesity, high blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal lipid levels (low levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and high triglycerides) and high blood pressure. Found in sedentary people who are often overweight, eat junk food and make other poor nutrition choices, the syndrome has long been known to increase the risk for two other potentially killer diseases -- diabetes and heart disease. In fact, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) web site notes that almost 25 percent of all Americans have metabolic syndrome and the condition is growing at such an alarming rate due to increasing obesity that it may overtake smoking as the leading risk for heart disease.

Geoffrey C. Kabat, Ph.D., senior epidemiologist in the department of epidemiology and population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, and colleagues conducted the current study to see if the elevated insulin levels found in metabolic syndrome are connected to the development of breast malignancies. It's the first time scientists have assessed whether women who met criteria indicating they have metabolic syndrome are at greater risk for postmenopausal breast cancer.

For their longitudinal study, the scientists worked with existing data from the Women's Health Initiative. This large, national study was created to assess major causes of chronic diseases in women. Research subjects included women between the ages of 50 and 79 at enrollment who were found to repeatedly have signs of metabolic syndrome over an eight-year period -- including elevated blood glucose, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, hypertension and excessive fat around their middles.

Out of 4,888 women with baseline measurements for metabolic syndrome who did not have diabetes, 165 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed during the follow-up period. On the surface, this finding wasn't enough to link metabolic syndrome with breast cancer risk. But when the scientists analyzed repeated measurements, they found that women who had the metabolic syndrome for three to five years prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer had twice the risk of having the disease when compared to other women without the syndrome or who had not had it for long.

Moreover, the researchers also found significant associations between elevated blood glucose levels, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure and breast cancer. Increased diastolic blood pressure (the second number in a blood pressure measurement), raised the risk of breast cancer an alarming 2.4 times. For both triglycerides and glucose, the relative risk was increased by 1.7 for all breast cancer.

Researcher Tim Byers, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and interim director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, points out that these findings could help explain why being overweight is a known risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer.

"We have assumed that the relationship between weight and breast cancer risk is due to increased circulating estrogens among postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese," he said in a media statement. "An alternative explanation is explored here: that some other aspect of the metabolic syndrome might be involved, such as growth-stimulating effects of insulin, or insulin-like growth factors."

Dr. Byers added that additional research is needed to study specific ways in which the metabolism of the female hormone estrogen metabolism is tied to the metabolic syndrome. "Though estrogens are produced in adipose (fat) tissues, just how these are metabolized in various subgroups of women needs better study. In addition, the hyper-inflammatory state of obesity and the metabolic syndrome need to be better described relative to cancer risk."

Worried about breast cancer and already showing some signs of metabolic syndrome? You can gain control of your health by natural means. Healthy lifestyle changes can prevent and reverse symptoms metabolic syndrome. According to the NHLBI, weight loss, exercise, smoking cessation and nutritious foods are the first line of treatment. As reported previously in Natural News, some of the natural health strategies that can help beat metabolic syndrome include adding nuts to a Mediterranean style of eating (http://www.naturalnews.com/025098_n...), practicing yoga (http://www.naturalnews.com/023726_y...) and eating cinnamon (http://www.naturalnews.com/020826.html). In addition, avoiding diet sodas is wise (http://www.naturalnews.com/025644_d...) because research has linked these chemical-laden beverages with the development of metabolic syndrome.

For more information:< /B>
http://www.aacr.org/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci...
http://www.nih.gov/news/research_ma...

High-glycemic foods affecting arteries

(NaturalNews) Anyone interested in healthy and nutritious foods has probably heard that whole grains are far better for you than the processed variety like white bread and sugar-laden cereals. There are several reasons for this, including the fact whole foods tend to be richer in fiber and they also have low glycemic indexes. That means they keep blood sugar and insulin levels steady without wide fluctuations. But a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology concludes there's another important reason to avoid high glycemic foods like white bread and corn flakes. For the first time, scientists have documented how eating these foods can directly damage artery walls and cause cardiac problems.

"It's very hard to predict heart disease," Dr. Michael Shechter of Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine and the Heart Institute of Sheba Medical Center, said in a statement to the media. "But doctors know that high glycemic foods rapidly increase blood sugar. Those who binge on these foods have a greater chance of sudden death from heart attack. Our research connects the dots, showing the link between diet and what's happening in real time in the arteries."

For his study, Dr Shechter and colleagues worked with 56 healthy volunteers who were divided into four groups. One group ate cornflake cereal mixed with milk, a second consumed a pure sugar mixture, the third group ate bran flakes and the last group took water (as a placebo control). Over the course of four weeks, Dr. Shechter applied brachial reactive testing to the research subjects in each group. This test, a clinical and research technique pioneered by Dr. Shechter's laboratory, uses a blood pressure type cuff on the arm that is able to visualize what happens inside arteries before, during and after eating various foods.

Before any of the study participants ate, the function of their arteries was essentially the same. After eating, however, all except the placebo group had reduced arterial functioning -- especially the research subjects who ate cornflakes and sugar. In fact, the testing documented that during the consumption of these foods high in sugar, there was a temporary and sudden dysfunction in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line the inside of arteries and reduce turbulence as blood flows throughout the entire circulatory system.

This is a critical finding because, when repeated over time, a sudden expansion of artery walls can cause a host of negative effects on health including damage to endothelial cells. That can reduce elasticity in arteries, resulting in heart disease or even sudden death. In fact, according to Dr. Shechter, endothelium dysfunction can be traced back to almost every disorder and disease in the body.

"We knew high glycemic foods were bad for the heart. Now we have a mechanism that shows how," Dr. Shechter explained in the press statement. "Foods like cornflakes, white bread, French fries, and sweetened soda all put undue stress on our arteries. We've explained for the first time how high glycemic carbs can affect the progression of heart disease."

Dr. Shechter agrees with natural health advocates who have long advised staying away from highly processed, high glycemic foods and eating a diet rich in low glycemic whole foods such as oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts. In addition to helping protect your heart, this style of eating has other advantages. According to the Harvard School of Public Health web site, these healthy foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients.

On the other hand, white bread, white rice, pastries, sugared sodas, and other highly processed foods tear down instead of build health -- they contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease. As reported earlier in Natural News, processed foods have also been linked with an increased risk for cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/022025.html) and recent studies indicate many processed foodstuffs, from bread to candy bars, may be contaminated with toxic mercury, too (http://www.naturalnews.com/025442_m...).

For more information :
http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?pag...
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutriti...

Cinnemon-the spice of wellbeing

(NaturalNews) Cinnamon is well known as the world's oldest spice. It has a beautiful warm aroma that makes it an inviting ingredient to add to food. In the past Cinnamon was seen as an expensive luxury that was used as an aphrodisiac, and as it was more expensive to buy than silver, many people simply used it as currency. It is a wonder spice for health and wellbeing.

Apart from its amazing taste and aroma that made it so popular for cooking cinnamon was also used by many physicians to treat colds, coughing and sore throats. Burning Cinnamon in your household was thought to cleanse the air and the people within. Roman Emperor Nero took this literally and after he murdered his wife he ordered a year's supply of cinnamon to be burnt to cleanse him of the crime.
While burning cinnamon may not actually be able to clean out your soul modern day research has found that this most ancient of spices is very good for your health.

Cinnamon And Diabetes

Studies in to the effects of cinnamon on people with diabetes are at this stage very minimal. But the extremely positive results have the medical community screaming for larger trials. In one study conducted in the Malmo University Hospital in Sweden, results showed that eating a meal laced with cinnamon actually lowered the food's effects on the blood's sugar levels. The test only included 14 people half of whom were given normal rice pudding while the other half had rice pudding with cinnamon. They repeated the test again at a later date and came up with the same results. The researchers led by Joanna Hlebowicz believe that cinnamon may slow down part of the digestion process giving the body more time to break up the carbohydrates, therefore lessening the post-meal blood-glucose concentration.

Cinnamon And Arthritis

Another test conducted in Copenhagen seems to have found that cinnamon mixed with honey can significantly reduce the pain associated with arthritis. The study was conducted on 200 arthritis suffers who were all given a honey and cinnamon mixture before they ate breakfast. All of the patients tested reported some improvement in their pain management while 73 of those seemed to be relieved of all pain within a month. The results have astounded the medical community and brought hope to the thousands of chronic arthritis sufferers in the world.

While these tests are by no means conclusive, anything that may produce a positive result in the battle against these diseases without any nasty side effects is definitely worth trying.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/cin...
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthi...
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic...

Mental health linked to chromium and insulin

(NaturalNews) Long known for its beneficial effects on blood sugar, chromium (Cr) has most recently been tied to cognitive health as well. In May of 2009, scientists from the USDA and the Medical College of Georgia reported that Cr supplementation helped prevent Alzheimer`s disease in rodents. In humans, Alzheimer`s is a process that is decades in the making, and has been tied to poor diet, blood sugar and insulin dysfunction. A virtual explosion of new studies on the relationship between dementia and metabolic disorders - such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and elevated blood lipids - has surfaced. Understanding these connections is giving rise to novel strategies for prevention of this disorder.

Many of today`s health issues are tied to insulin health. Insulin is known mainly as an injection taken to control blood sugar after a meal. Most people, including those with diabetes, produce their own insulin as they eat. Yet, in up to a quarter of the population, it is not functioning properly. Insulin is needed to utilize nutrients from food, helping to transport these nutrients into every cell in the body. It`s job is to disburse macronutrients (sugar, protein and fat) after a meal. Thus, insulin is called the "master metabolic hormone" or the "storage hormone" because it helps store the major nutrients in our cells. Insulin is also vital because it prevents a build-up of blood sugar and fat, which inflame blood vessels. Chronic inflammation of endothelial tissue (the inner lining of arteries) leads to hypertension and artherosclerosis. It is amazing how important this one protein is for health and longevity.

Insulin dysfunction is the central problem that links many chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, Alzheimer`s disease and depression. Insulin problems result in uncontrolled blood sugar, which leads to a cascade of problems. Sugar and its byproducts tend to stick to things in blood, including proteins, cells and vessel walls. The damage is gauged by the HbA1c test, which measures the percent of hemoglobin destroyed by sugar. High blood sugar and diabetes can lead to kidney damage, blindness and amputation, and speed up the aging process. A sedentary lifestyle and poor diet promote the process, by taxing insulin's capacity to function under non-ideal conditions.

The main problem is diet-related. It`s in the bread, cereal, crackers, pasta, pastries, rice, cookies, potatoes, soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, table sugar and other starchy foods we eat. High fructose corn syrup - one of the worst offenders is abundant in many processed foods. Even "healthy" whole grains can elevate blood sugar, though not usually to the same extent. At least whole grains have some of the nutrients that promote good metabolism. Excessive carbohydrate intake causes insulin to spike and stresses the insulin-making machinery in the pancreas. After years of metabolic stress, the body may stop responding to insulin, which causes further carb cravings and promotes obesity. After years of addiction to refined carbs and fast foods, the disorder cascades to the point of breakdown, which manifests differently in different people.

Insulin's job is simple enough. However, the body can stop responding to insulin - a condition called insulin resistance (IR). Dr. David Katz of the Yale Prevention Research Center defines IR as when insulin can no longer inject enough glucose into the body`s cells for fuel. Rather than feeding the body, sugars and fats build up to dangerous levels in the blood, and contribute to chronic and debilitating disease. Meanwhile, the cells are starving, so the person eats more and never feels satiated. IR is on the rise, with more than 60 million Americans at risk. The common signs of IR include obesity, elevated blood pressure, high triglycerides, fatigue, cognitive problems, hypoglycemia, bloating and depression.

In the latter stages of diabetes, high blood sugar reflects a dual problem: first, not enough insulin is being made by a failing pancreas (insulin deficiency); second, the body is not responding to the insulin present (IR). IR usually precedes insulin deficiency by decades. In other words, people spend years and decades in a pre-diabetic state. After the onset of diabetes, IR continues, so even injected insulin does not function all that well.

Recent research is making the picture clearer. Taking in energy-rich foods minus the nutrients to help utilize that energy, and minus the effort to burn that energy, results in obesity. Fat cannot be burned for fuel on a high-carbohydrate diet. Chronically high insulin levels keep the liver from releasing fat into the bloodstream and promote more fat build up, and dangerously so in the liver. So, the potential for energy is there (as fat), but it`s not available as long as insulin levels remain high and carbs are the main staple. The body feels starved despite the vast stores of energy available. Restricting carbohydrates can correct many of the metabolic problems related to IR.

The number of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes is projected to more than double by 2050. This trend, if continued, could very well destroy our health care system. As it is, the management of diabetes and its complications imposes an enormous medical and economic burden on the country - to the tune of nearly 132 billion dollars a year, or $13,000 dollars yearly per person. Given the epidemic of IR and its close connection with diabetes, primary prevention has become a public health imperative. Two recent landmark clinical trials in Finland and the U.S. have demonstrated that modest weight loss and physical activity can significantly reduce diabetes among older adults at high risk. Even modest changes in lifestyle can reduce diabetes incidence by nearly 60 percent.

Controlling insulin is a very powerful anti-aging strategy. High blood insulin is the single largest physical cause of accelerated aging. The result of elevated insulin is a build-up of fat, particularly in the mid-section, which promotes inflammation throughout the body. The good news is that insulin is easily influenced by lifestyle changes, especially by reducing excess abdominal fat. A diet low in refined carbohydrates, but rich in green, leafy veggies, is one of the most effective ways to lower one`s insulin levels, especially when combined with an aerobic exercise program. Additionally, nutrient supplementation has been shown to make a difference in insulin health. Many well-controlled clinical studies show blood glucose improvements with a variety of nutritional supplements.

An often-overlooked nutrient in this equation is chromium (Cr). Cr is a trace mineral that helps insulin work more efficiently. Cr was known to help control blood sugar in animals as far back as the middle of the last century. It was designated an essential trace mineral by the National Research Council, and is now recommended to be included in diets and IV solutions. However, Cr is not so easy to procure from foods, largely because this mineral is not required for plant growth. Plus, the Cr form found in many foods (e.g., beer) may not be absorbed efficiently in the gut.

Cr is an essential element required for normal carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Nutritional Cr is an essential co-factor for insulin function. It helps insulin transport nutrients out of the blood to feed every cell in the body. Cr helps get sugar and fat where it is needed instead of building up to dangerous levels in blood vessels. It has been shown to alleviate IR in numerous animal and human studies.

In previous articles by the current author, it was emphasized that not all Cr supplements are created equal. Until recently, only chromium picolinate (CrPic) has been solidly supported by science. Recently, a new member of the chelated Cr family, chromium histidinate (CrHis), has been introduced by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that rivals CrPic in supporting blood sugar control.

Recent data presented at the Experimental Biology 2009 conference in New Orleans revealed that CrHis significantly increased brain serotonin levels in animal models of obesity and diabetes. Increased serotonin (the feel-good hormone) levels are known to improve mood and decrease carbohydrate cravings. This indicates that CrHis is being absorbed by animals after oral intake, and is helping insulin feed brain cells, which helps curb appetite. It is also known that Cr promotes brain uptake of an amino acid called tryptophan, which is converted directly to serotonin (with help from vitamin B6). It can then be converted to melatonin, an important sleep inducer. Thus, Cr may be useful in sleep and mood disorders. In fact, several psychiatrists have supported these effects in their studies in humans. CrPic has been shown to improve a certain type of depression common in overweight people with carb cravings. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of CrPic have been reviewed by the FDA, which granted a qualified health claim for IR and blood sugar control. No other Cr supplement and virtually no supplement of any kind can make this claim.

In the latest chapter on the benefits of Cr for brain health, scientists have shown that CrHis and CrPic reduced the expression of a protein (Tau) involved in Alzheimer`s disease. Notably, the high doses of CrPic used in these studies were deemed safe and did not cause kidney dysfunction in experimentally-diseased animals. These data suggest that by improving blood sugar metabolism, daily Cr supplementation can reduce dementia over the long haul. This is especially true in people with diabetes, wherein the aging process is happening at full speed. These data provide new reasons to get high quality Cr in the diet to address significant quality of life issues in mental health.

References:
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Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA: Stability and absorption of chromium and absorption of chromium histidinate complexes by humans. Biol Trace Elem Res 2004;101:211-218.

Attenburrow MJ, Odontiadis J, Murray BJ, Cowen PJ, Franklin M: Chromium treatment decreases the sensitivity of 5-HT2A receptors. Psychopharmacol 2002;159:432-436.

Broadhurst CL, Domenico P. Clinical studies on chromium picolinate supplementation in diabetes mellitus- A Review. Diabetes Technol Therapeutics 2006;8:677-687.

Davidson JRT, Abraham K, Connor KM, McLeod MN: Effectiveness of chromium in atypical depression: a placebo-controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry 2003;53:261-264.

de la Monte SM, Wands JR: Review of insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression, signaling, and malfunction in the central nervous system: Relevance to Alzheimer`s disease. J Alzheimer`s Dis 2005;7:45-61.

Docherty JP, Sack DA, Roffman M, Finch M, Komorowski JR: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial of chromium picolinate in atypical depression: Effect on carbohydrate craving. J Psychiatr Pract 2005;11:302-314.

Domenico P. Komorowski JR. Minerals and Insulin Health. In Neutraceuticals, Glycemic Health and Type 2 Diabetes. V. Pasupuletti, J.W. Anderson (eds), IFT Press, Blackwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa, 2008, pp. 167-200.

Domenico P, Myers A. Chromium Breakthrough for Healthy Living. 2007. Digital copy available from Amazon.com.

Heimbach JT, Anderson RA: Chromium: recent studies regarding nutritional roles and safety. Nutr Today 2005;40:2-8.

Martin J, Wang ZQ, Zhang XH, Wachtel D, Volaufova J, Matthews DE, Cefalu WT: Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2006;29:1826-1832.

McLeod MN. Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection. Basic Health Publications, Laguna Beach, CA. 2005.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Qualified Health Claims: Letter of Enforcement Discretion-Chromium Picolinate and Insulin Resistance. 8-25-0005;(Docket No. 2004Q-0144) 8-25-0005. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qhccr... (Accessed date: July, 2005).

Effects of using fluoride

(NaturalNews) Fluoride has been used for over sixty years to help prevent tooth decay. Over 60% of people in the U.S. receive fluoride in their drinking water; some water supplies have naturally occurring fluoride in it and some have fluoride added at a water treatment facility. Since the onset of fluoridation of the water supply there has been a drastic reduction in the amount of tooth decay. In fact, the CDC has recognized fluoridation of water as one of the biggest public health breakthroughs of the 20th century. Why, then, is there a controversy over the use of fluoride in drinking water and as a dental supplement? Critics say that the safety and effectiveness of fluoride has never been fully proven, and that it can actually be dangerous to consume with resulting health consequences such as neurotoxicity, cancer, and fluorosis among others.

Studies done on mice have shown varying levels of neurotoxicity when these mice were exposed to fluoride. The first major study that showed fluoride caused neurotoxicity was done in 1995 by Dr. Phyllis Mullenix on mice. All the previous theories about fluoride that the researchers were working from were proved incorrect as the research went on. The mice who were drinking fluoridated water were expected to perform tasks similarly to the control mice and they did not. The fluoride was not expected to cross the blood-brain barrier and it was proven that it did.

Eighteen subsequent studies on fluoride and the brain have shown lower I.Q. levels in children with elevated fluoride levels, even after controlling for other factors that could cause the lower I.Q. such as parental education levels, lead levels, iodine exposure, and family income.

For all the studies that state that there is no association between fluoride and cancer there are just as many noting an association. Research has shown elevated cancer rates in cities with fluoridated water, cancerous changes in liver cells, and unscheduled DNA synthesis.

Fluorosis is a result of over consumption of fluoride. Drinking water is the most significant source of fluoride with fluoride in food, air, and toothpaste also contributing. Dental fluorosis results in staining and pitting of the teeth with some enamel damage possible at advanced levels. Skeletal fluorosis is a more advanced and serious case of fluorosis and results in pain and impairment of joints, muscles, and tissue.

The consequences of fluoride seem to outweigh the benefits, although dentists and other health professionals often disagree. Personal education about the risks and benefits of fluoride is necessary for each individual to make the best choice for themselves.

Sources:

Fluoride and Water, (http://kidshealth.org/parent/genera...)

Fluoride Action Network, Health Effects, (http://www.fluoridealert.org/health...)

Fluoridation/Flouride, Toxic Chemicals In Your Water, (http://www.holisticmed.com/fluoride/)

Worth Health Organization, Water Related Diseases, (http://www.who.int/water_sanitation...)

Zinc-essential for health

(NaturalNews) We are constantly being told that to keep our bodies in tip top condition we need to take vitamin supplements, whether it be Vitamin C to help fight colds and to boost the immune system, Vitamin B for increased energy or spirulina for an all round blast of nutrients. But recent studies have shown that zinc is the one mineral that many of us lack and the one that none of us can afford to be without.

Zinc and the cold virus

It has long been recognized that Zinc is essential to all living things in maintaining healthy skin, bones, teeth and even brain function. It is thought that teenagers with acne problems are actually suffering from a Zinc deficiency, with many experts now prescribing Zinc supplements for severe cases. But maintaining healthy hair and skin is not the only thing that Zinc is good for. Zinc is fast gaining the same reputation as Vitamin C for fighting cold and flu like symptoms. This is mainly due to a 2002 study conducted at an American High School. Students were given Zinc lozenges to see if there was a reduction in the number of reported cases of cold and flu viruses. The results were published in a 2002 issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics and showed a massive 62% drop in reports of cold like symptoms and an increase in student attendance. While this seems to prove that Zinc has great preventative measures and helps build the immune system, other studies have shown that taking Zinc while you have a cold can reduce the duration of the symptoms from an average of nine days to an average of 3. "Zinc is a great tool in the battle against colds," says Dr Phillip Melville.

Zinc and diabetes

Diabetes is caused by a malfunction of the insulin producing pancreas and can lead to complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney disease. While the only real tool for fighting diabetes is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a study conducted at Harvard University seems to show that taking Zinc may stimulate the pancreas therefore helping control diabetes. Dr Robert Young Director of Research at the pH Miracle Living Center says, "The mineral zinc can reduce dietary and metabolic acid supporting the pancreas and its insulin producing beta cells and protect the alkaline environment of the small intestine, responsible for the creation of stem cells, erythroblasts and erythrocytes." While this sounds like great news for all diabetes sufferers it is important to note that these studies are still in their early stages.

Zinc and pregnancy

Zinc is an essential element for repair, production and functioning of DNA. It is because of this that it is vitally important that men and women get enough Zinc while trying to conceive as it promotes the production of healthy sperm and eggs. It also means that women need to increase their Zinc intake by around 2 mg throughout their pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This will help ensure that the fetus develops properly and that the breast milk is full of nutrients.

FOODS THAT ARE HIGH IN ZINC

One of the most potent sources of Zinc can be found in oysters. Just six medium sized oysters can contain nearly 80mg, which is well over the 15mg daily allowance recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But if like many people you can`t stomach oysters, there are many other foods that you can include in your diet to gain the Zinc your body needs. Breakfast cereals can contain up to 25% of your daily Zinc allowance. Other foods with good Zinc amounts include baked beans, cashew nuts, cheese and kidney beans making it easy to get all the Zinc you need without having to take supplements.

www.chiff.com/vitamins/zinc.htm

www.womenrepublic.co.uk/diet_fitnes...

www.hdg.org.uk/150_Zinc_-_Essential...

Diabetes rises Alzheimer's risk

(NaturalNews) New research confirms that diabetics have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center reported that people with diabetes are 70 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's compared to those with normal blood sugar levels.

Type II diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, a condition where chronic high blood sugar levels have caused an overproduction of insulin. Along with many other side effects, high insulin levels produce inflammation in the body. This inflammation can cause damage in the brain.

"Diabetes does damage some of the vessels particularly neuropathy, which is when your nerves and vessels are damaged in your feet. And now they're saying that damage has gone as far as even brain cells," states Kelly O'Connor, a diabetes educator with Mercy Medical Center.

Another study, led by Rachel A. Whitmer of the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente in California, looked at the history of more than 22,000 patients with Type II diabetes whose records had been followed for eight years. The study revealed that higher blood sugar counts correlated with an increased risk of developing dementia. Those with very high blood sugar levels showed a dramatically increased risk of dementia.

"With the whole diabetes epidemic we're seeing much more Type II, so are we going to see even more Alzheimer's than we thought we would see? If we continue in this direction, it's a little bit frightening," says Dr. Whitmer.

For someone with type II diabetes, when blood sugar rises, brain function begins to slow. This occurs even before a diabetic may notice symptoms of blood sugar swings, which is why it is so important for diabetics to develop lifestyle habits that help them control their blood sugar.

The link between diabetes and Alzheimer's goes even deeper. In both diseases, there is a buildup of the protein amyloid--in the brain in Alzheimer's patients, and in the pancreas in those with diabetes. Too much insulin, a condition common in diabetics, can contribute to the buildup of amyloid in the brain.

"It by no means means that you're going to develop Alzheimer's disease, and certainly many people with Alzheimer's don't have diabetes," says Dr. Ralph Nixon of New York University, vice chairman of the Alzheimer's Association's scientific advisory council. His advice for diabetics is not to panic.

While there may be no reason to panic, there is strong urging for both diabetics and pre-diabetics to take every measure possible to properly manage blood sugar levels. And since diabetes is a disease which develops because of years of high blood sugar, even people who are not yet at risk for diabetes should do what they can to stay that way.

Managing your blood sugar is not at all complicated. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are two simple ways to combat diabetes. It's also important to consider how your eating habits affect your blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates and sugar are especially known for causing high blood sugar. Eating carbohydrates alone can cause blood sugar to spike, so try eating whole carbohydrates with some protein and healthy fat to prevent this. Making permanent healthy lifestyle habits is your best chance at preventing disease.

Sources:

http://wjz.com/local/diabetes.alzhe...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/h...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/...

Diabetes drugs grown in tabacco plants

Scientists grow diabetes drug in tobacco plants
Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:37pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have found a healthy use for tobacco after breeding genetically modified plants containing a medicine that could stop type 1 diabetes.

The move marks the latest advance in the emerging field of molecular farming, which may offer a cheaper way of making biotech drugs and vaccines than traditional factory systems
European researchers said on Thursday they had produced tobacco plants containing a potent anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-10 (IL-10) that could help patients with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

A number of agrochemical companies, including Bayer and Syngenta, have been looking at ways to make complex protein drugs in plants, although progress has been slow

At the moment, antibody medicines and vaccines are produced in cell cultures inside stainless steel fermenters.

However, Mario Pezzotti of the University of Verona, who led the tobacco study published in the journal BMC Biotechnology, believes they could be grown more efficiently in fields, since plants are the world's most cost-effective protein producers.

Several different plants have been studied by research groups around the world, but tobacco is a firm favorite.

"Tobacco is a fantastic plant because it is easy to transform genetically and you can easily regenerate an entire plant from a single cell," Pezzotti said in a telephone interview.

His group's work has attracted interest from tobacco giant Philip Morris, which is supporting a conference on plant-based medicine in Verona in June

Pezzotti and colleagues -- who received funding for their research from the European Union -- now plan to feed the plants to mice with autoimmune diseases to find out how they respond.

Further down the line, they want to test whether repeated small doses could help prevent diabetes in people, when given alongside another compound called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), which has also been produced in tobacco plants.

Swedish biotech company Diamyd is already testing a conventionally produced GAD65 vaccine against diabetes in clinical trials.

Molecular farming has yet to yield its first commercial product, although Israel's Protalix BioTherapeutics is conducting advanced clinical tests on an enzyme treatment for Gaucher disease that is produced in a culture of carrot cells.

Protalix plans to submit its drug for regulatory approval in the United States and Israel in the fourth quarter of 2009.

(Editing by Andrew Macdonald)

Environmental toxics affecting health

(NaturalNews) High levels of exposure to the chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, according to a pair of recent studies.

PCBs are toxic, long-lived, bioaccumulative chemicals that were widely used in a variety of consumer and industrial products until they were banned in the 1970s.

In the first study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers from National Taiwan University compared the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes among 378 Taiwanese women who had been exposed to PCB-contaminated cooking oil in the 1970s with its occurrence among 370 non-exposed neighbors. They found that after 24 years, women who had been exposed to the contaminated oil had twice the risk of diabetes as non-exposed women. The women who had been exposed to the highest PCB levels had five times the diabetes risk.

The researchers found no connection between PCB exposure and diabetes risk in men.

In the second study, researchers from SUNY Upstate Medical University tested the PCB blood levels of residents of Anniston, Ala. who lived near a Monsanto factory that had illegally dumped PCBs into open pit landfills through the 1970s.

"It was just dumped into the ground, so every time there is a flood, the stuff is spread throughout the community and then the pigs and cows, vegetables, everything becomes a source," researcher Allen Silverstone said. "Diabetes is one thing that can happen and that probably happens because these chemicals can affect glucose metabolism,"

The researchers found that people living near the plant had bodily PCB levels four times higher than the national average. Their diabetes risk was also two to four times higher.

"PCBs are indestructible," Silverstone said. "They stay in the cell and they keep the receptor turned on. So what you have is a problem when a switch is turned on that should be turned on and off, and that is what raises serious health problems because then the cells get deranged."

Sources for this story include: www.reuters.com; www.kvue.com.

Garlic can boost your health

(NaturalNews) Garlic is probably nature's most potent food. It is one of the reasons people who eat the Mediterranean diet live such long healthy lives. Garlic is also a powerful performer in the research lab. Several new studies have documented its ability to promote heart and cardiovascular health, prevent and treat cancer, and create a healthy lipid profile. Others have shown garlic prevents platelet aggregation and reduces high blood pressure. Garlic has strong anti-inflammatory properties. One of the most interesting of the recent findings is that garlic increases the overall antioxidant levels of the body.

Garlic decreased serum glucose and blood pressure while increasing antioxidants

The chain of events leading to vascular disease in people with diabetes and high blood pressure is characterized by free radical damage. Scientists at the University of Kuwait were interested in finding out whether garlic could reduce free radical damage. They measured total serum antioxidants in diabetic and hypertensive rats before and after treatment with garlic. An analogue of vitamin E, glutathione, and vitamin C were measured, and measurement was verified with reliability and reproducibility coefficients.

After three weeks of treatment with garlic extract, the serum levels of antioxidants were significantly higher than the pretreatment levels in both diabetic and hypertensive rats. The increased serum antioxidant levels were paralleled by a decrease in serum glucose in the garlic-treated diabetic rats, and lowered systolic blood pressure in the garlic-treated hypertensive rats, showing that treatment with garlic can increase total antioxidant status. This study was reported in the February 20th Evidenced Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Garlic has a long history as a healer

Scientifically known as Allium sativa, garlic has been famous throughout history for its ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. Louis Pasteur noted in 1858 that bacteria died when they were doused with garlic. From the Middle Ages on, garlic has been used to treat wounds, being ground or sliced and applied directly to wounds to inhibit the spread of infection. The Russians refer to garlic as Russian penicillin.

Since ancient times, garlic has been a popular remedy for intestinal disorders, flatulence, worms, respiratory infections, skin diseases, symptoms of aging, and many other ailments. Albert Schweitzer used it to treat cholera and typhus. In France, farmers even fed garlic and onions to their horses to dissolve clots in the animals' legs.

Garlic is a powerful cancer blocker

A number of the new studies on garlic that have recently appeared deal with garlic and cancer. One from the Republic of Korea cites diallyl disulfide (DADS) as the most prevalent oil-soluble sulfur compound in garlic, inhibiting cell proliferation in many cell lines. Scientists there examined DADS ability to kill cells in a process involving free radical production. They found that the famous tumor suppressor gene, p53, arrested the cell cycle when DADS treatment was present. Cancer cells died following 24 hour DADS treatment that activated the p53 gene. They also found that DADS induced cell death was prevented by treatment with a compound known to prevent p53 dependent cell death by reducing free radical levels in the mitochrondria, the cellular furnaces. Their results showed that mitochrondrial free radicals may serve as second messengers in DADS-induced cell death, which requires activation of p53. This study can be found in the January Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology.

Diallyl disulfide is not the most potent compound found in garlic, but it has an advantage because it is the less volatile of the compounds. DADS does not degrade as quickly and its health benefits survive cooking. Garlic needs to be chopped or crushed to produce the these sulfides. If it is cooked whole, it loses most of its medicinal value and health benefits.

DADS is a potent booster of the immune system, and improves blood quality and circulation. It has been shown in studies to lower LDL cholesterols levels, and through this action may help keep the heart and cardiovascular system healthy.

Another recent study, reported in the March Mutation Research, revealed the action through which garlic decreases genetic mutations and reduces the number of small and large papillary lung tumors.

And yet another new study involved lymphocytes which are responsible for the immune response. There are two main types of lymphocytes, B cells and T cells. While B cells make antibodies that attack bacteria and toxins, T cells attack body cells themselves when they have become cancerous. Scientists in the Republic of China studied the effects of garlic on the balance of two T helper cell subtypes. Th1 and Th2. Rats were given garlic oil or corn oil every other day for two weeks. Their cervical lymph nodes were collected to assay the lymphocyte proliferation rate and the production of cancer killing cytokines. Garlic oil enhanced the lymphocyte proliferation rate accompanied by an elevated production of all four cytokines when given at a dose of 100mg/kg.

Allicin is garlic's most potent compound

Allicin is the compound providing the largest range of garlic's health benefits. Allicin also does not occur in garlic cloves, but is produced when garlic is finely chopped or crushed. The finer the chopping and the more intense the crushing, the more allicin is produced and the stronger is the medicinal effect.

Allicin has both antibiotic and anti-fungal properties, and made garlic a favorite in folk medicine for treating skin infections such as athlete's foot. Allicin is potent stuff. Too much exposure to garlic can result in blistered skin.

Allicin starts to degrade immediately after it is produced, so a person seeking to reap its full medicinal benefits should use it immediately after crushing it. Cooking increases the degradation of allicin, and microwaving completely destroys allicin and eliminates any health benefits.

To gain the optimal in medicinal effects, garlic should be crushed and added to food immediately before serving.

Garlic is a beauty aid

The high sulfur content in garlic makes it able to tone up the skin and make hair more lustrous. Garlic helps make skin smooth and supple, and strengthens nails. The sulfur in garlic works with B complex vitamins to support body metabolism, helping to keep people looking trim. It helps keep youthful elasticity in tissues, and helps treat and prevent dandruff.

Garlic is an excellent source of the cancer fighting mineral selenium. Selenium works synergistically with vitamin E to boost antioxidant power and prevent or slow signs of aging and hardening of tissues through oxidation. Selenium is critical for the production of glutathione peroxidase, the body's primary antioxidant that is found in every cell. Males are especially sensitive to selenium levels. Almost half their body's supply concentrates in the testicles and portions of the seminal ducts adjacent to the prostate gland. Selenium is lost in the semen and should be replenished daily.

Always buy organic garlic when possible

When buying garlic, make sure the bulbs are dry with plenty of papery covering. If any green shoots are present, the garlic is old and its valuable compounds have degraded. Garlic sold in traditional outlets has been chemically treated to keep it from sprouting, so technically it is no longer a live food. Always buy organic garlic when possible.

The stronger the taste of the garlic, the more sulfur content it has and therefore the greater are the medicinal benefits. Organic garlic tends to have a stronger but finer flavor than conventionally produced garlic, suggesting a higher sulfur content.

Supplements are another way to get garlic's benefits

Many people who do not like the taste of garlic or who do not do much cooking rely on garlic supplements. Aged garlic extract is reported to have many of the benefits found in raw garlic, including liver protection, immune-enhancement, and cancer blocking actions. It also exhibits potent antioxidant activities.

As the name implies, the extract is aged for up to twenty months. Over this time period the harsh and irritating compounds in garlic are converted naturally into stable and safe sulfur compounds. Aged garlic extract contains primarily water-soluble sulfur compounds as well as a smaller amount of a variety of oil-soluble sulfur compounds. Aged garlic extract has been found safe in toxicological studies.

For more information:

http://www.garlic-central.com/

http://www.usaweekend.com/food/carp...

http://www.pbrc.edu/Division_of_Edu...

Alzheimer- a NEW possible diabet type disease

(NaturalNews) Some researchers and doctors are now saying Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the new diabetes. Beware of any pharmaceutical claims and check the dietary hints at the end of this article first. Though there are similarities between the two disorders, it's too soon to jump to any drugs to prevent AD. Much more research is needed, so at this point, some clarification is definitely in order.

One of the prominent research studies being circulated is from Northwestern University, which found that insulin blocks the buildup of amyloid protein plaques. It is the buildup of such plaques in the brain that interferes with memory (one of the symptoms that defines AD) and has been found in autopsies, Before we get too excited about this research result, it needs to be pointed out that the plaques studied were on nerve cells of rats, not brain cells. Also, the type of insulin being used was not clearly defined.

A problem with this study is that the researchers also applied a drug, rosiglitazone, which was found to increase the effectiveness of the insulin. This drug is found in a widely advertised pharmaceutical many of us know as Avandia. Avandia is problematic, as it is not advised to be used by those taking insulin for diabetes control because of its involvement in heart attacks among such patients.

This is where the clarification in regard to insulin is important. Since 2005, studies at Brown University showed that insulin is produced not only in the pancreas, but also in the brain. In the Northwestern study, it was the rosiglitazone that bolstered the production of insulin in the brain and seemingly might offer a hope for those who are losing brain insulin due to aging or diabetes, with one caution. Though this finding demonstrates a significant potential to slow or deter AD pathogenesis, it is only for those who are not on insulin.

Types 1 and 2 diabetes result from a decrease in the production of insulin by the pancreas and are alike in that the amount of sugar in the blood increases. With the brain insulin-related condition now being called diabetes 3, blood sugar level is not affected. That seems to be a major difference.

There are also strong similarities. One is that deposits of the protein which cause the plaque have been found in the pancreas of those with diabetes 1 and 2, and in the brains of those with "diabetes 3", or AD. It is also recognized that diabetes 1 and 2 sufferers have up to a 65% higher risk of developing AD. These two circumstances indicate a strong link between diabetes and AD, but the causes of the relationship still need to be determined.

There are similar factors in the development of both disorders as well. In both we find impaired glucose/energy metabolism, oxidative stress, altered insulin-signaling pathways, some lipid metabolism dysfunction and inflammation. Some research has shown that vascular dysfunction contributes to AD, and it also is involved in diabetes.

Reactions from experts in the field have covered a wide range. As we've heard, some call the brain-centered insulin depletion "diabetes 3". Others say it is a totally different ailment which doesn't correspond to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but appears to follow a different and more complex disease process which originates in the central nervous system.

A representative from the Alzheimer's Research Trust said that it's been believed for awhile that insulin and its growth factors play a very important role in Alzheimer's Disease. One suggestion is that the link could be in molecular changes which are affected by insulin. The trust is funding research into the way insulin acts on the brain in an attempt to increase understanding about Alzheimer's.

Professor Gregory Cole, from the University of California Los Angeles' Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, has been doing many interesting research studies in relation to AD, besides looking at the diabetes connection. He said: "This is a new finding. It is interesting that the brain makes very low levels of insulin. But its significance is unclear. The levels are so low that they have not been detected with less sensitive methods."

What may be more exciting to Natural News readers on the AD subject are Professor Cole's findings on other substances besides insulin which may block amyloid plaques. Curcumin, or turmeric, the yellow Indian spice used in curry, was also found to block the plaques in mice. In addition, he has found that docosahexenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid present in cold-water fish, substantially slowed AD's progression in mice inflicted with the disorder.

Does this mean that eating curried fish will help prevent Alzheimer's? It's definitely food for thought. Whether or not it can, it's at least good for a number of other ailments and certainly beats using a pharmaceutical with all of its harmful side effects! Just remember to choose the coldwater fish which are lowest in mercury, such as herring, freshwater trout, wild salmon, sardines, shad and anchovies.

It bears repeating that much more research needs to be done before there is unanimous agreement that Alzheimer's Disease is a type of diabetes. For most of us, this is not the crucial issue. What we do need to keep in mind and act on is the knowledge that a diet rich in raw foods and low in sugars, coupled with a lifestyle that includes plenty of daily exercise, will help to keep insulin at good levels.

If some people want to add some curried foods and coldwater fish to the mix, they just might find it true that fish is indeed brain food.

Resources:

Journal of Alzheimers Disease http://www.j-alz.com/issues/16/vol1...
- Paula I. Moreira, Ana I. Duarte, Maria S. Santos, A. Cristina Rego, Catarina R. Oliveira,
"An Integrative View of the Role of Oxidative Stress, Mitochondria and Insulin in Alzheimer's Disease"
- V. Prakash Reddy, Xiongwei Zhu, George Perry, Mark A. Smith (Handling Editor: Ralph N. Martins) "Oxidative Stress in Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease"
- Sajjad Muhammad, Angelika Bierhaus, Markus Schwaninger, "Reactive Oxygen Species in Diabetes-induced Vascular Damage, Stroke, and Alzheimer's Disease"
- Allan Jones, Philipp Kulozik, Anke Ostertag, Stephan Herzig, "Common Pathological Processes and Transcriptional Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes"
- Elzbieta Kojro, Rolf Postina, "Regulated Proteolysis of RAGE and as Possible Link Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer's Disease"

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscen...

BBC News, 7 March 2005, "Study Suggests 'Type 3 Diabetes' "

Jenny Thompson, HSI e-newsletter, February 2009

New approaches to type-2 diabetes

A raw vegan diet for a month should clear this condition up very quickly. -Craig

Diabetes drugs given 'too soon'

Saturday, 7 March 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7929208.stm


One in three people with type 2 diabetes are given medication too soon, instead of being urged to eat better and do more exercise, a study suggests.

A study of 650 people in south west England found 36% were put on tablets within a month of being diagnosed, a Diabetes UK conference heard.

Yet UK guidelines recommend patients should first try to make lifestyle changes to control the condition.

The Royal College of GPs agreed diet and exercise should come first.

More than 400 people a day are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK.

It is often associated with obesity, and attempts in recent years to screen people for the disease has increased the number of people being diagnosed.

In the latest study, researchers found that in many patients lifestyle management was not given a chance, despite being widely recognised as being the initial first "treatment".

Metformin is the first drug of choice, but more drugs can be added if that is not doing enough to control blood sugar levels.

The researchers found that 13% of participants were actually on two types of tablets within the first few weeks of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Lifestyle

Study author Dr Rob Andrew, a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, said they had not expected the figures to be quite so high.

"There is quite clear guidance that says when you're first diagnosed, you should have the opportunity to concentrate on lifestyle then if that doesn't work the next stage is metformin.

"When people are diagnosed, they're ready to make a lot of changes but if you give them a tablet, you're saying it is not their lifestyle that is the problem."

He added that incentive payments to encourage GPs to reduce blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes, a lack of NHS resources for lifestyle support and a cultural attitude that people will not make the necessary changes are probably all to blame.

Simon O'Neill, from Diabetes UK, said they were concerned that in some cases medication seemed to be the first port of call.

"A healthy, balanced diet and doing physical activity should always be the foundation of good diabetes management.

"Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition - the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to need tablets, and eventually insulin.

"Even if people are on tablets, medication should not simply replace diet and physical activity."

Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said there was probably a case of jumping in too quickly with pills.

"It is a reminder for GPs and nurses managing newly diagnosed diabetes that lifestyle advice is the most important component."

He added that in some areas of the country there was a lack of resources for supporting behavioural changes.

Virus involved in type 1 diabetes

Virus 'triggers child diabetes'

By Emma Wilkinson
BBC News health reporter
Thursday, 5 March 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7926026.stm


A common virus may be the trigger for the development of many cases of diabetes, particularly in children, UK researchers have reported.

Signs of enteroviruses were found in pancreatic tissue from 60% of children with type 1 diabetes, but in hardly any children without the disease.

They also found that 40% of adults with type 2 diabetes had signs of the infection in insulin-producing cells.

The study published in Diabetologia raises the possibility of a vaccine.

Although genetics is known to play a fairly substantial role in a person's risk of developing diabetes, environmental factors must also be involved and the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades.

The next steps to identify the viruses and find out what they are doing to the infected beta cells will be hugely exciting and will take us a step closer to preventing type 1 diabetes

Dr Iain Frame, Diabetes UK

The latest study was made possible by a pathologist in Glasgow who for 25 years collected tissue samples from children across the UK who had died less than 12 months after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Dr Alan Foulis believed that enteroviruses - a common family of viruses which cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea - would be present but until recently the technology was not sensitive enough to detect them.

Along with colleagues from the south west-based Peninsula Medical School and the University of Brighton, he has now been able to look for evidence of the enteroviruses in tissue samples routinely taken during autopsy in 72 children and compare that with samples from 50 children without the condition.

In those with diabetes who had signs of the virus, it was specifically found in the insulin-producing beta cells.

Immune trigger

The researchers suggest that, in children with a genetic predisposition to type 1 diabetes - an autoimmune disease in which beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed - enterovirus infection can trigger the immune reaction that kicks off the disease process.

With type 2 diabetes - the type often linked to obesity in adults - the researchers speculate that the infection affects the ability of the cells to make insulin, which in combination with the greater demand for insulin in obese people, is enough to set off the disease.

At the same time, a separate study, published in Science, by researchers at Cambridge University, found four rare mutations in a gene which reduce the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

It also backs the viral theory because the gene in question is involved in the immune response to infection with enteroviruses.

Type 1 diabetes is a life- threatening condition that requires a life-time of painful finger prick blood testing and insulin injections

Karen Addington, JDRF

There are 100 different strains of enterovirus, so although the results open the way for the development of a vaccine, researchers still have to pin down which types are involved.

The study's author, Professor Noel Morgan from the Peninsula Medical School, said the results showed the underlying infection with enteroviruses was not a "rare event".

"The next stages of research - to identify which enteroviruses are involved, how the beta-cells are changed by infection and the ultimate goal to develop an effective vaccine - will lead to findings which we hope will drastically reduce the number of people around the world who develop type 1 diabetes, and potentially type 2 diabetes as well," he added.

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, said the study was "a big step forward" in understanding the potential triggers for the disease.

"We've known for some time that type 1 diabetes cannot be explained by genetics alone and that other, environmental triggers may also play a part.

"The next steps to identify the viruses and find out what they are doing to the infected beta cells will be hugely exciting and will take us a step closer to preventing Type 1 diabetes."

Karen Addington, chief executive of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who funded the research, said the findings were important as the incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing every year and there is currently no way to prevent it.

"Type 1 diabetes is a life- threatening condition that requires a life-time of painful finger prick blood testing and insulin injections," she pointed out.

Vitamin D in diabetes for kidney's health; WHY is it not prescribed?

(NaturalNews) New research shows that the low-cost vitamin Thiamine (vitamin B1) reverses kidney damage in diabetics, restoring the ability of the kidneys to function without allowing proteins to spill over into the urine.

The finding proves that a very low-cost treatment is highly effective and could serve as a low-cost nutritional therapy for diabetics, ultimately saving tens of millions of dollars a year in medical treatment costs in the U.S. alone.

The research was conducted at Warwick University in the UK. Predictably, the UK version of the American Diabetes Association (called "Diabetes UK") took the new evidence as an opportunity to tell people to avoid nutritional therapies. As reported by the BBC, Dr. Iain Frame said, "We would like to stress that it's still too early to come to any firm conclusions about the role of vitamin B1 and we would not advise that people look to vitamin supplements to reduce their risk of kidney complications at this stage."

In other words, it's the same advice diabetics get in the United States: Don't you dare use vitamins to enhance and protect your health... use pharmaceuticals instead!

More than three-fourths of the populations in both the U.S. and U.K. are deficient in thiamine. The deficiency can be easily corrected with nutritional supplementation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, does not believe there is any vitamin or nutrient in the known universe that prevents or treats any disease or health condition. This is actually the official position of the FDA, and thus anyone selling vitamin B1 who also claims the vitamin could reverse diabetic kidney damage would be violating FDA regulations and subjected to arrest at gunpoint. Any doctor recommending vitamin B1 for the same purpose could be stripped of his license to practice medicine.

Ginseng-efficient in obesity and diabetes

(NaturalNews) Ginseng has long been one of the foundations of healing in Chinese medicine, and is probably the world's best known herb. The botanical name panax means 'all curing' in Greek. This 5000 year old healer has traditionally been used as a restorative tonic to increase energy, stamina, and well being. Western scientists have confirmed the efficacy of ginseng for many of the traditional uses. Now researchers are adding to the traditional list, documenting ginseng as highly effective in weight loss and diabetes control.

New research documents ginseng's effectiveness against obesity and diabetes

Phytotherapy Research Journal reports an investigation of the molecular basis of ginsenoside Rg3, a red ginseng constituent, focusing on its ability to inhibit differentiation in the cells that store energy as fat. The data showed that ginsenoside Rg3 effectively inhibited this differentiation making the cells less able to complete the fat storage process.

Phytotherapy Research Journal also reports an evaluation of the anti-obesity effect of wild ginseng in obese leptin-deficient mice. Wild ginseng was administered orally to the mice at 100mg/kg and 200m/kg for 4 weeks. The mice showed a loss of body weight and a decrease in blood glucose levels when compared to the control mice.

A follow up study by the same research team reported results suggesting that the anti-obesity effect of identified saponins from ginseng may result from inhibiting energy gain, normalizing hypothalamic neuropeptides and serum biochemcials related to the control of weight gain.

A study reported in Phytomedicine was performed to clarify whether the crude saponins from stems and leaves of panax quinquefolium inhibited lipase activity in vitro and prevented obesity induced in mice. For the in vivo experiments, female mice were fed a fattening diet with or without saponins for 8 weeks. The researchers found that the crude saponins inhibited pancreatic lipase activity. Furthermore, crude saponins inhibited the elevations of plasma triacylglycerol in rats administered the oral lipid emulsion tolerance test. With long-term administration of crude saponins, fat tissue weight was decreased in those fed the fattening diet as compared to the controls.

In a randomized clinical study reported in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers sought to provide evidence of efficacy and safety in the use of ginseng for diabetes. Their research generated a mounting body of evidence to support the claim that American Ginseng is useful in improving diabetes control, reducing associated risk factors such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and ameliorating insulin resistance. American ginseng acts in the digestive tract to increase insulin secretion.

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology reports a study acknowledging ginseng's long history as an herbal remedy for diabetes. Researchers investigated the effect and mechanism of Korean red ginseng on stimulation of insulin release in rats. They found that the extract of Korean red ginseng significantly evoked a stimulation of insulin release compared to the controls. Experiments at different glucose concentrations showed that ginseng significantly stimulated on its own, in a glucose-independent manner.

As reported in the Journal of Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, initiating studies have shown that American ginseng increases insulin production and reduces cell death in pancreatic beta-cells. Studies have also revealed American ginseng's ability to decrease blood glucose in type II diabetes patients as well as in diabetes induced animals. These data suggest that the effects of ginseng in improving hyperglycemia may alter mitochondrial function as well as apoptosis cascades to ensure cell viability in pancreatic islet cells.

Characteristics of ginseng

Ginseng is one of the adaptogens, a group of non-toxic, non-habit forming substances that normalize body chemistry and functioning. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to cope with physical, emotional and environmental stress. They work in a synergistic manner, increasing the body's own ability to fight off disease. The greater the body's need for an adaptogen, the increasingly more active the substance becomes.

Ginseng is a plant with many different components. It is used in its entirety in the preparation of teas, and the root is used in powders and capsules. Ginsenosides are a group of its active compounds that are found in saponins, soap-like materials in the roots of the plant. The various ginsenosides are referred to as Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, and so on.

The term ginseng is used to refer to panax ginseng and panax quinquefolius, first cousins in the Araliaceae family. Each contains a different balance of the ginsenosides, giving it a unique character. Panax ginseng is the "Yang", providing warming, stimulation and energizing. Panax quinquefolius is the "Yin", providing cooling, relaxing and calming.

Ginseng was first found in Manchuria and was referred to by the ancient Chinese as 'Ren Shen', meaning 'Man root' referring to the human-like shape of the ginseng root. To the Chinese, this shape meant the herb was designated for human use. They believed that regular consumption of ginseng led to a long and happy life. Ginseng became so valuable that it was prized beyond gold. It was so popular that the supply of ginseng from the Chinese mainland could not meet the demand, and imports were brought from Korea. When the wild stock was exhausted, commercial cultivation began. Wild ginseng is believed to contain greater medicinal value than what is cultivated.

Ginseng is used fresh or dried. Sometimes plant leaves are added with the root, but the root is the highly prized part of the plant. Cultivated ginseng is available as Red ginseng and White ginseng. The difference lies in the way the root is processed. The different geographical names before the word 'ginseng' indicate where the plant was grown. Subtle variations exist between the varieties.

Ginseng contains a number of compounds that are unique. Many of these elements have an effect on the adrenal glands, increasing the amount of hormone secretion to ward off both physical and emotional stress. Scientists believe that it is this effect that is responsible for the stress fighting power of ginseng.

Ginseng lives up to its name as a cure-all

Ginseng facilitates metabolic equilibrium. Russian research showed that ginseng stimulated physical and mental activities in tired and weak individuals and aided with balancing. It was found to strengthen and protect under prolonged strain. Ginseng works to stimulate and improve the working of the brain with its ability to promote oxygenation. The Russians also found it to increase energy and physical endurance. It stimulates the functioning of the endocrine glands and promotes vigor of the reproductive organs. Research is underway to determine the effectiveness of ginseng on erectile disfunction.

Asian researchers have documented ginsengs ability to reduce fatigue and increase stamina. They found that ginseng aids in the formation of red blood cells and helps eliminate anemia. Ginseng strengthens the gastrointestinal system, facilitates liver regeneration, and helps detoxify poisons.

Ginseng is one of the few herbs showing promise in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. This puzzling condition has no widely accepted treatment for the numbing fatigue that typifies the condition. However, people suffering from chronic fatigue have reported an improvement in their symptoms after regular use of ginseng.

Additional sources:

"The Health Benefits of Ginseng", health.learninginfo.org.

Dr. Maoshing Ni, Secrets of Longevity.

Kiwifruits- one of the highest anti-oxidants

(NaturalNews) The antioxidants found in kiwifruit are absorbed by the body more effectively than those from other antioxidant-rich fruits, according to a study conducted by researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Researchers fed 300 grams per day of green Hayward kiwifruit to seven healthy women volunteers who had fasted overnight before the beginning of the study. The researchers took blood samples from the women before they ate, as well as 1.5, 3 and 4.5 hours afterward. They measured the antioxidant capacity of each blood sample, then exposed the blood cells to hydrogen peroxide and recorded the degree of oxidative damage suffered.

The researchers found that kiwifruit had an antioxidant intake score of 12.5, substantially higher than the known score of 4.2 for grapes and 1.7 for strawberries. This means that eating kiwifruit resulted in the highest absorption and metabolism of antioxidants.

The mechanisms behind the differences in antioxidant absorption from different fruits are still unknown, although the researchers speculated that kiwifruit's high vitamin C content might be partially responsible.

Antioxidants are believed to be important for their ability to remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals have been linked to various kinds of cell damage, including some that cause cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and various symptoms of aging.

"We're learning that anti-oxidants should be consumed with every meal," lead researcher Ronald Prior said, "and if you routinely skip anti-oxidants in your diet, over time, the excess number of free radicals being produced may begin damaging cellular components, ultimately leading to atherosclerosis and cancer."

The researchers noted that while it can not be proven that eating kiwifruit will have any specific health effects until more studies are carried out, the antioxidants in the fruit are known to lower rates of heart disease and cancer.

Sources for this story include: www.upi.com.
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Environmental pollution and diabetes 2 risk

(NaturalNews) Nearly every person and animal in the world has detectable levels of poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in his or her body. It is thought that the levels in most people are low enough to never cause harm. However, to the list of adverse health effects resulting from high PCB exposure, a new ailment has been added, type 2 diabetes.

This was reported in the August 2008 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. The data for the study originated from an incident in late 1970s Taiwan, when cooking oil laced with PCBs poisoned thousands of Taiwanese. From 1993 to 2003, the researchers examined 378 victims and compared them to 370 reference subjects of the same neighborhoods who had not been exposed.

During the 24 years, the development of type 2 diabetes in exposed women was twice as common as in unexposed women. The women who had been the most severely affected by the PCB poisoning had more than five-times the rate of type 2 diabetes.

For unstated reasons, men did not experience an increased risk.

Past studies have shown that people with diabetes have higher levels of PCBs and other organic pollutants in their blood than people without the disorder. It's possible that the body of a person with the disorder is not as efficient at removing these pollutants as a healthy body.

One of the researchers, Yueliang Leon Guo, said that since there are detectable levels of PCBs in everyone's body, even low levels may be a factor in the rise of diabetes throughout the world. Of course, a person's activity level and diet are the overriding factors.

PCBs are a class of 200 similar man-made chemicals. They had diverse applications (fluorescent lights, insecticides, insulation, adhesives, lubricants, etc.) before they were banned in the late 1970s. Despite being banned, PCBs still permeate our world as a result of being dumped in rivers and they escape into the environment by other vectors. Many PCB products are still in use today. This class of chemicals continues to move up the food chains and become more concentrated through a process called bioaccumulation.

PCBs are very persistent chemicals. They don't break down easily and are difficult to destroy. It will take several generations for PCBs to disappear entirely from our bodies.

Seeing as these chemicals are invisible and widespread, avoidance is difficult. Besides staying away from known sources, the best choice you can make is to keep your defenses strong by staying vibrantly healthy.

Source:

Increased Risk of Diabetes and Poly-chlorinated Biphenyls and Dioxins
(http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/co...)