Thursday, August 23, 2012

Diabetes, Breast Tumors, Alzheimers, Best Cooking Oils


The spicy secret to avoiding diabetes

Getting diabetes is easy. For most people, it's a matter of just making the same bad choices they already make every day. Make enough bad choices, and the disease is a foregone conclusion.

But who says you have to keep making those bad choices? If you're not diabetic yet, it's not too late -- because even if you're speeding toward the disease right now, there's still time to slam the brakes by making better choices.

There is one choice you can start with right now: Curcumin. That's the spice in Indian food that gives those dishes their distinct color and flavor. But it can do so much more than jazz up a bland dish, because the latest research out of Thailand finds it's a diabetes-fighting superhero.

NONE of the 119 prediabetics given curcumin went on to get diabetes during the nine-month study. None -- compared to 19 of the 116 prediabetics given a placebo.

Prediabetes, of course, is a condition so close to "real" diabetes that you can practically taste it. Personally, I'd rather taste curcumin instead -- but in this case, it takes more than you'll ever get from food alone.

The patients in the study who got the real curcumin pills took six a day, each one containing 250 mg of the beneficial curcuminoids locked inside the spice.

That's a lot of curcumin, but tests on these patients found they had improved function in the beta-cells of the pancreas -- the same cells that short-circuit themselves trying to meet the demand for insulin as blood sugar levels spiral out of control.

That's what leads to diabetes. And if curcumin could only protect against that, I'd say it's done plenty.

But this spice is also a powerful antioxidant and a natural anti-inflammatory that can help cut your dementia risk, fight tumors, beat pain, raise levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and more.

The only "catch" here -- if you can call it that -- is that the levels of those curcuminoids I mentioned earlier can vary widely from one supplement to another, so be sure to get yours from a company you trust.


High-carb diet is fuel for breast tumors

Ladies, you know the score by now: Most breast tumors are completely harmless. They don't need to be screened, and they certainly don't need to be treated.

But some breast tumors are deadly, and there's one surefire way to raise your risk of getting one of those: eat junk food.

Sugar -- along with the rest of the carbs -- is like fuel for tumors, and a new study shows how women who stick to a high-carb diet have a dramatically higher risk of the deadliest breast tumors.

The study of nearly 335,000 European women tracked for 12 years finds that older women who eat high-glycemic foods -- foods that raise blood glucose, aka carbs -- have a 36 percent higher risk of ER-negative breast cancers than women who stick mostly to low-glycemic foods.

ER-negative tumors grow faster, are harder to treat, and much more likely to be deadly -- and in plain talk, the study means the older women who ate the most carbs were more likely to get them.

Diabetes is everywhere these days -- and a high-glycemic diet will get you there in a hurry.

So, pick your reason: Whether you want to avoid rare and deadly breast tumors or to just make sure you don't get diabetes, the answer is to stop eating a lot of carbs.

 
A Little Activity Prevents Alzheimers 

A few years ago, researchers had a remarkable plan. They created a dye that would bind to beta-amyloid deposits that corrupt the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Then they used a PET scan to track beta-amyloid buildup.

In 2008 they had a breakthrough.

Using the dye (called PiB), they were able to track AD progress in a living patient for the very first time. (An autopsy later confirmed accuracy.)

Two years ago, we saw one of the first studies to put the PiB technique to use.

Results showed that those with a family history of AD were four times more likely to have beta-amyloid deposits. The study also confirmed that AD risk is even higher in those with AD mothers.

Now PiB is breaking important new ground again.

Researchers recruited more than 200 cognitively normal adults over the age of 45. Using PiB and PET scan imaging, they found that sedentary subjects with a family history of AD were much more likely to show early stages of amyloid buildup compared to those who stayed active.

These results closely follow another reported study. Those results showed that walking just five miles each week protects vital brain structure in AD patients. Those with mild cognitive impairment benefited as well.

This is vital information for the millions of people who inherit AD risk. It's remarkably simple. Just get out of the house and walk. This will yield benefits in a dozen different ways. But none of them is more important than saving your mind from a tragic decent into Alzheimer's.

 
Cooking oils 101 - Choosing the best oils for your health
List provided by NaturalNews


Contrary to popular belief, not all fat is bad for your health. Many fats, in fact, actually promote healthy weight maintenance and a well-functioning cardiovascular and nervous system, among many other benefits. But with so much misinformation out there about the nature of fats and oils, it can be difficult for many people to make sense of the issue, to the detriment of their own health.

To help simplify the matter, here are some helpful tips for choosing the best edible oils for your health:

Coconut oil. Perhaps the most misunderstood -- and also one of the healthiest -- oils you can consume, coconut oil is an amazingly-versatile, nutrient-dense superfood that is the richest known source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which aid in the proper digestion and assimilation of fats, as well as boost energy levels. Coconut oil is also rich in healthy saturated fats and antioxidants, and has been found to promote brain health, boost immunity, and strengthen thyroid function.

Since it has a high smoke point and is incredibly shelf stable, coconut oil is great for both cooking and eating raw. Many people regularly eat unrefined, extra virgin coconut oil by the spoonful, as it is a powerful antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral food that is rich in disease-fighting lauric acid. Coconut is also a powerful energy booster, as it quickly penetrates cells and provides rapid nourishment.

Red palm oil. This one is a bit more controversial, as palm plantations are said to be slowly overtaking the natural habitats of orangutans and other animals. But when cultivated responsibly,
red palm oil
is an excellent, shelf-stable oil that is rich in tocotrienols (vitamin E) and carotenes (vitamin A). Similar to coconut oil, red palm oil has a high smoke point, does not require hydrogenation to remain stable, and is completely free of trans fatty acids, which makes it an excellent option for cooking and baking.

Red palm
oil
is pretty much the only oil that has a perfect balance of both tocopherols and tocotrienols, which together encompass the gamut of vitamin E's many unique forms. Red palm oil also contains nearly 13 times more vitamin A-producing carotenes than carrots, which make it one of the richest plant sources of this important nutrient.

Avocado oil. A relatively underrated fat, avocado oil is gaining popularity as a powerful, free radical-fighting "super-oil" that protects cellular mitochondria from destruction. Rich in phytonutrients, avocado oil does not easily oxidize, which makes it preferable to sunflower, safflower, canola, soybean, corn, and peanut oils, which are often recommended in many mainstream health circles as being healthy.

The antioxidants found in avocado oil have a unique ability to effectively enter cell mitochondria and shield cells against disease-causing oxidation. Many fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants lack this ability, at least to the same degree. Avocado oil is also a powerful weapon against heart disease and aging.

Macadamia nut oil. The average American consumes far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, which is a major contributor to chronic inflammation and disease. But macadamia nut oil is uniquely low in omega-6s compared to other nut
oils
, while also being relatively high in omega-3s. Macadamia nut oil is said to contain an ideal 1:1 ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it one of the healthiest nut oils you can consume.

Macadamia nut oil is also rich in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that contains its own unique cancer-fighting and heart-protecting properties. With a rich, sweet, buttery flavor, as well as a high smoke point, macadamia nut oil is both a delicious salad topper, and a tasty frying and sauteing oil.

Olive oil. Nearly everybody knows about the health benefits of olive oil, as it is one of the most highly acclaimed, heart-healthy oils being talked about today. And when it is truly fresh and authentic, extra virgin olive oil really is everything the
health
industry claims and more, especially when consumed alongside other healthy oils like coconut and avocado.

A staple of the so-called Mediterranean diet, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which help reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. Its various vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants effectively guard against heart disease; promote healthy digestion; ease the symptoms of ulcers and gastritis; and prevent gallstone formation, among other benefits.

Sesame oil. Popular in Asian cooking, sesame oil has a pungent flavor that makes it a favorite in many foods. And the great news is that it is also beneficial to health, having been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Sesame oil is also rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium, the latter of which is known for its incredible calming effect.

Also rich in polyunsaturated fats, sesame oil helps contribute to proper fat
absorption; cognitive acuity; healthy skin; a lowered risk of heart disease; and strong teeth and bones. Sesame oil also helps fight diabetes, reduce high blood pressure, prevent gingivitis and dental plaque, protect against kidney damage, and fight depression.

Other beneficial oils worth checking out include almond oil, pumpkin seed oil, flax seed oil, grape seed oil, walnut oil, hemp oil, and ghee, also known as clarified butter.
 
On the other hand, corn, soy, cottonseed, canola, sunflower, safflower and various other "vegetable" oils are all damaging to health and should be avoided.

Until next time, stay healthy and happy

JD Roma

 
The information on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a Naturopath).

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