The 7-minute exercise plan for diabetes prevention
Exercise is overrated. I'm always reading more proof that says you don't need to run a marathon to receive the benefits of a little exercise. Like this British study that claims you can control or prevent diabetes with as little as seven minutes of exercise… per week.
The study's leader, University of Edinburgh biologist James Timmons, says that you can get the same benefits from minimal amounts of exercise as you can from workouts that last for hours. "This is such a brief amount of exercise you can do it without breaking a sweat," Timmons said.
In the study, out-of-shape men in their 20s were asked to ride an exercise bike four times each day – in 30 second bursts of pedaling – two days a week. After just two weeks, the all of the men were 23 percent more effective at processing insulin.
I've warned you many times about the potential dangers of over-rigorous exercise, so this minimalist approach appeals to me – and it should to you, too! Like I always say, skip the gym membership and just go for a walk.
Always providing your brain with vigorous exercise,
William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
The Normal A1C Level
You want to control your diabetes as much as possible. You wouldn't be reading
this if you didn't.
So you regularly check your A1C level. This is the best measurement of our blood
glucose control that we have now. It tells us what percentage of our hemoglobin
-- the protein in our red blood cells that carry oxygen -- has glucose sticking to it.
The less glucose that remains in our bloodstream rather than going to work in the cells
that need it the better we feel now and the better our health will continue to be.
As we are able to control our diabetes better and better, the reasonable goal is
to bring our A1C levels down to normal -- the A1C level that people who don't have
diabetes have. But before we can even set that goal, we have to know what the target is.
The trouble with setting that target is that different experts tell us that
quite different A1C levels are "normal." They tell us that different levels are
normal -- but I have never heard of actual studies of normal A1C levels among
people without diabetes -- until now.
The major laboratories that test our levels often say that the normal range is
4.0 to 6.0.
They base that range on an old standard chemistry text, Tietz Fundamentals of
Clinical Chemistry.
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial or DCCT, one of the two largest and
most
important studies of people with diabetes, said that 6.0 was a normal level. But
the
other key study, the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study or UKPDS, which
compared conventional and intensive therapy in more than 5,000 newly diagnosed
people with type 2 diabetes, said that 6.2 is the normal level.
Those levels, while unsubstantiated, are close. But they comes along one of my
heroes,
Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, the author of the key text of very low-carb eating for
people
with diabetes, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. Dr. Bernstein himself
developed
type 1 diabetes in 1946 at the age of 12.
"For my patients...a truly normal HgbA1C ranges from 4.2 percent to 4.6
percent," he
writes on page 54 of the third edition of that book. "Mine is consistently 4.5
percent."
Then in his July 30, 2008, telecast he reiterated that as far as he has been
able to
determine, a normal A1C is 4.2 to 4.6.
What Dr. Bernstein says is normal is so at odds with the other experts that at
least a
year ago I determined to find scientific proof of what a normal A1C level
actually is. It
turned out to be a lot more difficult to find than I ever imagined.
My personal quest for a normal A1C level and that of my favorite Certified
Diabetes
Educator drove that search.
When I learned in 1994 that I had diabetes and that my A1C level was 14.4, I was
gradually able to bring it way down. Lately I have been doing everything I can
think of to
try to get my A1C down to normal. But in 2008 my level in nine separate A1C
tests
always ranged from 5.2 to 5.6. That's far from normal, according to Dr.
Bernstein.
My favorite Certified Diabetes Educator is also doing everything she can to get
a normal
A1C level. And she doesn't even have diabetes -- which she double-checked by
taking
a glucose tolerance test -- but her most recent A1C was 5.4.
What could we be doing that is so wrong? Each of us is thin, eat a very healthy
diet, exercise a lot, take care of our teeth and gums, which is a major source
of infection. Could we have other infections or stresses that prevent us from
getting our A1C levels down to "normal"?
It turns out that my favorite Certified Diabetes Educator and I have normal A1C
levels after all. I learned this just yesterday when I finally tracked down
actual research determining what normal levels are.
A friend suggested that I contact the people who run the standardization program
for A1C testing. This organization affiliated with the University of Missouri is
the NGSP. Those initial used to stand for the National Glycohemoglobin
Standardization Program. But now that the NGSP is international, they changed
the name.
So I called Curt Rohlfing, the NGSP data manager and technical writer/research
analyst at the University of Missouri. And finally hit pay dirt in my quest for
learning what a normal A1C is.
Curt told me that every three or four years his lab at the university studies a
group of people who don't have diabetes to scientifically determine what a
normal A1C level is. The results from one study to the next are always close,
Curt told me. In their most recent study they tested 29 people who lived nearby
in central Missouri.
I asked how they knew if the people they tested didn't have diabetes. "Because
we did fasting glucose tests on them, they had no prior history of diabetes, and
none of them were obese," Curt replied.
So what were their levels? They ranged from 4.5 to 6, Curt replied. That's at
plus or minus 3 standard deviations.
I am certainly no statistician. But Curt tells me that it includes about 99
percent of the values.
The range is narrower -- 4.7 to 5.7 -- at plus or minus 2 standard deviations.
This includes about 95 percent of the values.
"The upper limit is the more important one," Curt explained further. "The lower
limit doesn't convey as much meaning."
They also see "a little skew toward the high end of the range, a bit of tailing
at the high side," Curt continued. In fact, levels below 4.5 are "quite
unusual," and usually are only when people have anemia or other abnormalities of
the red blood cells.
Remember these are the ranges obtained by the people who set the standards for
A1C tests. Sadly, however, not every laboratory or home test kit meets those
standards. Maybe the lab that Dr. Bernstein uses doesn't. Does yours? Curt
suggests that you ask your doctor if the lab running the test uses a method that
is certified by the NGSP.
The first conclusion of the research for me is that we need to shoot for a
normal A1C level of no more than 6.0 instead of trying what may be impossible, a
level of 4.2 to 4.6.
However, an A1C level of 6.0 can cause people who take insulin injections or one
of the
sulfonylureas to go hypo. That's why the American Diabetes Associations sets the
goal
conservatively at 7.0.
Still, a lower A1C level among people who take those medications is possible
without hypos. Dr. Bernstein has amply shown that both in his own life and that
of thousands of his patients.
And certainly, for those of us who don't take insulin injections or one of the
sulfonylureas we can set our goal even lower.
That's because we have to understand the different between normal and optimal.
For example, two-thirds of all American adults are overweight. Thus it has
become normal in our culture to be overweight. Likewise, the average American
gets little exercise, and that is also normal. We know that being a chubby couch
potato isn't optimal.
"I'm going to aim to be in the lower end of the normal A1C range," my favorite
CDE tells me, "because that is what I believe is optimal for human health." And
now that I know my A1C is in the normal range I am still going to do my best to
bring it down as much as possible. Are you?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Most edible oils contain harmful trans fat, study shows
Most edible oils contain harmful trans fat, study shows
New Delhi (IANS): How healthy is the oil you are consuming? A new study has found that despite tall claims by manufacturers, most of the edible oils available in the market are full of trans fat that could lead to heart disease.
A study conduced by an NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), tested 30 samples of branded oils - vanaspati, vegetable oil, ghee and butter - widely available in the market. It found that all of them have several times higher percentage of trans fat than required.
Trans fat is a kind of unsaturated fat produced when hydrogen is added to the vegetable
oil to increase its shelf life.
"Trans fats are deadly for health, especially for the heart, as they reduce the good cholesterol. They can increase the risk of infertility in women and cause diseases like cancer and diabetes. Some of the countries in the world have regulated the use of trans fats in oils," said CSE director Sunita Narain.
The tests found that in all vanaspati brands, trans fat levels were five to 12 times higher than the world's only standard for trans fat, set in Denmark, at two percent of total oil.
"The study found that if all oils are compared against Denmark standard, then no edible oil in the market could claim to be healthy," said Narain.
According to her, while food regulators in India have accepted trans fat as a serious health concern, they are delaying setting the standard for trans fat in oils.
"In 2004, the health ministry's oil and fats sub-committee began a discussion on a standard for trans fat. In Jan 2008, it forwarded its recommendations to the Central Committee for Food for standards but no decision has been taken yet," said Chander Bhushan, head of the team that carried out the study.
Instead of standards, in Septemeber 2008, the health ministry issued a notification for labelling of trans fat on oil and food.
"Oil companies easily get away by giving composition in a range, which actually consumers do not even know. It is like playing with the health of citizens. We want the government to immediately set some standards for trans fat in oil and food products," Narain said.
The study found that vanaspati has the highest amount of trans fat followed by vegetable oil. The least amount of trans fat was found in ghee and butter.
Source: The Hindu
New Delhi (IANS): How healthy is the oil you are consuming? A new study has found that despite tall claims by manufacturers, most of the edible oils available in the market are full of trans fat that could lead to heart disease.
A study conduced by an NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), tested 30 samples of branded oils - vanaspati, vegetable oil, ghee and butter - widely available in the market. It found that all of them have several times higher percentage of trans fat than required.
Trans fat is a kind of unsaturated fat produced when hydrogen is added to the vegetable
oil to increase its shelf life.
"Trans fats are deadly for health, especially for the heart, as they reduce the good cholesterol. They can increase the risk of infertility in women and cause diseases like cancer and diabetes. Some of the countries in the world have regulated the use of trans fats in oils," said CSE director Sunita Narain.
The tests found that in all vanaspati brands, trans fat levels were five to 12 times higher than the world's only standard for trans fat, set in Denmark, at two percent of total oil.
"The study found that if all oils are compared against Denmark standard, then no edible oil in the market could claim to be healthy," said Narain.
According to her, while food regulators in India have accepted trans fat as a serious health concern, they are delaying setting the standard for trans fat in oils.
"In 2004, the health ministry's oil and fats sub-committee began a discussion on a standard for trans fat. In Jan 2008, it forwarded its recommendations to the Central Committee for Food for standards but no decision has been taken yet," said Chander Bhushan, head of the team that carried out the study.
Instead of standards, in Septemeber 2008, the health ministry issued a notification for labelling of trans fat on oil and food.
"Oil companies easily get away by giving composition in a range, which actually consumers do not even know. It is like playing with the health of citizens. We want the government to immediately set some standards for trans fat in oil and food products," Narain said.
The study found that vanaspati has the highest amount of trans fat followed by vegetable oil. The least amount of trans fat was found in ghee and butter.
Source: The Hindu
Diabetes And Low Testosterone
Diabetes And Low Testosterone
The Two Go Hand In Hand, With Possibly Serious Consequences
Dec. 1, 2004
Diabetes
Symptoms, treatments, and how to prevent it.
(WebMD) A third of men with type 2 diabetes have low testosterone levels, a new study suggests.
Testosterone helps men reduce body fat and improves the way their bodies handle insulin. So low testosterone levels may have serious consequences for men with diabetes, suggests Sandeep Dhindsa, MD, of State University of New York at Buffalo.
"We are describing a new complication of type 2 diabetes. We are saying that the largest group of people who have [low testosterone] are diabetics," Dhindsa tells WebMD. "It means your pituitary gland, which controls all the other hormones in your body, is not working very well. We are talking about one-third of men with diabetes being at risk of high fat mass, low muscle mass, low bone density, depression, and erectile dysfunction."
Total Testosterone Vs. Free Testosterone
Previous studies have found that men with diabetes are more likely to have low testosterone than are men without diabetes, notes Glenn R. Cunningham, MD, professor of molecular and cellular biology and vice chairman for research at Baylor College of Medicine.
"People have looked at testosterone levels in diabetics a lot. A number of studies show a fairly significant percentage of diabetics have low testosterone," Cunningham tells WebMD.
But most of these studies, Dhindsa says, relied on measures of total testosterone. Total testosterone levels depend on the amount of a testosterone-binding substance in the blood (sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG). Since men with diabetes have low SHBG levels, it was hard to know what these earlier findings meant.
Dhindsa and colleagues, however, used much more sophisticated tests that measure free testosterone in the blood of 103 men with type 2 diabetes.
"That gives more validity to this study than to some of the others," Cunningham says. "They did find somewhat higher prevalence of low testosterone than previously reported."
Low Testosterone In Diabetes: More Than Obesity
A man's testosterone levels drop as he ages. If he's obese, his testosterone levels drop even more. Diabetes accentuates these effects.
Indeed, the older and more obese men in the Dhindsa study did tend to have low testosterone levels. But many of the younger, leaner men had low testosterone, too.
The researchers found nothing wrong with the men's testes. Instead, they found evidence that the men's pituitary glands weren't making enough luteinizing hormone. That's the hormone that tells the testes to make testosterone.
Why is this a problem? Low testosterone levels are, of course, linked to erectile dysfunction. Low testosterone is linked to higher fat mass, particularly abdominal fat, which is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes because of its risk for heart disease. Low testosterone is also linked to low bone density, low lean muscle mass, depression, mood disorders, and cognitive problems. And low testosterone is linked to insulin resistance.
Advice To Men With Diabetes: Get Testosterone Test
Cunningham advises men with diabetes to get a testosterone test — free testosterone, not total testosterone — if they have any symptoms of sexual dysfunction.
Dhindsa advises men with diabetes not to wait for symptoms, but to get a testosterone test as part of their basic medical care.
"We are screening all diabetic men for low testosterone because the symptoms are very nonspecific," he says. "Anyone can have erectile dysfunction or a mood problem. And most diabetes patients with low testosterone do not have any symptoms. They are surprised to find they have low testosterone."
Testosterone replacement therapy is available. Will it help people with diabetes? That remains to be seen. Dhindsa and colleagues are giving the treatment to men with diabetes and low testosterone, but it's too soon to tell whether it's the right thing to do.
"The data are not sufficient to recommend testosterone replacement for men with diabetes," Cunningham says. "One of the things that could be important is when you treat a man with male sex hormone, it increases lean body mass and causes some decrease in fat mass. There is some issue whether testosterone might improve diabetic men's insulin sensitivity. The studies we have are not definitive."
Sources: Dhindsa, S. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, November 2004; vol 89: pp 5462-5468. Sandeep Dhindsa, MD, assistant professor of medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo. Glenn R. Cunningham, MD, professor of molecular and cellular biology and vice chairman for research, Baylor College of Medicine; associate chief of staff, Research Service, VA Medical Center, Houston.
By Daniel J. DeNoon
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
© 2004, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
The Two Go Hand In Hand, With Possibly Serious Consequences
Dec. 1, 2004
Diabetes
Symptoms, treatments, and how to prevent it.
(WebMD) A third of men with type 2 diabetes have low testosterone levels, a new study suggests.
Testosterone helps men reduce body fat and improves the way their bodies handle insulin. So low testosterone levels may have serious consequences for men with diabetes, suggests Sandeep Dhindsa, MD, of State University of New York at Buffalo.
"We are describing a new complication of type 2 diabetes. We are saying that the largest group of people who have [low testosterone] are diabetics," Dhindsa tells WebMD. "It means your pituitary gland, which controls all the other hormones in your body, is not working very well. We are talking about one-third of men with diabetes being at risk of high fat mass, low muscle mass, low bone density, depression, and erectile dysfunction."
Total Testosterone Vs. Free Testosterone
Previous studies have found that men with diabetes are more likely to have low testosterone than are men without diabetes, notes Glenn R. Cunningham, MD, professor of molecular and cellular biology and vice chairman for research at Baylor College of Medicine.
"People have looked at testosterone levels in diabetics a lot. A number of studies show a fairly significant percentage of diabetics have low testosterone," Cunningham tells WebMD.
But most of these studies, Dhindsa says, relied on measures of total testosterone. Total testosterone levels depend on the amount of a testosterone-binding substance in the blood (sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG). Since men with diabetes have low SHBG levels, it was hard to know what these earlier findings meant.
Dhindsa and colleagues, however, used much more sophisticated tests that measure free testosterone in the blood of 103 men with type 2 diabetes.
"That gives more validity to this study than to some of the others," Cunningham says. "They did find somewhat higher prevalence of low testosterone than previously reported."
Low Testosterone In Diabetes: More Than Obesity
A man's testosterone levels drop as he ages. If he's obese, his testosterone levels drop even more. Diabetes accentuates these effects.
Indeed, the older and more obese men in the Dhindsa study did tend to have low testosterone levels. But many of the younger, leaner men had low testosterone, too.
The researchers found nothing wrong with the men's testes. Instead, they found evidence that the men's pituitary glands weren't making enough luteinizing hormone. That's the hormone that tells the testes to make testosterone.
Why is this a problem? Low testosterone levels are, of course, linked to erectile dysfunction. Low testosterone is linked to higher fat mass, particularly abdominal fat, which is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes because of its risk for heart disease. Low testosterone is also linked to low bone density, low lean muscle mass, depression, mood disorders, and cognitive problems. And low testosterone is linked to insulin resistance.
Advice To Men With Diabetes: Get Testosterone Test
Cunningham advises men with diabetes to get a testosterone test — free testosterone, not total testosterone — if they have any symptoms of sexual dysfunction.
Dhindsa advises men with diabetes not to wait for symptoms, but to get a testosterone test as part of their basic medical care.
"We are screening all diabetic men for low testosterone because the symptoms are very nonspecific," he says. "Anyone can have erectile dysfunction or a mood problem. And most diabetes patients with low testosterone do not have any symptoms. They are surprised to find they have low testosterone."
Testosterone replacement therapy is available. Will it help people with diabetes? That remains to be seen. Dhindsa and colleagues are giving the treatment to men with diabetes and low testosterone, but it's too soon to tell whether it's the right thing to do.
"The data are not sufficient to recommend testosterone replacement for men with diabetes," Cunningham says. "One of the things that could be important is when you treat a man with male sex hormone, it increases lean body mass and causes some decrease in fat mass. There is some issue whether testosterone might improve diabetic men's insulin sensitivity. The studies we have are not definitive."
Sources: Dhindsa, S. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, November 2004; vol 89: pp 5462-5468. Sandeep Dhindsa, MD, assistant professor of medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo. Glenn R. Cunningham, MD, professor of molecular and cellular biology and vice chairman for research, Baylor College of Medicine; associate chief of staff, Research Service, VA Medical Center, Houston.
By Daniel J. DeNoon
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
© 2004, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
REAL Health Breakthroughs
REAL Health Breakthroughs
From William Campbell Douglass II,M.D.
Visit us at www.DouglassReport.com Learn more about William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
The Great Cholesterol Myth Busted!
The controversy has been raging for years about the importance (or lack of importance) of cholesterol in the diet. Radicals like me have been saying all along that the more cholesterol you eat the better. Back in the 70s when the cardiologists were telling their patients to limit eggs to one a week, I was telling my patients to eat 10 a day if they liked
Over the last 50 years, the "high cholesterol/heart disease" theory has been disproved many times over, but mainstream medicine still pretends not to know it. In fact, in 2004 the Journal of the American College of Nutrition printed a study by Dr. David R. Pendergast of the State University of New York that proves my point perfectly. Dr. Pendergast and his colleagues placed 11 healthy adults on a very low-fat diet with only 19 percent of calories பிரோம் fat—something only a dedicated carrot cruncher could tolerate. The volunteers' good cholesterol, HDL, dropped significantly. Then Pendergast had them switch to a high-fat plan. After three weeks on this diet, which provided 50 percent of calories from fat, participants' HDL levels went up considerably. And, by the way, the high-fat diet did not raise LDL (bad) cholesterol beyond the levels participants had on their regular diets.
"While saturated fat is blamed for raising 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels, Pendergast said, it may in fact be the combination of lots of fat and too many calories that makes for unhealthy cholesterol profiles."
Saturated fat does NOT raise cholesterol levels. That was proven 80 years ago by the famous arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who lived on whale and seal blubber for a year and came out of it wiser but no fatter. In fact, he was in great shape. One of the greatest nutritionists of the century, George Mann, M.D., the co-director of the Framingham Heart Study, said, "The diet-heart idea [the notion that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease] is the greatest scientific deception of our times. This idea has been repeatedly
shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of pride, profit and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and even governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest health scam of the century."
The REAL scoop on heart disease
So if the problem isn't saturated fat and cholesterol, what is it? It's an amino acid called homocysteine. Normally, homocysteine is used to build and maintain tissues. Your body forms homocysteine when you eat food containing an amino acid called methionine, which is present in all animal and vegetable protein. But too much in your bloodstream literally shreds your arteries from the inside out, allowing fat and cholesterol to stick...eventually leading to total blockage, followed by a heart attack or stroke. Thirty years of intensive research has revealed that excess homocysteine disables a mechanism in your arterial cells called contact inhibition, which regulates the growth of the smooth muscle cells just below the inner wall of the artery.
As a result, the smooth muscle cells multiply out of control. This creates a bulge that pushes other cells apart and protrudes into the artery. This is what makes arteriosclerosis possible: The inner wall becomes uneven and rough, then the build up of plaque begins…and the rest, as they say, is scientific.
Studies published in many prominent medical journals have linked elevated homocysteine levels with cardiac problems.
An article in the June 1996 issue of Medical Tribune News stated the
following: "High levels of homocysteine, a substance involved in protein production, are associated with artery thickening, a precursor to both stroke and heart disease." A team of cardiologists in Norway conducted a study in which they followed 587 heart patients for five years. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that 24 percent of the patients with high levels of homocysteine in their blood were dead within five years. The five-year mortality rate among the patients with normal homocysteine levels was only 3 percent. A 1992 Harvard study of 15,000 physicians showed that those physicians with the highest 5 percent of homocysteine readings had a threefold-plus increase in heart-attack risk (JAMA, vol. 268, pp. 877-81)
Homocysteine also interferes with your blood vessels' natural ability to relax and makes your blood stickier. The good news is that there's a simple secret to controlling homocysteine overload: Your body requires a steady supply of three particular "helper nutrients" to process, convert, and excrete excess homocysteine.
The three Bs for better vascular health
Vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid (which is also a B vitamin) are the keys to maintaining normal homocysteine levels. These three nutrients play a crucial role in converting the potential villain homocysteine into cystathione and methionine, which are harmless and occur naturally. Folic acid is the most important of these B vitamins in attacking and neutralizing homocysteine.
There are now numerous studies reported in peer-reviewed international medical and research journals that demonstrate the benefits of folic acid in combating high homocysteine levels. The best sources of folic acid are animal protein, animal fat, and dairy products. The leader in folate nutrition—by far—is liver. A small serving of beef liver—3 oz., for instance—contains 174
micrograms of folic acid. When is the last time a nutritionist or doctor advised you to eat some variety of liver a least once a week? Probably never. Chicken liver is the tastiest and, with the proper sauce, is an outstanding dish. BUT, don't overcook it. It should be a little red or at least pink. But even with a healthy diet containing plenty of folate-rich animal food, you should still டேக் a supplement just to be absolutely certain you're getting enough of this nutrient. Take at least 800 micrograms a day. Keep in mind that doses up to 5,000 micrograms—and more—are safe and will do you even more good. I take 5,000 to 15,000 micrograms a day.
You should consider supplementing with vitamins B6 and B12 as well. These two nutrients are often destroyed by heating, dehydration, and other types of food processing, and our soil is depleted of much of its nutrient value, so it's virtually impossible to get enough B6 and B12 to normalize homocysteine levels from food sources alone. I suggest at least 25 milligrams of B6, and ௫௦௦ micrograms of B12 daily.
For more about cholesterol and hundreds of other real health topics, go to Dr. Douglass' website at www.DouglassReport.com .
Visit us at www.DouglassReport.com Learn more about William Campbell Douglass II,M.D.
©Copyright 2007 The Douglass Report 819 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced பி
any means or for any reason without the consent of the publisher.
This information is provided as information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely
on the contents of this publication. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. த Theinformation and opinions provided in this publication are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but
readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.
From William Campbell Douglass II,M.D.
Visit us at www.DouglassReport.com
The Great Cholesterol Myth Busted!
The controversy has been raging for years about the importance (or lack of importance) of cholesterol in the diet. Radicals like me have been saying all along that the more cholesterol you eat the better. Back in the 70s when the cardiologists were telling their patients to limit eggs to one a week, I was telling my patients to eat 10 a day if they liked
Over the last 50 years, the "high cholesterol/heart disease" theory has been disproved many times over, but mainstream medicine still pretends not to know it. In fact, in 2004 the Journal of the American College of Nutrition printed a study by Dr. David R. Pendergast of the State University of New York that proves my point perfectly. Dr. Pendergast and his colleagues placed 11 healthy adults on a very low-fat diet with only 19 percent of calories பிரோம் fat—something only a dedicated carrot cruncher could tolerate. The volunteers' good cholesterol, HDL, dropped significantly. Then Pendergast had them switch to a high-fat plan. After three weeks on this diet, which provided 50 percent of calories from fat, participants' HDL levels went up considerably. And, by the way, the high-fat diet did not raise LDL (bad) cholesterol beyond the levels participants had on their regular diets.
"While saturated fat is blamed for raising 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels, Pendergast said, it may in fact be the combination of lots of fat and too many calories that makes for unhealthy cholesterol profiles."
Saturated fat does NOT raise cholesterol levels. That was proven 80 years ago by the famous arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who lived on whale and seal blubber for a year and came out of it wiser but no fatter. In fact, he was in great shape. One of the greatest nutritionists of the century, George Mann, M.D., the co-director of the Framingham Heart Study, said, "The diet-heart idea [the notion that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease] is the greatest scientific deception of our times. This idea has been repeatedly
shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of pride, profit and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and even governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest health scam of the century."
The REAL scoop on heart disease
So if the problem isn't saturated fat and cholesterol, what is it? It's an amino acid called homocysteine. Normally, homocysteine is used to build and maintain tissues. Your body forms homocysteine when you eat food containing an amino acid called methionine, which is present in all animal and vegetable protein. But too much in your bloodstream literally shreds your arteries from the inside out, allowing fat and cholesterol to stick...eventually leading to total blockage, followed by a heart attack or stroke. Thirty years of intensive research has revealed that excess homocysteine disables a mechanism in your arterial cells called contact inhibition, which regulates the growth of the smooth muscle cells just below the inner wall of the artery.
As a result, the smooth muscle cells multiply out of control. This creates a bulge that pushes other cells apart and protrudes into the artery. This is what makes arteriosclerosis possible: The inner wall becomes uneven and rough, then the build up of plaque begins…and the rest, as they say, is scientific.
Studies published in many prominent medical journals have linked elevated homocysteine levels with cardiac problems.
An article in the June 1996 issue of Medical Tribune News stated the
following: "High levels of homocysteine, a substance involved in protein production, are associated with artery thickening, a precursor to both stroke and heart disease." A team of cardiologists in Norway conducted a study in which they followed 587 heart patients for five years. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that 24 percent of the patients with high levels of homocysteine in their blood were dead within five years. The five-year mortality rate among the patients with normal homocysteine levels was only 3 percent. A 1992 Harvard study of 15,000 physicians showed that those physicians with the highest 5 percent of homocysteine readings had a threefold-plus increase in heart-attack risk (JAMA, vol. 268, pp. 877-81)
Homocysteine also interferes with your blood vessels' natural ability to relax and makes your blood stickier. The good news is that there's a simple secret to controlling homocysteine overload: Your body requires a steady supply of three particular "helper nutrients" to process, convert, and excrete excess homocysteine.
The three Bs for better vascular health
Vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid (which is also a B vitamin) are the keys to maintaining normal homocysteine levels. These three nutrients play a crucial role in converting the potential villain homocysteine into cystathione and methionine, which are harmless and occur naturally. Folic acid is the most important of these B vitamins in attacking and neutralizing homocysteine.
There are now numerous studies reported in peer-reviewed international medical and research journals that demonstrate the benefits of folic acid in combating high homocysteine levels. The best sources of folic acid are animal protein, animal fat, and dairy products. The leader in folate nutrition—by far—is liver. A small serving of beef liver—3 oz., for instance—contains 174
micrograms of folic acid. When is the last time a nutritionist or doctor advised you to eat some variety of liver a least once a week? Probably never. Chicken liver is the tastiest and, with the proper sauce, is an outstanding dish. BUT, don't overcook it. It should be a little red or at least pink. But even with a healthy diet containing plenty of folate-rich animal food, you should still டேக் a supplement just to be absolutely certain you're getting enough of this nutrient. Take at least 800 micrograms a day. Keep in mind that doses up to 5,000 micrograms—and more—are safe and will do you even more good. I take 5,000 to 15,000 micrograms a day.
You should consider supplementing with vitamins B6 and B12 as well. These two nutrients are often destroyed by heating, dehydration, and other types of food processing, and our soil is depleted of much of its nutrient value, so it's virtually impossible to get enough B6 and B12 to normalize homocysteine levels from food sources alone. I suggest at least 25 milligrams of B6, and ௫௦௦ micrograms of B12 daily.
For more about cholesterol and hundreds of other real health topics, go to Dr. Douglass' website at www.DouglassReport.com
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©Copyright 2007 The Douglass Report 819 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced பி
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The Danger of Too Many Tests By Dr. Ranit Mishori
The Danger of Too Many Tests By Dr. Ranit Mishori
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_07-06-2008/3Too_Many_Tests
If you’re like most Americans, your health bills are soaring. One reason is the “diagnostic imaging” industry, which includes X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs—the tests that let doctors “see” our bones, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and organs. According to the American College of Radiology, imaging is one of the fastest-growing services in medicine, with costs reaching approximately $100 billion annually.
The detail revealed by these tests can be astounding, the information lifesaving. But are we overdoing it? Are all those tests really necessary? And is harm potentially being done?
Some researchers worry about overexposure to radiation. While noting that many lives are saved by imaging, Dr. David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, estimates that “1% to 2% more cases of cancer may result from the increased use of imaging in the future.” Of special concern: Some 5 million CT scans are performed annually on children, who are 10 times more sensitive to radiation than adults.
Further, imaging may result in “false-positive” results (finding a problem that does not in fact exist) or “incidental findings” (seeing an abnormality that may be clinically harmless), notes Dr. Stephen Baker, chair of the Department of Radiology at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Both results often lead to even more imaging and risky invasive procedures, including surgery.
Not every ache and pain calls for a scan or an X-ray. It’s best to know where and how imaging tends to be overused.
CT Scans
Computed Tomography (CT) scans, also known as CAT scans, are the “doughnut holes” patients can find themselves in. CT scans are particularly good for looking at organs, bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels. However, their radiation levels can be quite high—“typically the equivalent of about 100 conventional X-rays,” says Dr. Brenner. CTs are routinely ordered for headaches, heart imaging, and full-body scans, but there are reasons to question their use for each.
Headaches. CT scans are requested for many of the 45 million patients who suffer from headaches to rule out their greatest fear: a brain tumor.
Numerous studies suggest, however, that this is overkill. Most headaches are not indicators of something serious—a tumor or brain bleed. Furthermore, these more-serious problems almost always are accompanied by other, visible symptoms, such as seizures and neurological impairment. For example, Sen.Ted Kennedy’s recent brain tumor diagnosis involved clear seizure activity. In the absence of such red flags, a scan probably is not worth the risk of increased radiation exposure. This view has been endorsed by a panel of experts, including the American Academy of Neurology.
Heart imaging. Coronary CT angiography is a relatively new procedure that gives a detailed view of the heart and the arteries that supply it with blood. It allows doctors to see calcium deposits and blocked arteries without inserting tubes or needles. This test has become quite popular, but it also raises concerns because of the frequency of false-positive and false-negative results. Furthermore, in addition to radiation exposure, there is the risk from the contrast dye used, which can lead to allergic reactions and kidney damage.
At present, there are no clear guidelines for when a coronary CT is clinically appropriate. It appears that the test can benefit those who have symptoms that suggest heart disease or who are at high risk for heart disease. But healthy individuals should not rush to request this test.
Full-body scans. CT scans of the entire body—a virtual physical, where every inch of your body is scrutinized from the inside—have been marketed in recent years to perfectly healthy individuals. But experts—including those at the American Cancer Society, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and American College of Radiology—agree that these scans are not a good idea for healthy people without any symptoms. The scans often find irregularities that are entirely harmless but nevertheless lead to many expensive, unneeded, and invasive procedures.
X-rays
This classic imaging tool is useful for looking at bones and the chest.
Chest X-rays. Doctors often order chest X-rays for routine evaluation before surgery. While it certainly makes sense to do so in certain cases—for those whose surgery involves the heart or lungs, for example—there is increasing evidence that general testing is not advantageous. A recent extensive review in the United Kingdom found that chest X-rays may lead to false-positive results and expose patients to unnecessary radiation.
Back pain. Despite the discomfort associated with lower back pain, the vast majority of patients (90%) recover within 6-8 weeks, and most do not need X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans of their lower back. Imaging should be reserved for those cases where a serious underlying condition is suspected.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides excellent views of the soft tissues of the body, so it is very useful in brain and cancer imaging. Unlike CTs or X-rays, MRIs do not emit radiation—they use a magnetic field to create images—but they are much more expensive than simple X-rays.
Achy knees. These days, MRIs frequently are ordered for patients with knee pain due to arthritis, because they provide a detailed view of the knees, bones, cartilage, and ligaments. But MRIs may not be necessary to diagnose a common condition such as osteoarthritis. A study presented this year at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ annual meeting suggested that, in most cases, X-rays are sufficient to determine who needs knee-replacement surgery. The cost difference translates into millions of dollars: MRIs are billed anywhere from $1200 to $2500 per session, whereas knee X-ray billing falls under $200.
Why Is My Doctor Ordering It?
There are several reasons behind the trend of excessive imaging. Together with your doctor, you, the patient, can play a part in finding the right balance for their use.
Short appointment times. With less time available to spend with patients, some doctors may order images as a shortcut—a way to get quick answers.
Malpractice fears. Excessive litigation forces doctors to practice defensive medicine. Even if there is little chance of a serious disease or condition, a physician may order a test to reduce the risk of being sued later for missing something important.
Where the money is. A growing number of physicians own diagnostic facilities or equipment. Some may have an incentive to order tests, because the fee goes to their own bottom line.
Patient expectations. Many patients want what they consider “the best”—sophisticated technologies like CT scans or MRIs—and doctors are quick to comply even if they don’t really see the need.
Patient reassurance. Sometimes, all evidence aside, it is easier to lower a patient’s anxiety by pointing to an actual CT image and saying, “See, there is no tumor there.” In some cases, a picture may be worth 1000 words (or dollars).
Do You Really Need It?
Learn about the various tests and what each is best for. Then talk with your doctor about the risks involved, such as radiation and false-positive results. Ask:
• Why is a specific imaging test necessary?
• How certain are you about the diagnosis without the scan? A medical history and physical may be enough for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
• How will test results affect treatment decisions?
• Does another, safer test exist that would give me the same information?
Be sure to request a copy (a CD-ROM or a written report) of any CT scan or other imaging study you have done. That will save you the trouble (and radiation) of having the same exam twice if you go to another hospital, move to another town, or change doctors.
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_07-06-2008/3Too_Many_Tests
If you’re like most Americans, your health bills are soaring. One reason is the “diagnostic imaging” industry, which includes X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs—the tests that let doctors “see” our bones, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and organs. According to the American College of Radiology, imaging is one of the fastest-growing services in medicine, with costs reaching approximately $100 billion annually.
The detail revealed by these tests can be astounding, the information lifesaving. But are we overdoing it? Are all those tests really necessary? And is harm potentially being done?
Some researchers worry about overexposure to radiation. While noting that many lives are saved by imaging, Dr. David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, estimates that “1% to 2% more cases of cancer may result from the increased use of imaging in the future.” Of special concern: Some 5 million CT scans are performed annually on children, who are 10 times more sensitive to radiation than adults.
Further, imaging may result in “false-positive” results (finding a problem that does not in fact exist) or “incidental findings” (seeing an abnormality that may be clinically harmless), notes Dr. Stephen Baker, chair of the Department of Radiology at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Both results often lead to even more imaging and risky invasive procedures, including surgery.
Not every ache and pain calls for a scan or an X-ray. It’s best to know where and how imaging tends to be overused.
CT Scans
Computed Tomography (CT) scans, also known as CAT scans, are the “doughnut holes” patients can find themselves in. CT scans are particularly good for looking at organs, bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels. However, their radiation levels can be quite high—“typically the equivalent of about 100 conventional X-rays,” says Dr. Brenner. CTs are routinely ordered for headaches, heart imaging, and full-body scans, but there are reasons to question their use for each.
Headaches. CT scans are requested for many of the 45 million patients who suffer from headaches to rule out their greatest fear: a brain tumor.
Numerous studies suggest, however, that this is overkill. Most headaches are not indicators of something serious—a tumor or brain bleed. Furthermore, these more-serious problems almost always are accompanied by other, visible symptoms, such as seizures and neurological impairment. For example, Sen.Ted Kennedy’s recent brain tumor diagnosis involved clear seizure activity. In the absence of such red flags, a scan probably is not worth the risk of increased radiation exposure. This view has been endorsed by a panel of experts, including the American Academy of Neurology.
Heart imaging. Coronary CT angiography is a relatively new procedure that gives a detailed view of the heart and the arteries that supply it with blood. It allows doctors to see calcium deposits and blocked arteries without inserting tubes or needles. This test has become quite popular, but it also raises concerns because of the frequency of false-positive and false-negative results. Furthermore, in addition to radiation exposure, there is the risk from the contrast dye used, which can lead to allergic reactions and kidney damage.
At present, there are no clear guidelines for when a coronary CT is clinically appropriate. It appears that the test can benefit those who have symptoms that suggest heart disease or who are at high risk for heart disease. But healthy individuals should not rush to request this test.
Full-body scans. CT scans of the entire body—a virtual physical, where every inch of your body is scrutinized from the inside—have been marketed in recent years to perfectly healthy individuals. But experts—including those at the American Cancer Society, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and American College of Radiology—agree that these scans are not a good idea for healthy people without any symptoms. The scans often find irregularities that are entirely harmless but nevertheless lead to many expensive, unneeded, and invasive procedures.
X-rays
This classic imaging tool is useful for looking at bones and the chest.
Chest X-rays. Doctors often order chest X-rays for routine evaluation before surgery. While it certainly makes sense to do so in certain cases—for those whose surgery involves the heart or lungs, for example—there is increasing evidence that general testing is not advantageous. A recent extensive review in the United Kingdom found that chest X-rays may lead to false-positive results and expose patients to unnecessary radiation.
Back pain. Despite the discomfort associated with lower back pain, the vast majority of patients (90%) recover within 6-8 weeks, and most do not need X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans of their lower back. Imaging should be reserved for those cases where a serious underlying condition is suspected.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides excellent views of the soft tissues of the body, so it is very useful in brain and cancer imaging. Unlike CTs or X-rays, MRIs do not emit radiation—they use a magnetic field to create images—but they are much more expensive than simple X-rays.
Achy knees. These days, MRIs frequently are ordered for patients with knee pain due to arthritis, because they provide a detailed view of the knees, bones, cartilage, and ligaments. But MRIs may not be necessary to diagnose a common condition such as osteoarthritis. A study presented this year at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ annual meeting suggested that, in most cases, X-rays are sufficient to determine who needs knee-replacement surgery. The cost difference translates into millions of dollars: MRIs are billed anywhere from $1200 to $2500 per session, whereas knee X-ray billing falls under $200.
Why Is My Doctor Ordering It?
There are several reasons behind the trend of excessive imaging. Together with your doctor, you, the patient, can play a part in finding the right balance for their use.
Short appointment times. With less time available to spend with patients, some doctors may order images as a shortcut—a way to get quick answers.
Malpractice fears. Excessive litigation forces doctors to practice defensive medicine. Even if there is little chance of a serious disease or condition, a physician may order a test to reduce the risk of being sued later for missing something important.
Where the money is. A growing number of physicians own diagnostic facilities or equipment. Some may have an incentive to order tests, because the fee goes to their own bottom line.
Patient expectations. Many patients want what they consider “the best”—sophisticated technologies like CT scans or MRIs—and doctors are quick to comply even if they don’t really see the need.
Patient reassurance. Sometimes, all evidence aside, it is easier to lower a patient’s anxiety by pointing to an actual CT image and saying, “See, there is no tumor there.” In some cases, a picture may be worth 1000 words (or dollars).
Do You Really Need It?
Learn about the various tests and what each is best for. Then talk with your doctor about the risks involved, such as radiation and false-positive results. Ask:
• Why is a specific imaging test necessary?
• How certain are you about the diagnosis without the scan? A medical history and physical may be enough for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
• How will test results affect treatment decisions?
• Does another, safer test exist that would give me the same information?
Be sure to request a copy (a CD-ROM or a written report) of any CT scan or other imaging study you have done. That will save you the trouble (and radiation) of having the same exam twice if you go to another hospital, move to another town, or change doctors.
Green tea 'prevents heart disease
Green tea 'prevents heart disease'
London (PTI): Tea time? Go for the green, for a study has revealed that sipping a cup of the beverage everyday could help prevent heart disease.
Green tea is already popular worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. Now a Greek team has found that a cup of the bru daily helps in expanding arteries, which in turn improves blood flow thereby keeping the heart healthy.
According to researchers, the flavonoids in green tea relax the cells, called the endothelium, which is a thin layer on the inside of the blood vessels, that smooths the flow of blood allowing a more efficient circulation.
"Tea consumption has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several studies. Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial function.
"In this same context, recent studies have also shown potent anticarcinogenic effects of green tea attributed to its antioxidant properties," lead researcher Nikolaos Alexopoulos was quoted by the British media as saying.
In their study, the researchers at Athens Medical School tested a small group of volunteers who consumed green tea, 125 mg of caffeine and 450 ml of hot water on three separate occasions.
The team measured the diameter of the brachial artery in each participant 30, 90 and 120 minutes after they consumed each beverage. Dilation of the artery peaked at an increase of 3.9 per cent at the 30-minute test time.
They found that the caffeine and hot water did not have the same effect on the brachial artery that the green tea did -- in fact, drinking six grams of the drink caused the participants' brachial arteries (in the upper arm) to expand by almost four per cent.
"These findings have important clinical implications," Dr Alexopoulos said.
The findings of the study have been published in the latest edition of the 'European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation'.
London (PTI): Tea time? Go for the green, for a study has revealed that sipping a cup of the beverage everyday could help prevent heart disease.
Green tea is already popular worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. Now a Greek team has found that a cup of the bru daily helps in expanding arteries, which in turn improves blood flow thereby keeping the heart healthy.
According to researchers, the flavonoids in green tea relax the cells, called the endothelium, which is a thin layer on the inside of the blood vessels, that smooths the flow of blood allowing a more efficient circulation.
"Tea consumption has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several studies. Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial function.
"In this same context, recent studies have also shown potent anticarcinogenic effects of green tea attributed to its antioxidant properties," lead researcher Nikolaos Alexopoulos was quoted by the British media as saying.
In their study, the researchers at Athens Medical School tested a small group of volunteers who consumed green tea, 125 mg of caffeine and 450 ml of hot water on three separate occasions.
The team measured the diameter of the brachial artery in each participant 30, 90 and 120 minutes after they consumed each beverage. Dilation of the artery peaked at an increase of 3.9 per cent at the 30-minute test time.
They found that the caffeine and hot water did not have the same effect on the brachial artery that the green tea did -- in fact, drinking six grams of the drink caused the participants' brachial arteries (in the upper arm) to expand by almost four per cent.
"These findings have important clinical implications," Dr Alexopoulos said.
The findings of the study have been published in the latest edition of the 'European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation'.
Watch out for the wrong kind of sugar
Watch out for the wrong kind of sugar
We know about good and bad fats. Now suspicion is growing that not all sugars are created equal either. Overweight adults who consume large amounts of fructose have been found to experience alarming changes in body fat and insulin sensitivity that do not occur after eating glucose.
Pure fructose is found in fresh fruit, fruit juice and preserves. But much of it sneaks into our diets though high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in soft drinks - which gets broken down into 55 per cent fructose and 45 per cent glucose in the body - or via sucrose (ordinary sugar), which is broken down into the same two sugars.
Fears that fructose and HFCS are fuelling the obesity epidemic and triggering insulin resistance and diabetes have been circulating for years (New Scientist, 1 September 2001, p 26), but there have been few direct investigations in humans.
So Peter Havel at the University of California, Davis, persuaded 33 overweight and obese adults to go on a diet that was 30 per cent fat, 55 per cent complex carbohydrates and 15 per cent protein for two weeks. For a further 10 weeks, they switched to a diet in which 25 per cent of their energy came from either fructose or glucose.
In those given fructose there was an increase in the amount of intra-abdominal fat, which wraps around internal organs, causes a pot belly and has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This did not happen with the group who consumed glucose instead, even though both gained an average 1.5 kilograms in weight.
Those who consumed fructose also had raised levels of fatty triglycerides, which get deposited as intra-abdominal fat, and cholesterol. Their insulin sensitivity also fell by 20 per cent. Glucose appeared to have no effect on these measures. Havel presented the results at a meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco last week.
Because Havel's test looked only at pure fructose, not HFCS or sucrose, it is not yet clear whether these substances are to blame for obesity and diabetes. "The question is, what is the amount of HFCS or normal sugar you need to consume to get these effects?" says Havel, who is planning a long-term study to find out. But he says it's not too soon for people with metabolic syndrome - the blend of conditions including belly fat and insulin resistance that raise the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease - to avoid drinking too many fructose-containing beverages.
PepsiCo, which sponsored Havel's research, disagrees. "This is a very interesting and important study," says a spokeswoman. "But it does not reflect a real-world situation nor is it applicable to PepsiCo since pure fructose is not an ingredient in any of our food and beverage products."
In a separate study, Havel's team compared the immediate effects of consuming a meal in which 25 per cent of the energy came from one of HFCS, sucrose, fructose or glucose. Blood triglyceride levels were all elevated to a similar level 24 hours after consuming fructose, sucrose or HFCS, but not glucose (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 87, p 1194), suggesting that all three substances may have similar, negative health impacts. Longer-term studies are needed to confirm whether the triglycerides produced by sucrose or HFCS have similar effects to fructose on abdominal fat and insulin resistance.
"It adds to what we have known for a long time," says Francine Kaufman at the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles. "It's probably not a good idea to consume too much sugar."
We know about good and bad fats. Now suspicion is growing that not all sugars are created equal either. Overweight adults who consume large amounts of fructose have been found to experience alarming changes in body fat and insulin sensitivity that do not occur after eating glucose.
Pure fructose is found in fresh fruit, fruit juice and preserves. But much of it sneaks into our diets though high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in soft drinks - which gets broken down into 55 per cent fructose and 45 per cent glucose in the body - or via sucrose (ordinary sugar), which is broken down into the same two sugars.
Fears that fructose and HFCS are fuelling the obesity epidemic and triggering insulin resistance and diabetes have been circulating for years (New Scientist, 1 September 2001, p 26), but there have been few direct investigations in humans.
So Peter Havel at the University of California, Davis, persuaded 33 overweight and obese adults to go on a diet that was 30 per cent fat, 55 per cent complex carbohydrates and 15 per cent protein for two weeks. For a further 10 weeks, they switched to a diet in which 25 per cent of their energy came from either fructose or glucose.
In those given fructose there was an increase in the amount of intra-abdominal fat, which wraps around internal organs, causes a pot belly and has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This did not happen with the group who consumed glucose instead, even though both gained an average 1.5 kilograms in weight.
Those who consumed fructose also had raised levels of fatty triglycerides, which get deposited as intra-abdominal fat, and cholesterol. Their insulin sensitivity also fell by 20 per cent. Glucose appeared to have no effect on these measures. Havel presented the results at a meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco last week.
Because Havel's test looked only at pure fructose, not HFCS or sucrose, it is not yet clear whether these substances are to blame for obesity and diabetes. "The question is, what is the amount of HFCS or normal sugar you need to consume to get these effects?" says Havel, who is planning a long-term study to find out. But he says it's not too soon for people with metabolic syndrome - the blend of conditions including belly fat and insulin resistance that raise the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease - to avoid drinking too many fructose-containing beverages.
PepsiCo, which sponsored Havel's research, disagrees. "This is a very interesting and important study," says a spokeswoman. "But it does not reflect a real-world situation nor is it applicable to PepsiCo since pure fructose is not an ingredient in any of our food and beverage products."
In a separate study, Havel's team compared the immediate effects of consuming a meal in which 25 per cent of the energy came from one of HFCS, sucrose, fructose or glucose. Blood triglyceride levels were all elevated to a similar level 24 hours after consuming fructose, sucrose or HFCS, but not glucose (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 87, p 1194), suggesting that all three substances may have similar, negative health impacts. Longer-term studies are needed to confirm whether the triglycerides produced by sucrose or HFCS have similar effects to fructose on abdominal fat and insulin resistance.
"It adds to what we have known for a long time," says Francine Kaufman at the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles. "It's probably not a good idea to consume too much sugar."
The 10 Most Common Toxins
The 10 Most Common Toxins
The following toxins are among the most prevalent in our air, water and/or food supply. This list is by no means all-inclusive, as thousands of other toxins are also circulating in our environment. Keep reading to find out tips to avoid these toxins and others as much as possible.
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): This industrial chemical has been banned in the United States for decades, yet is a persistent organic pollutant that's still present in our environment.
Risks: Cancer, impaired fetal brain development
Major Source: Farm-raised salmon . Most farm-raised salmon, which accounts for most of the supply in the United States are fed meals of ground-up fish that have absorbed PCBs in the environment and for this reason should be avoided.
Pesticides: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides and 30 percent of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50 percent to 95 percent of U.S. foods.
Risks: Cancer, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, nerve damage, birth defects, blocking the absorption of food nutrients
Major Sources: Food (fruits, vegetables and commercially raised meats), bug sprays
Mold and other Fungal Toxins: One in three people have had an allergic reaction to mold. Mycotoxins (fungal toxins) can cause a range of health problems with exposure to only a small amount.
Risks: Cancer, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes
Major Sources: Contaminated buildings, food like peanuts, wheat, corn and alcoholic beverages
Phthalates: These chemicals are used to lengthen the life of fragrances and soften plastics.
Risks: Endocrine system damage (phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children )
Major Sources: Plastic wrap, plastic bottles, plastic food storage containers. All of these can leach phthalates into our food.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): VOCs are a major contributing factor to ozone, an air pollutant. According to the EPA, VOCs tend to be even higher (two to five times) in indoor air than outdoor air, likely because they are present in so many household products.
Risks: Cancer, eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment
Major Sources: Drinking water, carpet, paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellants, air fresheners.
Dioxins: Chemical compounds formed as a result of combustion processes such as commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels (like wood, coal or oil).
Risks: Cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, chloracne (a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions), skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair, mild liver damage
Major Sources: Animal fats: Over 95 percent of exposure comes from eating commercial animal fats.
Asbestos: This insulating material was widely used from the 1950s to 1970s. Problems arise when the material becomes old and crumbly, releasing fibers into the air.
Risks: Cancer, scarring of the lung tissue, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer)
Major Sources: Insulation on floors, ceilings, water pipes and healing ducts from the 1950s to 1970s.
Heavy Metals : Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many areas of our environment, can accumulate in soft tissues of the body.
Risks: Cancer, neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease, foggy head, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels
Major Sources: Drinking water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirant, building materials, dental amalgams , chlorine plants
Chloroform: This colorless liquid has a pleasant, nonirritating odor and a slightly sweet taste, and is used to make other chemicals. It's also formed when chlorine is added to water.
Risks: Cancer, potential reproductive damage, birth defects, dizziness, fatigue, headache, liver and kidney damage.
Major Sources: Air, drinking water and food can contain chloroform.
Chlorine: This highly toxic, yellow-green gas is one of the most heavily used chemical agents.
Risks: Sore throat, coughing, eye and skin irritation, rapid breathing, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, blue coloring of the skin, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, pain in the lung region, severe eye and skin burns, lung collapse, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) (a type of asthma)
Major Sources: Household cleaners, drinking water (in small amounts), air when living near an industry (such as a paper plant) that uses chlorine in industrial processes.
The following toxins are among the most prevalent in our air, water and/or food supply. This list is by no means all-inclusive, as thousands of other toxins are also circulating in our environment. Keep reading to find out tips to avoid these toxins and others as much as possible.
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): This industrial chemical has been banned in the United States for decades, yet is a persistent organic pollutant that's still present in our environment.
Risks: Cancer, impaired fetal brain development
Major Source: Farm-raised salmon
Pesticides: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides and 30 percent of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50 percent to 95 percent of U.S. foods.
Risks: Cancer, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, nerve damage, birth defects, blocking the absorption of food nutrients
Major Sources: Food (fruits, vegetables and commercially raised meats), bug sprays
Mold and other Fungal Toxins: One in three people have had an allergic reaction to mold. Mycotoxins (fungal toxins) can cause a range of health problems with exposure to only a small amount.
Risks: Cancer, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes
Major Sources: Contaminated buildings, food like peanuts, wheat, corn
Phthalates: These chemicals are used to lengthen the life of fragrances and soften plastics.
Risks: Endocrine system damage (phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children
Major Sources: Plastic wrap, plastic bottles, plastic food storage containers. All of these can leach phthalates into our food.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): VOCs are a major contributing factor to ozone, an air pollutant. According to the EPA, VOCs tend to be even higher (two to five times) in indoor air than outdoor air, likely because they are present in so many household products.
Risks: Cancer, eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment
Major Sources: Drinking water, carpet, paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellants, air fresheners.
Dioxins: Chemical compounds formed as a result of combustion processes such as commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels (like wood, coal or oil).
Risks: Cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, chloracne (a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions), skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair, mild liver damage
Major Sources: Animal fats: Over 95 percent of exposure comes from eating commercial animal fats.
Asbestos: This insulating material was widely used from the 1950s to 1970s. Problems arise when the material becomes old and crumbly, releasing fibers into the air.
Risks: Cancer, scarring of the lung tissue, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer)
Major Sources: Insulation on floors, ceilings, water pipes and healing ducts from the 1950s to 1970s.
Heavy Metals
Risks: Cancer, neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease, foggy head, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels
Major Sources: Drinking water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirant, building materials, dental amalgams
Chloroform: This colorless liquid has a pleasant, nonirritating odor and a slightly sweet taste, and is used to make other chemicals. It's also formed when chlorine is added to water.
Risks: Cancer, potential reproductive damage, birth defects, dizziness, fatigue, headache, liver and kidney damage.
Major Sources: Air, drinking water and food can contain chloroform.
Chlorine: This highly toxic, yellow-green gas is one of the most heavily used chemical agents.
Risks: Sore throat, coughing, eye and skin irritation, rapid breathing, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, blue coloring of the skin, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, pain in the lung region, severe eye and skin burns, lung collapse, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) (a type of asthma)
Major Sources: Household cleaners, drinking water (in small amounts), air when living near an industry (such as a paper plant) that uses chlorine in industrial processes.
Study: Low-carb diet best for weight, cholesterol
Study: Low-carb diet best for weight, cholesterol
By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Thu Jul 17, 7:23 AM ET
ATLANTA - The Atkins diet may have proved itself after all: A low-carb diet and a Mediterranean-style regimen helped people lose more weight than a traditional low-fat diet in one of the longest and largest studies to compare the dueling weight-loss techniques.
A bigger surprise: The low-carb diet improved cholesterol more than the other two. Some critics had predicted the opposite.
"It is a vindication," said Abby Bloch of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, a philanthropy group that honors the Atkins' diet's creator and was the study's main funder.
However, all three approaches ˜ the low-carb diet, a low-fat diet and a so-called Mediterranean diet ˜ achieved weight loss and improved cholesterol.
The study is remarkable not only because it lasted two years, much longer than most, but also because of the huge proportion of people who stuck with the diets ˜ 85 percent.
Researchers approached the Atkins Foundation with the idea for the study. But the foundation played no role in the study's design or reporting of the results, said the lead author, Iris Shai of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Other experts said the study ˜ being published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine ˜ was highly credible.
"This is a very good group of researchers," said Kelly Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.
The research was done in a controlled environment ˜ an isolated nuclear research facility in Israel. The 322 participants got their main meal of the day, lunch, at a central cafeteria.
"The workers can't easily just go out to lunch at a nearby Subway or McDonald's," said Dr. Meir Stampfer, the study's senior author and a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
In the cafeteria, the appropriate foods for each diet were identified with colored dots, using red for low-fat, green for Mediterranean and blue for low-carb.
As for breakfast and dinner, the dieters were counseled on how to stick to their eating plans and were asked to fill out questionnaires on what they ate, Stampfer said.
The low-fat diet ˜ no more than 30 percent of calories from fat ˜ restricted calories and cholesterol and focused on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits as options. The Mediterranean diet had similar calorie, fat and cholesterol restrictions, emphasizing poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.
The low-carb diet set limits for carbohydrates, but none for calories or fat. It urged dieters to choose vegetarian sources of fat and protein.
"So not a lot of butter and eggs and cream," said Madelyn Fernstrom, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center weight management expert who reviewed the study but was not involved in it.
Most of the participants were men; all men and women in the study got roughly equal amounts of exercise, the study's authors said.
Average weight loss for those in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds after two years. Those in the Mediterranean diet lost 10 pounds, and those on the low-fat regimen dropped 6.5.
More surprising were the measures of cholesterol. Critics have long acknowledged that an Atkins-style diet could help people lose weight but feared that over the long term, it may drive up cholesterol because it allows more fat.
But the low-carb approach seemed to trigger the most improvement in several cholesterol measures, including the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, the "good" cholesterol. For example, someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The optimum ratio is 3.5 to 1, according to the American Heart Association.
Doctors see that ratio as a sign of a patient's risk for hardening of the arteries. "You want that low," Stampfer said.
The ratio declined by 20 percent in people on the low-carb diet, compared to 16 percent in those on the Mediterranean and 12 percent in low-fat dieters.
The study is not the first to offer a favorable comparison of an Atkins-like diet. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year found overweight women on the Atkins plan had slightly better blood pressure and cholesterol readings than those on the low-carb Zone diet, the low-fat Ornish diet and a low-fat diet that followed U.S. government guidelines.
The heart association has long recommended low-fat diets to reduce heart risks, but some of its leaders have noted the Mediterranean diet has also proven safe and effective.
The heart association recommends a low-fat diet even more restrictive than the one in the study, said Dr. Robert Eckel, the association's past president who is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado-Denver.
It does not recommend the Atkins diet. However, a low-carb approach is consistent with heart association guidelines so long as there are limitations on the kinds of saturated fats often consumed by people on the Atkins diet, Eckel said.
The new study's results favored the Atkins-like approach less when subgroups such as diabetics and women were examined.
Among the 36 diabetics, only those on the Mediterranean diet lowered blood sugar levels. Among the 45 women, those on the Mediterranean diet lost the most weight.
"I think these data suggest that men may be much more responsive to a diet in which there are clear limits on what foods can be consumed," such as an Atkins-like diet, said Dr. William Dietz, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It suggests that because women have had more experience dieting or losing weight, they're more capable of implementing a more complicated diet," said Dietz, who heads CDC's nutrition unit.
By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Thu Jul 17, 7:23 AM ET
ATLANTA - The Atkins diet may have proved itself after all: A low-carb diet and a Mediterranean-style regimen helped people lose more weight than a traditional low-fat diet in one of the longest and largest studies to compare the dueling weight-loss techniques.
A bigger surprise: The low-carb diet improved cholesterol more than the other two. Some critics had predicted the opposite.
"It is a vindication," said Abby Bloch of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, a philanthropy group that honors the Atkins' diet's creator and was the study's main funder.
However, all three approaches ˜ the low-carb diet, a low-fat diet and a so-called Mediterranean diet ˜ achieved weight loss and improved cholesterol.
The study is remarkable not only because it lasted two years, much longer than most, but also because of the huge proportion of people who stuck with the diets ˜ 85 percent.
Researchers approached the Atkins Foundation with the idea for the study. But the foundation played no role in the study's design or reporting of the results, said the lead author, Iris Shai of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Other experts said the study ˜ being published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine ˜ was highly credible.
"This is a very good group of researchers," said Kelly Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.
The research was done in a controlled environment ˜ an isolated nuclear research facility in Israel. The 322 participants got their main meal of the day, lunch, at a central cafeteria.
"The workers can't easily just go out to lunch at a nearby Subway or McDonald's," said Dr. Meir Stampfer, the study's senior author and a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
In the cafeteria, the appropriate foods for each diet were identified with colored dots, using red for low-fat, green for Mediterranean and blue for low-carb.
As for breakfast and dinner, the dieters were counseled on how to stick to their eating plans and were asked to fill out questionnaires on what they ate, Stampfer said.
The low-fat diet ˜ no more than 30 percent of calories from fat ˜ restricted calories and cholesterol and focused on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits as options. The Mediterranean diet had similar calorie, fat and cholesterol restrictions, emphasizing poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.
The low-carb diet set limits for carbohydrates, but none for calories or fat. It urged dieters to choose vegetarian sources of fat and protein.
"So not a lot of butter and eggs and cream," said Madelyn Fernstrom, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center weight management expert who reviewed the study but was not involved in it.
Most of the participants were men; all men and women in the study got roughly equal amounts of exercise, the study's authors said.
Average weight loss for those in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds after two years. Those in the Mediterranean diet lost 10 pounds, and those on the low-fat regimen dropped 6.5.
More surprising were the measures of cholesterol. Critics have long acknowledged that an Atkins-style diet could help people lose weight but feared that over the long term, it may drive up cholesterol because it allows more fat.
But the low-carb approach seemed to trigger the most improvement in several cholesterol measures, including the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, the "good" cholesterol. For example, someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The optimum ratio is 3.5 to 1, according to the American Heart Association.
Doctors see that ratio as a sign of a patient's risk for hardening of the arteries. "You want that low," Stampfer said.
The ratio declined by 20 percent in people on the low-carb diet, compared to 16 percent in those on the Mediterranean and 12 percent in low-fat dieters.
The study is not the first to offer a favorable comparison of an Atkins-like diet. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year found overweight women on the Atkins plan had slightly better blood pressure and cholesterol readings than those on the low-carb Zone diet, the low-fat Ornish diet and a low-fat diet that followed U.S. government guidelines.
The heart association has long recommended low-fat diets to reduce heart risks, but some of its leaders have noted the Mediterranean diet has also proven safe and effective.
The heart association recommends a low-fat diet even more restrictive than the one in the study, said Dr. Robert Eckel, the association's past president who is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado-Denver.
It does not recommend the Atkins diet. However, a low-carb approach is consistent with heart association guidelines so long as there are limitations on the kinds of saturated fats often consumed by people on the Atkins diet, Eckel said.
The new study's results favored the Atkins-like approach less when subgroups such as diabetics and women were examined.
Among the 36 diabetics, only those on the Mediterranean diet lowered blood sugar levels. Among the 45 women, those on the Mediterranean diet lost the most weight.
"I think these data suggest that men may be much more responsive to a diet in which there are clear limits on what foods can be consumed," such as an Atkins-like diet, said Dr. William Dietz, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It suggests that because women have had more experience dieting or losing weight, they're more capable of implementing a more complicated diet," said Dietz, who heads CDC's nutrition unit.
More Evidence Links Cow's Milk To Type One Diabetes
More Evidence Links Cow's Milk To Type One Diabetes
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – 5/12/2008:
"A new study adds more evidence that cow’s milk proteins trigger Type 1 diabetes. Marcia Goldfarb of Anatek-EP, a protein research laboratory in Portland, Maine, reports having found antibodies of bovine beta-lactoglobulin in the serum of children with diabetes. Individuals without diabetes did not have the antibody. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused when antibodies destroy the insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Several studies have suggested
that cow’s milk proteins may trigger the production of these dangerous antibodies..."
This recent research confirms what Dr. T. Colin Campbell, PhD, had to say on this same subject in his book The China Study, on page 187:
"In the case of Type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreas cells responsible for producing insulin. This devastating, incurable disease strikes children, creating a painful and difficult experience for young families. What most people don’t know, though, is that there is strong evidence that this disease is linked to diet and, more specifically to dairy products. The ability of cow’s milk protein to initiate Type 1 diabetes is well documented."
EDITORS COMMENTS: Dr. Campbell’s book devotes 8 pages to explaining the relationship of cow’s milk to Type 1 diabetes, concluding with the following:
"Human breast milk is the perfect food for an infant, and one of the most dangerous things a mother can do is to substitute the milk of the cow for her own [breast milk]."
For more information on the dangers of cow milk being consumed by humans, whether the cow milk source is "organic" or not, or "raw" or not, may I suggest you read Health Tip #546, titled "MILK DOES A BODY ‘BAD’ (The Dangers of Cow Milk)", available on the web at:
http://www.hacres.com/publications/health_tip.asp?tipid=583&year=2008.
For an in-depth study of the relationship of all animal sourced foods to human physical problems, I strongly suggest you obtain a copy of Dr. Campbell’s book, The China Study. Thoroughly scientifically documented, this 417 page book will give you the ammunition you need to convince the biggest skeptic, or if you personally have any doubts of the relationship of animal source foods to disease, this book is a must read.
https://commerce.hacres.com/product.aspx?id=377&uofm=EACH
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – 5/12/2008:
"A new study adds more evidence that cow’s milk proteins trigger Type 1 diabetes. Marcia Goldfarb of Anatek-EP, a protein research laboratory in Portland, Maine, reports having found antibodies of bovine beta-lactoglobulin in the serum of children with diabetes. Individuals without diabetes did not have the antibody. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused when antibodies destroy the insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Several studies have suggested
that cow’s milk proteins may trigger the production of these dangerous antibodies..."
This recent research confirms what Dr. T. Colin Campbell, PhD, had to say on this same subject in his book The China Study, on page 187:
"In the case of Type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreas cells responsible for producing insulin. This devastating, incurable disease strikes children, creating a painful and difficult experience for young families. What most people don’t know, though, is that there is strong evidence that this disease is linked to diet and, more specifically to dairy products. The ability of cow’s milk protein to initiate Type 1 diabetes is well documented."
EDITORS COMMENTS: Dr. Campbell’s book devotes 8 pages to explaining the relationship of cow’s milk to Type 1 diabetes, concluding with the following:
"Human breast milk is the perfect food for an infant, and one of the most dangerous things a mother can do is to substitute the milk of the cow for her own [breast milk]."
For more information on the dangers of cow milk being consumed by humans, whether the cow milk source is "organic" or not, or "raw" or not, may I suggest you read Health Tip #546, titled "MILK DOES A BODY ‘BAD’ (The Dangers of Cow Milk)", available on the web at:
http://www.hacres.com/publications/health_tip.asp?tipid=583&year=2008.
For an in-depth study of the relationship of all animal sourced foods to human physical problems, I strongly suggest you obtain a copy of Dr. Campbell’s book, The China Study. Thoroughly scientifically documented, this 417 page book will give you the ammunition you need to convince the biggest skeptic, or if you personally have any doubts of the relationship of animal source foods to disease, this book is a must read.
https://commerce.hacres.com/product.aspx?id=377&uofm=EACH
Why Stress Makes You Fat -- Calories Aren't the Culprit
Rubman's Digestion Connection:
Why Stress Makes You Fat -- Calories Aren't the Culprit
Have you noticed that when you're under stress, pounds seem to pack on more easily... whereas when you're relaxed and life is going well, it's just less of an issue? I sure have, and in fact I find that I often lose a few pounds while on vacation even though I eat as much, if not more than normal. I recently joked about this with Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, who confirmed my hypothesis that stress alters the metabolism.
Cortisol is the culprit, he told me. The fight or flight syndrome that is the basis of our physiological response to stress causes the adrenal glands to produce this hormone, whose job it is to modulate the effects of insulin on blood sugar. Ongoing stress can tax the system beyond its normal abilities... especially when coupled with poor dietary choices.
The body "prepares" to fight or flee by packing away energy stores it thinks it will need. Cortisol irregularities also affect blood sugar balance. Mostly these are due to aging, ongoing stress, insufficient cholesterol reserves and dietary imbalances (** add sleep disorder to this list – Ram ). Cortisol levels normally rise in the morning (peaking around 7 am) and fall in the evening. If you regularly awaken in the middle of the night for no other reason than to worry -- about your teenager, your social calendar, your bank account -- you should pay attention. "This may be your adrenal gland saying 'wake up,' there is something wrong with your insulin-cortisol-blood sugar balance," says Dr. Rubman.
GETTING BACK INTO BALANCE
Signs that your body is not properly managing blood sugar levels swing to both extremes:
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia: Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety, sweating, hunger, trembling, headache, clamminess and heart palpitations. When severe, these can progress to confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma and even death.
High blood sugar or hyperglycemia: Common symptoms of hyperglycemia include hunger, thirst, frequent urination, fatigue or extreme tiredness, blurred vision and unexplained weight loss.
If you see yourself in either of these categories -- particularly if you have several symptoms -- ask your doctor for blood and urine tests that can determine whether you are entering a danger zone. Fortunately this is the stage where you can still prevent serious disease -- insulin resistance is often fully reversible. To control blood sugar, Dr. Rubman individually prescribes a supplemental regimen that may include the following measures, adding the caveat that supplements should always be used under a physician's supervision, so consult your doctor for an individualized prescription.
Make sure you take in sufficient chromium. This essential trace mineral is necessary for efficient insulin function and carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Chromium helps keep insulin and cortisol in balance, says Dr. Rubman. Brewer's yeast is one of the best sources, but it can cause bloating and nausea so it is better to rely on dietary sources, including beef, liver, eggs, chicken, oysters, wheat germ, green peppers, apples, bananas and spinach. If diet alone proves insufficient, chromium polynicotinate supplements can be taken.
Love your liver. Maintaining optimal liver function helps keep blood sugar in balance by providing a reserve to supply glucose to the bloodstream when there's a temporary shortfall. In addition to the helpful strategies listed above, consider supportive supplements such as glucomannan, a fiber supplement that is particularly effective at removing wastes from the liver via bile. Dr. Rubman often prescribes this fiber supplement for his patients to take 30 minutes before lunch and dinner with a large glass of water.
Bulk up on vitamin B. According to Dr. Rubman, the "minimum daily requirement" for vitamin B is not sufficient for optimal digestive performance so he often prescribes a high-potency B vitamin twice daily for his patients. Also, many people are what he calls "functionally deficient" in vitamin B-12, which can impair other B vitamin functions and a myriad of physiological processes, so it's a good idea to ask your physician to assess your B-12 level. Bright yellow urine is a good sign that you're getting an adequate supply from your multi-B supplement (the color is produced by trace amounts of Riboflavin, or B-2, spilling over into the urine). Dr. Rubman prefers B-12 sublingual (dissolved under the tongue) pills that come in the form of hydroxycobalamin or methylcobalamin, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.
Fill up on fiber. Fiber helps everything move smoothly and efficiently through the digestive tract. Fiber promotes healthy flora in the gut and binds and transports excess bile acids out of the body. Fiber-rich meals help contribute to a steady and sustained contribution to blood sugar. All that's widely recognized, yet in this country our average fiber intake is 10 grams daily, while 25 to 30 grams are required for good health. Good high fiber foods include steamed vegetables, ripe fruits, lentils, black beans, barley, chickpeas, bulgur, brown rice, oatmeal and whole-grain breads and cereals. Avoid refined and processed items such as white bread, pasta, cornflakes, cookies, candy and other sweets. Another benefit of fiber-rich foods? They have the advantage of satisfying hunger more effectively, since they are broken down slowly in the digestive system. In contrast, simple and refined sugars (for example, from processed foods and sweets) quickly cause blood sugar spikes... then a crash in energy that leaves you craving something sweet.
As always, the goal is to prevent big problems like diabetes and heart disease from developing by identifying them at an earlier and more controllable stage. Blood sugar is one indicator to pay close attention to... the payoff will be better health.
Source(s):
Andrew L. Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.
Why Stress Makes You Fat -- Calories Aren't the Culprit
Have you noticed that when you're under stress, pounds seem to pack on more easily... whereas when you're relaxed and life is going well, it's just less of an issue? I sure have, and in fact I find that I often lose a few pounds while on vacation even though I eat as much, if not more than normal. I recently joked about this with Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, who confirmed my hypothesis that stress alters the metabolism.
Cortisol is the culprit, he told me. The fight or flight syndrome that is the basis of our physiological response to stress causes the adrenal glands to produce this hormone, whose job it is to modulate the effects of insulin on blood sugar. Ongoing stress can tax the system beyond its normal abilities... especially when coupled with poor dietary choices.
The body "prepares" to fight or flee by packing away energy stores it thinks it will need. Cortisol irregularities also affect blood sugar balance. Mostly these are due to aging, ongoing stress, insufficient cholesterol reserves and dietary imbalances (** add sleep disorder to this list – Ram ). Cortisol levels normally rise in the morning (peaking around 7 am) and fall in the evening. If you regularly awaken in the middle of the night for no other reason than to worry -- about your teenager, your social calendar, your bank account -- you should pay attention. "This may be your adrenal gland saying 'wake up,' there is something wrong with your insulin-cortisol-blood sugar balance," says Dr. Rubman.
GETTING BACK INTO BALANCE
Signs that your body is not properly managing blood sugar levels swing to both extremes:
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia: Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety, sweating, hunger, trembling, headache, clamminess and heart palpitations. When severe, these can progress to confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma and even death.
High blood sugar or hyperglycemia: Common symptoms of hyperglycemia include hunger, thirst, frequent urination, fatigue or extreme tiredness, blurred vision and unexplained weight loss.
If you see yourself in either of these categories -- particularly if you have several symptoms -- ask your doctor for blood and urine tests that can determine whether you are entering a danger zone. Fortunately this is the stage where you can still prevent serious disease -- insulin resistance is often fully reversible. To control blood sugar, Dr. Rubman individually prescribes a supplemental regimen that may include the following measures, adding the caveat that supplements should always be used under a physician's supervision, so consult your doctor for an individualized prescription.
Make sure you take in sufficient chromium. This essential trace mineral is necessary for efficient insulin function and carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Chromium helps keep insulin and cortisol in balance, says Dr. Rubman. Brewer's yeast is one of the best sources, but it can cause bloating and nausea so it is better to rely on dietary sources, including beef, liver, eggs, chicken, oysters, wheat germ, green peppers, apples, bananas and spinach. If diet alone proves insufficient, chromium polynicotinate supplements can be taken.
Love your liver. Maintaining optimal liver function helps keep blood sugar in balance by providing a reserve to supply glucose to the bloodstream when there's a temporary shortfall. In addition to the helpful strategies listed above, consider supportive supplements such as glucomannan, a fiber supplement that is particularly effective at removing wastes from the liver via bile. Dr. Rubman often prescribes this fiber supplement for his patients to take 30 minutes before lunch and dinner with a large glass of water.
Bulk up on vitamin B. According to Dr. Rubman, the "minimum daily requirement" for vitamin B is not sufficient for optimal digestive performance so he often prescribes a high-potency B vitamin twice daily for his patients. Also, many people are what he calls "functionally deficient" in vitamin B-12, which can impair other B vitamin functions and a myriad of physiological processes, so it's a good idea to ask your physician to assess your B-12 level. Bright yellow urine is a good sign that you're getting an adequate supply from your multi-B supplement (the color is produced by trace amounts of Riboflavin, or B-2, spilling over into the urine). Dr. Rubman prefers B-12 sublingual (dissolved under the tongue) pills that come in the form of hydroxycobalamin or methylcobalamin, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.
Fill up on fiber. Fiber helps everything move smoothly and efficiently through the digestive tract. Fiber promotes healthy flora in the gut and binds and transports excess bile acids out of the body. Fiber-rich meals help contribute to a steady and sustained contribution to blood sugar. All that's widely recognized, yet in this country our average fiber intake is 10 grams daily, while 25 to 30 grams are required for good health. Good high fiber foods include steamed vegetables, ripe fruits, lentils, black beans, barley, chickpeas, bulgur, brown rice, oatmeal and whole-grain breads and cereals. Avoid refined and processed items such as white bread, pasta, cornflakes, cookies, candy and other sweets. Another benefit of fiber-rich foods? They have the advantage of satisfying hunger more effectively, since they are broken down slowly in the digestive system. In contrast, simple and refined sugars (for example, from processed foods and sweets) quickly cause blood sugar spikes... then a crash in energy that leaves you craving something sweet.
As always, the goal is to prevent big problems like diabetes and heart disease from developing by identifying them at an earlier and more controllable stage. Blood sugar is one indicator to pay close attention to... the payoff will be better health.
Source(s):
Andrew L. Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.
Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue
Eating to support your adrenal glands — small choices can make a difference
by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms I hear about from my patients at the clinic. And when I ask these women to tell me about what’s going on in their lives, all too often the answers include more responsibility than seems humanly possible. They’re
waking up still tired, unable to think straight in the morning without caffeine; needing high-carb snacks, more caffeine, or a nap to get through the afternoon; then burning the midnight oil because they’re too wired to sleep. Pretty soon these women are in a seemingly unending cycle of exhaustion and poor nutrition — and they feel desperate for the energy they once had.
Science tells us that if you experience stress on a chronic basis, the tiny adrenal glands that moderate your stress response and balance many other hormones in your body will suffer. Adrenal fatigue is what develops. And as the adrenal glands become
increasingly compromised, women end up with excess abdominal weight, decreased immunity, lack of concentration, irritability, disrupted sleep, and ultimately, pure exhaustion. But the upside is:
adrenal fatigue can be prevented and reversed. I’ve seen it time and again. And one of the best places to start is by paying closer attention to the choices you make about food — and not just what you eat, but when you eat it and how.
From my own experience and that of my patients, I know it’s difficult to make good nutritional choices when we’re going through periods of stress. Not only are our minds preoccupied with the stressor at hand, but our bodies are telling us they desperately need support, so we reach for foods that provide quick energy. Particularly at the end of a stressful day as the body is entering a period of recovery, overeating or making poor choices can be easy to do.
I know it feels overwhelming to think about changing your eating patterns, but believe me, small, incremental changes can really support better adrenal gland function and your daylong energy reserves. You don’t have to drag through the long days or dread your alarm clock every morning. Let’s look at some options for supporting your adrenals — so you can enjoy good energy all through the day, and get a great night’s sleep. The difference can be like night and day!
Your foundation rests on adrenal health
As the great balancer of more than 50 hormones in the body, the adrenal glands have a broad impact on your health and energy. The adrenals are primarily responsible for activating your stress (“fight or flight”) response, shifting energy away from restorative processes like digestion and toward the organs of action — your heart and skeletal muscles — by pumping adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream. But they also synthesize numerous other
hormones, including androgens and their precursors, such as testosterone and DHEA, as well as estrogens and progesterone — which is why it becomes more important than ever to support our adrenal glands as we approach menopause, a time when our bodies come to rely more heavily upon the regulation of hormones.
But aside from the life-critical job the adrenals play in activating your stress response and supplementing healthy hormonal balance as we age, the hormone cortisol itself has a powerful hand in so many other regulatory processes across all your systems:
protecting the body from stress by regulating blood pressure, normalizing blood sugar levels, helping to regulate the immune and inflammatory responses, and influencing mood, memory, and clarity of thought.
Maybe this helps explain why, when your adrenal reserves are depleted, you might feel a little crazy, and your sleeping and eating habits seem a little crazy, too! In Ayurvedic medicine, the adrenal glands are connected to the “root” chakra and contribute to our groundedness, nourishment and physical health.
With persistent stress, we become increasingly less grounded, which can increase stress even more — and the constant demand for stress hormones means the adrenals become depleted and ultimately exhausted.
But my experience with women over the years has shown me that you can provide stronger grounding and support to the adrenal glands by making some simple choices when it comes to eating and nutrition. Will your food choices make or break your adrenals? Not exactly — stress is the number-one major offender when it comes to adrenal depletion, and you can read more about this
in our article on stress and the effects of high cortisol — but good nutrition, well-timed meals and snacks, and sometimes a gluten-free diet can significantly relieve the strain on your adrenal
glands.
Think about the tires of a car. If you buy good quality tires and routinely check their air pressure, balance and rotate them, and patch any holes, the foundation for how your car moves on the road will be safe, steady, and strong. You’ll get better gas
mileage, the car will respond better when road conditions are slippery or uneven, and the car will last longer. The same goes for adrenal function.
Selecting high-quality foods, building a strong nutrient base, and paying attention to when and how you eat all make for more efficient and healthy adrenal function — and better health all around. Just as neglecting your tires may not immediately
compromise your safety or your car’s efficiency, your adrenals can take a lot of strain before you begin to see the effects on your body.
First and foremost: timing your meals and snacks
One thing I often tell my patients is to never allow themselves to get too hungry. Low blood sugar by itself puts stress on your body and can tax your adrenals. You may not realize that your body is in constant need of energy — even as you sleep. And the primary adrenal hormone cortisol serves as a kind of moderator in making sure your blood sugar between meals, especially during the night, stays adequate. It does this by signaling to the liver to release its
stored sugar, glycogen, when there isn’t food on board. Long periods without food make the adrenals work harder by requiring them to release more cortisol to keep your body functioning normally. So eating three nutritious meals and two to three snacks that are well-timed throughout the day is one way to balance your blood sugar and lessen the adrenal burden.
When you eat can also make a difference in preserving, supporting, and restoring your adrenals. As you can see in the graph, cortisol has a natural cycle that works with your circadian rhythm. Normally, it begins to rise around 6:00 AM and reaches its highest peak around 8:00 AM. Throughout the day cortisol gradually declines — with small upward bumps at meal times — in
preparation for nighttime rest.
It’s ideal to work with this natural cycle to keep the tapering-off of levels as smooth as possible as the day progresses and to avoid dramatic ups and downs. To do this, it helps to get the majority of your food in earlier in the day, and to eat an early dinner (by
5:00 or 6:00 PM). If it’s difficult to eat early, as it is for many of my busy patients, at least try to make your evening meal the lightest one of the day, to prevent a surge of cortisol from ramping up your night-time metabolic rate and disrupting your ability
to fall or stay asleep. Many of my patients tell me they overeat to soothe themselves in the evening. This “night-eating” habit is due to the appetite-stimulating effects of residual cortisol, and
unfortunately, it only further disturbs our hormone axis.
Keep in mind that cortisol will also rise a bit with exercise. Lighter activities, such as a walk after dinner or a bit of gentle stretching before, will not subvert this natural tapering-off process. But to work in concert with your body’s natural cortisol cycle, more intense exercise is best planned for the morning.
But I’m not hungry in the morning...
As your mother probably told you, breakfast is important. But maybe you don’t feel hungry in the morning, and if so, it could be for the following reasons:
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), which has appetite-dulling effects, begins to enter the bloodstream at a fast rate first thing in the morning.
Decreased liver function, which can accompany adrenal dysfunction or a heavy toxic burden, can also dampen morning hunger.
Even if you don’t feel hungry, having a nutritious breakfast within an hour of rising — preferably with protein — will provide energetic benefits to your metabolism and cortisol levels that last throughout the day.
Here are some other simple ways to gently support your body’s natural cortisol cycle:
If possible, eat breakfast by 8:00 AM or within an hour of getting up (earlier is better), to restore blood sugar levels after using glycogen stores at night.
Try to eat lunch between 11:00 AM and 12:00 noon. Your
morning meal can be used up quickly.
Eat a nutritious snack between 2:00 and 3:00 PM to get you through the natural dip in cortisol around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.
Make an effort to eat dinner around 5:00 or 6:00 PM, and make this your lightest meal of the day.
Supporting your body’s natural rhythms by timing meals and preventing dramatic dips in blood sugar not only minimizes cortisol output and frees up your adrenals to perform their secondary functions, but gives you more sustained energy throughout the day — and life becomes much more enjoyable when we have the energy we need.
Eat, drink, and support adrenal gland function
As our awareness about when we eat increases, it’s also helpful to think more about what we eat. Stress often brings out the worst in us — especially when it comes to food choices. Many of my patients with adrenal fatigue tell me they reach for foods that give
them an instant burst of energy — foods like cookies, cakes, doughnuts, white bread or pasta. These foods contain refined sugar and flour, and allow a great surge of energy, but generally the surge is followed by an even greater dip in energy, causing you to feel worse.
Another problem with high-carb foods like these is that they often contain gluten, a protein that is found in many grains (including wheat, rye and barley, and oats) and frequently used as a food additive, too.
I have found in my practice that many women with adrenal fatigue are sensitive to gluten. For this reason, a gluten-free diet is one of the first things I suggest to my patients with symptoms of adrenal
fatigue, who often report feeling much better when they get the gluten out of their diets.
Other women with adrenal fatigue drink more and more coffee or soda throughout the day to stay awake. They may think it’s not affecting their sleep patterns, but research has linked higher caffeine intake to classic “night owl” or “eveningness” behavior. (See our article on the effects of caffeine for more info.)
Caffeine can pick you up in the short term, but it can also over-stimulate the adrenals, which only compounds fatigue as it wears off.
If you find yourself craving caffeine — or sugar for that matter — it may be that your cortisol is low, but it also simply may be that your body needs to rest. I encourage you to honor your body’s request and take a break, instead of winding it up another notch. Take a quiet moment and treat yourself to some deep breathing
or a ten–minute walk. And if drinking a cup of coffee is a relaxing part of your routine and you don’t want to give it up, drink it in the morning with something nutritious to eat, and add cream to dull the negative effects of caffeine.
Choosing adrenal-healthy beverages Just as with food, your choices about drinks can contribute to the support or strain on your adrenal glands. Here are some good and not-so-good choices.
Adrenal draining Adrenal restoring
Drinks that contain caffeine Ginseng or Siberian ginseng (in the morning) Alcohol Herbal teas like chamomile, passionflower,
valerian Gatorade Vegetable juice (with salt), like V-8
Every day we make choices about what we eat and drink.
Some days those choices are helpful for the body and other days — or meals — aren’t so helpful. What I encourage you to focus on is balance. Nourishing your body with balanced meals and snacks can do wonders for your energy and feed your adrenal health at the same time. Yet, you don’t want to be so stuck on eating
“right” that you cause yourself more stress! I always tell my patients to eat their best 80% of the time. The other 20% is up to them.
Eating meals and snacks that are made of fresh whole foods, preferably organic or locally grown, without colors, dyes, chemicals, preservatives or added hormones are best to strive for. Including some protein in all your meals and snacks (especially in
the morning) will have a stabilizing effect on your blood sugar, which in turn can help you overcome caffeine and sugar cravings. (For more information on eating balanced meals, see our Personal Program Nutritional Guidelines.)
To lessen the stress that often comes with trying to eat healthfully, think about preparing nutritious foods on the weekends so you have them ready and available on busy weeknights, or stop at a health food store to pick up some hot prepared food. Don’t feel
guilty if your food isn’t homemade every day in your own kitchen. Guilt is the last thing your adrenals need!
Salt and adrenal fatigue
Women with adrenal fatigue often crave salt — and many of my patients are surprised when I tell them to honor this craving. Yes, salt can increase blood pressure, but low blood pressure (hypotension) is a very common sign of adrenal fatigue — at all stages. If you feel lightheaded when getting out of bed in the morning, standing up quickly, or getting up out of a bath or
hot tub, you may very well have low adrenal function, and including more salt in your diet could be helpful. But try to make it good-quality, iodized sea salt.
Craving for salt in people with adrenal fatigue is complicated to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s a result of low aldosterone. Aldosterone, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, is part of the complex mechanism that regulates blood pressure in the body. Levels of aldosterone go up and down in much the
same diurnal pattern as cortisol does, and likewise go up as a normal response to stressful situations.
Production of aldosterone by the adrenals depends on how much cortisol-stimulating hormone (ACTH) is being sent from the brain. The brain takes its signals from the amount of circulating cortisol — not circulating aldosterone — so high cortisol tends to lower the
brain’s ACTH production, which in turn decreases aldosterone secretion, leading to lower blood pressure.
Another consequence of low aldosterone is electrolyte imbalance and cell dehydration, which both have negative effects on almost all physiological reactions in the body: aside from salt cravings, low blood pressure and lightheadedness, patients with adrenal
fatigue often experience an irregular heart beat, lethargy, muscle weakness, and increased thirst. These are all a result of imbalance in sodium and other minerals, including potassium and agnesium.
Increasing your salt intake is one way to help restore these imbalances.
A nutrient-rich foundation — essential for healing adrenal fatigue
If you decide to do nothing else for your adrenals, I urge you to provide your body with a strong nutrient base. The vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients available in a pharmaceutical-grade supplement like the one we offer in our Personal Program are absolutely essential for healing adrenal fatigue — as well as for the everyday workings of your adrenal glands.
If you need additional support for adrenal health Our Essential Nutrients provide an optimal nutrient foundation for your adrenal health. Yet some women need extra nutrient support for healing adrenal fatigue. Here are my top recommendations:
Ashwagandha
Siberian ginseng
Phosphatidylserine
Licorice
Extra B vitamins (B-complex)
You can begin on your own with the first two herbs listed above. If you do not notice improvement within a few weeks, see a functional medicine or naturopathic practitioner for a program that best fits your personal needs — dosage, timing, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and other factors should be taken in
to consideration.
Vitamins like C, E and all the B vitamins have crucial roles in the reactions that occur in the adrenal cascade. And a mineral like magnesium provides necessary energy for your adrenals — and every cell in your body — to function properly. Calcium and several
trace minerals like zinc, manganese, selenium, and iodine provide calming effects in the body. These minerals can help to relieve the stress that comes with and causes adrenal fatigue, which will ultimately lessen your cortisol output.
A strong nutrient foundation also supports the endocrine system overall. There is great synergism between the different organs of the endocrine system (including the adrenal glands), where each organ and its secretions interact with the others to upregulate
and down regulate activity to keep us in balance. But as hormonal levels become deficient or excessive, the natural response of our cells is to compensate by increasing or decreasing their receptors for those molecules. To do all this optimally, they need nutritional support!
Small things, dramatic differences
Your adrenal glands are tiny in comparison to many other organs. They are roughly the size of a walnut, yet they have enormous responsibilities in your body. When they are functioning at their peak, these small glands can help you feel energized when you need to be and relaxed when it is time for rest. They contribute
to the production of estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and so much more. But life’s demands can slowly drain the balancing power of the adrenal glands. Even the healthiest person’s adrenals, though evolutionarily equipped to handle periods of stress, become fatigued under chronic, unrelenting stress.
You have the power to lessen the burden on your adrenals — and your whole body. It doesn’t take much. The small choices you make in regards to your nutrition and eating patterns will make a difference.
Here’s my advice to you: support your foundation with a high quality nutritional supplement and eat good food in harmony with your body’s natural daily rhythms. Soon you’ll find the energy you thought you lost — and it’ll be here to stay!
Our Personal Program is a great place to start The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our nurse–educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we
recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Program works.
To select the Program that’s right for your symptoms, go to Choose the plan that works for you.
To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal
Health Profile.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us
toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and
help.
Eating to support your adrenal glands — small choices can make a difference
by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms I hear about from my patients at the clinic. And when I ask these women to tell me about what’s going on in their lives, all too often the answers include more responsibility than seems humanly possible. They’re
waking up still tired, unable to think straight in the morning without caffeine; needing high-carb snacks, more caffeine, or a nap to get through the afternoon; then burning the midnight oil because they’re too wired to sleep. Pretty soon these women are in a seemingly unending cycle of exhaustion and poor nutrition — and they feel desperate for the energy they once had.
Science tells us that if you experience stress on a chronic basis, the tiny adrenal glands that moderate your stress response and balance many other hormones in your body will suffer. Adrenal fatigue is what develops. And as the adrenal glands become
increasingly compromised, women end up with excess abdominal weight, decreased immunity, lack of concentration, irritability, disrupted sleep, and ultimately, pure exhaustion. But the upside is:
adrenal fatigue can be prevented and reversed. I’ve seen it time and again. And one of the best places to start is by paying closer attention to the choices you make about food — and not just what you eat, but when you eat it and how.
From my own experience and that of my patients, I know it’s difficult to make good nutritional choices when we’re going through periods of stress. Not only are our minds preoccupied with the stressor at hand, but our bodies are telling us they desperately need support, so we reach for foods that provide quick energy. Particularly at the end of a stressful day as the body is entering a period of recovery, overeating or making poor choices can be easy to do.
I know it feels overwhelming to think about changing your eating patterns, but believe me, small, incremental changes can really support better adrenal gland function and your daylong energy reserves. You don’t have to drag through the long days or dread your alarm clock every morning. Let’s look at some options for supporting your adrenals — so you can enjoy good energy all through the day, and get a great night’s sleep. The difference can be like night and day!
Your foundation rests on adrenal health
As the great balancer of more than 50 hormones in the body, the adrenal glands have a broad impact on your health and energy. The adrenals are primarily responsible for activating your stress (“fight or flight”) response, shifting energy away from restorative processes like digestion and toward the organs of action — your heart and skeletal muscles — by pumping adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream. But they also synthesize numerous other
hormones, including androgens and their precursors, such as testosterone and DHEA, as well as estrogens and progesterone — which is why it becomes more important than ever to support our adrenal glands as we approach menopause, a time when our bodies come to rely more heavily upon the regulation of hormones.
But aside from the life-critical job the adrenals play in activating your stress response and supplementing healthy hormonal balance as we age, the hormone cortisol itself has a powerful hand in so many other regulatory processes across all your systems:
protecting the body from stress by regulating blood pressure, normalizing blood sugar levels, helping to regulate the immune and inflammatory responses, and influencing mood, memory, and clarity of thought.
Maybe this helps explain why, when your adrenal reserves are depleted, you might feel a little crazy, and your sleeping and eating habits seem a little crazy, too! In Ayurvedic medicine, the adrenal glands are connected to the “root” chakra and contribute to our groundedness, nourishment and physical health.
With persistent stress, we become increasingly less grounded, which can increase stress even more — and the constant demand for stress hormones means the adrenals become depleted and ultimately exhausted.
But my experience with women over the years has shown me that you can provide stronger grounding and support to the adrenal glands by making some simple choices when it comes to eating and nutrition. Will your food choices make or break your adrenals? Not exactly — stress is the number-one major offender when it comes to adrenal depletion, and you can read more about this
in our article on stress and the effects of high cortisol — but good nutrition, well-timed meals and snacks, and sometimes a gluten-free diet can significantly relieve the strain on your adrenal
glands.
Think about the tires of a car. If you buy good quality tires and routinely check their air pressure, balance and rotate them, and patch any holes, the foundation for how your car moves on the road will be safe, steady, and strong. You’ll get better gas
mileage, the car will respond better when road conditions are slippery or uneven, and the car will last longer. The same goes for adrenal function.
Selecting high-quality foods, building a strong nutrient base, and paying attention to when and how you eat all make for more efficient and healthy adrenal function — and better health all around. Just as neglecting your tires may not immediately
compromise your safety or your car’s efficiency, your adrenals can take a lot of strain before you begin to see the effects on your body.
First and foremost: timing your meals and snacks
One thing I often tell my patients is to never allow themselves to get too hungry. Low blood sugar by itself puts stress on your body and can tax your adrenals. You may not realize that your body is in constant need of energy — even as you sleep. And the primary adrenal hormone cortisol serves as a kind of moderator in making sure your blood sugar between meals, especially during the night, stays adequate. It does this by signaling to the liver to release its
stored sugar, glycogen, when there isn’t food on board. Long periods without food make the adrenals work harder by requiring them to release more cortisol to keep your body functioning normally. So eating three nutritious meals and two to three snacks that are well-timed throughout the day is one way to balance your blood sugar and lessen the adrenal burden.
When you eat can also make a difference in preserving, supporting, and restoring your adrenals. As you can see in the graph, cortisol has a natural cycle that works with your circadian rhythm. Normally, it begins to rise around 6:00 AM and reaches its highest peak around 8:00 AM. Throughout the day cortisol gradually declines — with small upward bumps at meal times — in
preparation for nighttime rest.
It’s ideal to work with this natural cycle to keep the tapering-off of levels as smooth as possible as the day progresses and to avoid dramatic ups and downs. To do this, it helps to get the majority of your food in earlier in the day, and to eat an early dinner (by
5:00 or 6:00 PM). If it’s difficult to eat early, as it is for many of my busy patients, at least try to make your evening meal the lightest one of the day, to prevent a surge of cortisol from ramping up your night-time metabolic rate and disrupting your ability
to fall or stay asleep. Many of my patients tell me they overeat to soothe themselves in the evening. This “night-eating” habit is due to the appetite-stimulating effects of residual cortisol, and
unfortunately, it only further disturbs our hormone axis.
Keep in mind that cortisol will also rise a bit with exercise. Lighter activities, such as a walk after dinner or a bit of gentle stretching before, will not subvert this natural tapering-off process. But to work in concert with your body’s natural cortisol cycle, more intense exercise is best planned for the morning.
But I’m not hungry in the morning...
As your mother probably told you, breakfast is important. But maybe you don’t feel hungry in the morning, and if so, it could be for the following reasons:
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), which has appetite-dulling effects, begins to enter the bloodstream at a fast rate first thing in the morning.
Decreased liver function, which can accompany adrenal dysfunction or a heavy toxic burden, can also dampen morning hunger.
Even if you don’t feel hungry, having a nutritious breakfast within an hour of rising — preferably with protein — will provide energetic benefits to your metabolism and cortisol levels that last throughout the day.
Here are some other simple ways to gently support your body’s natural cortisol cycle:
If possible, eat breakfast by 8:00 AM or within an hour of getting up (earlier is better), to restore blood sugar levels after using glycogen stores at night.
Try to eat lunch between 11:00 AM and 12:00 noon. Your
morning meal can be used up quickly.
Eat a nutritious snack between 2:00 and 3:00 PM to get you through the natural dip in cortisol around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.
Make an effort to eat dinner around 5:00 or 6:00 PM, and make this your lightest meal of the day.
Supporting your body’s natural rhythms by timing meals and preventing dramatic dips in blood sugar not only minimizes cortisol output and frees up your adrenals to perform their secondary functions, but gives you more sustained energy throughout the day — and life becomes much more enjoyable when we have the energy we need.
Eat, drink, and support adrenal gland function
As our awareness about when we eat increases, it’s also helpful to think more about what we eat. Stress often brings out the worst in us — especially when it comes to food choices. Many of my patients with adrenal fatigue tell me they reach for foods that give
them an instant burst of energy — foods like cookies, cakes, doughnuts, white bread or pasta. These foods contain refined sugar and flour, and allow a great surge of energy, but generally the surge is followed by an even greater dip in energy, causing you to feel worse.
Another problem with high-carb foods like these is that they often contain gluten, a protein that is found in many grains (including wheat, rye and barley, and oats) and frequently used as a food additive, too.
I have found in my practice that many women with adrenal fatigue are sensitive to gluten. For this reason, a gluten-free diet is one of the first things I suggest to my patients with symptoms of adrenal
fatigue, who often report feeling much better when they get the gluten out of their diets.
Other women with adrenal fatigue drink more and more coffee or soda throughout the day to stay awake. They may think it’s not affecting their sleep patterns, but research has linked higher caffeine intake to classic “night owl” or “eveningness” behavior. (See our article on the effects of caffeine for more info.)
Caffeine can pick you up in the short term, but it can also over-stimulate the adrenals, which only compounds fatigue as it wears off.
If you find yourself craving caffeine — or sugar for that matter — it may be that your cortisol is low, but it also simply may be that your body needs to rest. I encourage you to honor your body’s request and take a break, instead of winding it up another notch. Take a quiet moment and treat yourself to some deep breathing
or a ten–minute walk. And if drinking a cup of coffee is a relaxing part of your routine and you don’t want to give it up, drink it in the morning with something nutritious to eat, and add cream to dull the negative effects of caffeine.
Choosing adrenal-healthy beverages Just as with food, your choices about drinks can contribute to the support or strain on your adrenal glands. Here are some good and not-so-good choices.
Adrenal draining Adrenal restoring
Drinks that contain caffeine Ginseng or Siberian ginseng (in the morning) Alcohol Herbal teas like chamomile, passionflower,
valerian Gatorade Vegetable juice (with salt), like V-8
Every day we make choices about what we eat and drink.
Some days those choices are helpful for the body and other days — or meals — aren’t so helpful. What I encourage you to focus on is balance. Nourishing your body with balanced meals and snacks can do wonders for your energy and feed your adrenal health at the same time. Yet, you don’t want to be so stuck on eating
“right” that you cause yourself more stress! I always tell my patients to eat their best 80% of the time. The other 20% is up to them.
Eating meals and snacks that are made of fresh whole foods, preferably organic or locally grown, without colors, dyes, chemicals, preservatives or added hormones are best to strive for. Including some protein in all your meals and snacks (especially in
the morning) will have a stabilizing effect on your blood sugar, which in turn can help you overcome caffeine and sugar cravings. (For more information on eating balanced meals, see our Personal Program Nutritional Guidelines.)
To lessen the stress that often comes with trying to eat healthfully, think about preparing nutritious foods on the weekends so you have them ready and available on busy weeknights, or stop at a health food store to pick up some hot prepared food. Don’t feel
guilty if your food isn’t homemade every day in your own kitchen. Guilt is the last thing your adrenals need!
Salt and adrenal fatigue
Women with adrenal fatigue often crave salt — and many of my patients are surprised when I tell them to honor this craving. Yes, salt can increase blood pressure, but low blood pressure (hypotension) is a very common sign of adrenal fatigue — at all stages. If you feel lightheaded when getting out of bed in the morning, standing up quickly, or getting up out of a bath or
hot tub, you may very well have low adrenal function, and including more salt in your diet could be helpful. But try to make it good-quality, iodized sea salt.
Craving for salt in people with adrenal fatigue is complicated to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s a result of low aldosterone. Aldosterone, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, is part of the complex mechanism that regulates blood pressure in the body. Levels of aldosterone go up and down in much the
same diurnal pattern as cortisol does, and likewise go up as a normal response to stressful situations.
Production of aldosterone by the adrenals depends on how much cortisol-stimulating hormone (ACTH) is being sent from the brain. The brain takes its signals from the amount of circulating cortisol — not circulating aldosterone — so high cortisol tends to lower the
brain’s ACTH production, which in turn decreases aldosterone secretion, leading to lower blood pressure.
Another consequence of low aldosterone is electrolyte imbalance and cell dehydration, which both have negative effects on almost all physiological reactions in the body: aside from salt cravings, low blood pressure and lightheadedness, patients with adrenal
fatigue often experience an irregular heart beat, lethargy, muscle weakness, and increased thirst. These are all a result of imbalance in sodium and other minerals, including potassium and agnesium.
Increasing your salt intake is one way to help restore these imbalances.
A nutrient-rich foundation — essential for healing adrenal fatigue
If you decide to do nothing else for your adrenals, I urge you to provide your body with a strong nutrient base. The vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients available in a pharmaceutical-grade supplement like the one we offer in our Personal Program are absolutely essential for healing adrenal fatigue — as well as for the everyday workings of your adrenal glands.
If you need additional support for adrenal health Our Essential Nutrients provide an optimal nutrient foundation for your adrenal health. Yet some women need extra nutrient support for healing adrenal fatigue. Here are my top recommendations:
Ashwagandha
Siberian ginseng
Phosphatidylserine
Licorice
Extra B vitamins (B-complex)
You can begin on your own with the first two herbs listed above. If you do not notice improvement within a few weeks, see a functional medicine or naturopathic practitioner for a program that best fits your personal needs — dosage, timing, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and other factors should be taken in
to consideration.
Vitamins like C, E and all the B vitamins have crucial roles in the reactions that occur in the adrenal cascade. And a mineral like magnesium provides necessary energy for your adrenals — and every cell in your body — to function properly. Calcium and several
trace minerals like zinc, manganese, selenium, and iodine provide calming effects in the body. These minerals can help to relieve the stress that comes with and causes adrenal fatigue, which will ultimately lessen your cortisol output.
A strong nutrient foundation also supports the endocrine system overall. There is great synergism between the different organs of the endocrine system (including the adrenal glands), where each organ and its secretions interact with the others to upregulate
and down regulate activity to keep us in balance. But as hormonal levels become deficient or excessive, the natural response of our cells is to compensate by increasing or decreasing their receptors for those molecules. To do all this optimally, they need nutritional support!
Small things, dramatic differences
Your adrenal glands are tiny in comparison to many other organs. They are roughly the size of a walnut, yet they have enormous responsibilities in your body. When they are functioning at their peak, these small glands can help you feel energized when you need to be and relaxed when it is time for rest. They contribute
to the production of estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and so much more. But life’s demands can slowly drain the balancing power of the adrenal glands. Even the healthiest person’s adrenals, though evolutionarily equipped to handle periods of stress, become fatigued under chronic, unrelenting stress.
You have the power to lessen the burden on your adrenals — and your whole body. It doesn’t take much. The small choices you make in regards to your nutrition and eating patterns will make a difference.
Here’s my advice to you: support your foundation with a high quality nutritional supplement and eat good food in harmony with your body’s natural daily rhythms. Soon you’ll find the energy you thought you lost — and it’ll be here to stay!
Our Personal Program is a great place to start The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our nurse–educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we
recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Program works.
To select the Program that’s right for your symptoms, go to Choose the plan that works for you.
To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal
Health Profile.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us
toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and
help.
Poor sleep may raise risk of diabetes
Poor sleep may raise risk of diabetes, research finds
Disruption to deep slumber hurts sugar regulation
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- When Shakespeare called sleep the "chief nourisher of life's feast," he may have been well ahead of his time, medically at least.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center report that disrupting sleep damages the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, potentially raising the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
More than 18 million Americans have diabetes and the most common form is type 2, in which the body either becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it to regulate sugar in the bloodstream.
In a small experiment, researchers led by Dr. Esra Tasali, an assistant professor of medicine, found that disrupting the deepest sleep periods of volunteers rapidly resulted in reduction in their ability to regulate blood-sugar levels.
The findings are reported in Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers studied the sleep patterns of nine volunteers, five men and four women, all of normal weight, in good health and ages 20 to 31.
Normal sleep is divided into several stages, with the so-called slow-wave sleep considered the deepest. Whenever the volunteers went into slow-wave sleep the researchers made noise -- enough to disturb the sleep though not to fully awaken them.
After just three days the ability of the volunteers to regulate blood sugar was reduced by 25 percent, the researchers reported.
Earlier studies have indicated that lack of sleep can reduce the ability to regulate sugar, and this report adds evidence that poor sleep quality is also a diabetes risk.
"This decrease in slow-wave sleep resembles the changes in sleep patterns caused by 40 years of aging," Tasali said in a statement. Young adults spend 80 to 100 minutes per night in slow-wave sleep, while people over age 60 generally have less than 20 minutes. "In this experiment," she said, "we gave people in their 20s the sleep of those in their 60s."
"Since reduced amounts of deep sleep are typical of aging and of common obesity-related sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, these results suggest that strategies to improve sleep quality, as well as quantity, may help to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in populations at risk," said co-author Dr. Eve Van Cauter, a professor of medicine.
Save and share this article
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Disruption to deep slumber hurts sugar regulation
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- When Shakespeare called sleep the "chief nourisher of life's feast," he may have been well ahead of his time, medically at least.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center report that disrupting sleep damages the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, potentially raising the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
More than 18 million Americans have diabetes and the most common form is type 2, in which the body either becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it to regulate sugar in the bloodstream.
In a small experiment, researchers led by Dr. Esra Tasali, an assistant professor of medicine, found that disrupting the deepest sleep periods of volunteers rapidly resulted in reduction in their ability to regulate blood-sugar levels.
The findings are reported in Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers studied the sleep patterns of nine volunteers, five men and four women, all of normal weight, in good health and ages 20 to 31.
Normal sleep is divided into several stages, with the so-called slow-wave sleep considered the deepest. Whenever the volunteers went into slow-wave sleep the researchers made noise -- enough to disturb the sleep though not to fully awaken them.
After just three days the ability of the volunteers to regulate blood sugar was reduced by 25 percent, the researchers reported.
Earlier studies have indicated that lack of sleep can reduce the ability to regulate sugar, and this report adds evidence that poor sleep quality is also a diabetes risk.
"This decrease in slow-wave sleep resembles the changes in sleep patterns caused by 40 years of aging," Tasali said in a statement. Young adults spend 80 to 100 minutes per night in slow-wave sleep, while people over age 60 generally have less than 20 minutes. "In this experiment," she said, "we gave people in their 20s the sleep of those in their 60s."
"Since reduced amounts of deep sleep are typical of aging and of common obesity-related sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, these results suggest that strategies to improve sleep quality, as well as quantity, may help to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in populations at risk," said co-author Dr. Eve Van Cauter, a professor of medicine.
Save and share this article
del.icio.us Digg Facebook Newsvine
Dear all,
I read three interesting recent ச்டுடிஎஸ், published in the international journals. I have sumnmarised the essence of the studies. I hope you will find of use.
First study focused on
"Patient Knowledge of Coronary Risk Profile Improves the Effectiveness of Dyslipidemia Therapy".The goal was to determine whether showing physicians and patients the patient's calculated coronary risk can improve the effectiveness of treating dyslipidemia in a primary care setting, patients were randomized to receive usual care or ongoing feedback regarding their calculated coronary risk and the change in this risk after lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, or both to treat dyslipidemia. Two hundred thirty primary care physicians enrolled 3053 patients. After 12 months of follow-up, 2687 patients (88.0%) remained in the study. Significantly greater mean reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were observed in patients receiving risk profiles vs usual care but the differences were small . The authors conclude that discussing coronary risk with the patient is associated with a small but measurable improvement in the efficacy of lipid therapy. The value of incorporating risk assessment in preventive care should be further evaluated.
The second study focused on Dietary Carbohydrates, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-aged Chinese Women as much uncertainty exists about the role of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in populations that traditionally subsist on a diet high in carbohydrates. Authors observed a cohort of 64 227 Chinese women with no history of diabetes or other chronic disease at baseline for 4.6 years. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary habits, physical activity, and other relevant information using a validated questionnaire. Incident diabetes cases were identified via in-person follow-up. Authors identified 1608 incident cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus in 297 755 person-years of follow-up. Dietary carbohydrate intake and consumption of rice were positively associated with risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Authors conclude, high intake of foods with a high glycemic index and glycemic load, especially rice, the main carbohydrate-contributing food in this population, may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese women.
The third study, Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health as pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity. From a search of 2246 citations; 26 studies with a total of 2767 participants met inclusion criteria Pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2491 steps per day more than control participants Overall, pedometer users increased their physical activity by 26.9% over baseline. An important predictor of increased physical activity was having a step goal such as 10 000 steps per day Authors conclude that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.
R.Srinivasa Murthy
Professor of Psychiatry(retd)
Bangalore-560078. India
Phone: 91 80 2658 7995
I read three interesting recent ச்டுடிஎஸ், published in the international journals. I have sumnmarised the essence of the studies. I hope you will find of use.
First study focused on
"Patient Knowledge of Coronary Risk Profile Improves the Effectiveness of Dyslipidemia Therapy".The goal was to determine whether showing physicians and patients the patient's calculated coronary risk can improve the effectiveness of treating dyslipidemia in a primary care setting, patients were randomized to receive usual care or ongoing feedback regarding their calculated coronary risk and the change in this risk after lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, or both to treat dyslipidemia. Two hundred thirty primary care physicians enrolled 3053 patients. After 12 months of follow-up, 2687 patients (88.0%) remained in the study. Significantly greater mean reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were observed in patients receiving risk profiles vs usual care but the differences were small . The authors conclude that discussing coronary risk with the patient is associated with a small but measurable improvement in the efficacy of lipid therapy. The value of incorporating risk assessment in preventive care should be further evaluated.
The second study focused on Dietary Carbohydrates, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-aged Chinese Women as much uncertainty exists about the role of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in populations that traditionally subsist on a diet high in carbohydrates. Authors observed a cohort of 64 227 Chinese women with no history of diabetes or other chronic disease at baseline for 4.6 years. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary habits, physical activity, and other relevant information using a validated questionnaire. Incident diabetes cases were identified via in-person follow-up. Authors identified 1608 incident cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus in 297 755 person-years of follow-up. Dietary carbohydrate intake and consumption of rice were positively associated with risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Authors conclude, high intake of foods with a high glycemic index and glycemic load, especially rice, the main carbohydrate-contributing food in this population, may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese women.
The third study, Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health as pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity. From a search of 2246 citations; 26 studies with a total of 2767 participants met inclusion criteria Pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2491 steps per day more than control participants Overall, pedometer users increased their physical activity by 26.9% over baseline. An important predictor of increased physical activity was having a step goal such as 10 000 steps per day Authors conclude that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.
R.Srinivasa Murthy
Professor of Psychiatry(retd)
Bangalore-560078. India
Phone: 91 80 2658 7995
Diabetes in Ayurveda is called Prameha
polyurea.
According to Ayurveda the treatment of Diabetes can be divided as follows...
1. Regular exercise-
Ayurveda has said that one should do regular and suffer hardships. Ayurvedic texts say that diabetes patient should do hard works like digging a well and
pond, walking long distance and doing asana. From this we can understand that from ancient time onwards it was known be a disease of lazy people and they knew the importance of exercise in this disease. So it should be understood that only medicines will not have any effect on Diabetes
2. Contolled food habits- Diabetes patient should control their food. They
should not eat food and fruits which are sweet. They should also keep away from tender fruits of those fruits which become sweet on ripe. They should also
avoid foods that are rich in starch content
3. Medicine- The role of medicine comes only last according to Ayurveda. Ayurveda mentions many medicines like Chandraprabha vati,Nisha Kathakadi kashayam are very effective here. However there are some single drugs which will be very effective in diabetes.
I will mention a few here
Fenugreek (Methi) - Methi is a good medicine for diabetes. It can be taken by the following ways.
* 1 teaspoon of powder taken in empty stomach early morning.
* The fenugreek which is kept in water overnight is taken along with the water.
stomach.
*The leaves are dried and powder is taken early morning
It should be noted that these medicines will have varied results in different individuals. Results will be seen after taking it for 2-3 months.
It is advised that you don't stop your medicines while taking these
3. Knowledge about Diabetes-
All diabetic patients should have knowledge of their disease. This knowledge will help them to keep them selves away from factors that increase their disease.
They should also keep in track of the latest development in treating diabetes. A good knowledge about diabetes and its complication can help them from
future troubles. Chronic Diabetes can affect Eyes (Diabetic retinopathy), Nervous system(Diabetic Neuroopathy),it also lead to delayed wound healing.
So know Diabetes and its nature.
Acarbose
http://www.drugs.com/cdi/acarbose.html
acarbose
Generic Name: acarbose (ah KAR bose)
Brand Names: Precose
What is acarbose?
Acarbose delays the digestion of carbohydrates (forms of sugar) in the body. This decreases the amount of sugar that passes into the blood after a meal and prevents periods of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Acarbose may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about acarbose?
Take each dose of acarbose with the first bite of a meal.
Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which include shaking; headache; sweating; pale, cool skin; fast heartbeats; drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; hunger; confusion; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; or difficulty concentrating. Carry a piece of non-dietetic, sugary hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acarbose?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or any other disease of the intestines;
ulcers of the colon;
a blockage or obstruction in the intestines;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.
You may not be able to take acarbose, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.
Acarbose is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take acarbose without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Acarbose passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take acarbose without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take acarbose?
Take acarbose exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Take each dose with the first bite of a meal.
It is important to take acarbose regularly to get the most benefit.
Your doctor may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with blood or urine tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with acarbose to monitor progress and side effects.
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.
Store acarbose at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
For maximum effectiveness, acarbose should be taken with the first bite of a meal. A missed dose taken within 15 minutes of the first bite of a meal will still be effective and should be taken as soon as remembered. If more than 15 minutes have passed since the first bite of the meal, a missed dose of acarbose may still be taken, although the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced. If a missed dose is not remembered until the next meal, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
An overdose of this medication is unlikely to occur. Symptoms of an overdose are unknown, but stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea might be expected.
What should I avoid while taking acarbose?
Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.
Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before you undergo any surgery.
Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications without first talking to your doctor.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may affect blood sugar levels.
Acarbose side effects
Stop taking acarbose and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
No other serious side effects have been reported from the use of acarbose. Consult your doctor if you experience any unusual or especially bothersome side effects.
Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which include shaking; headache; sweating; pale, cool skin; fast heartbeats; drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; hunger; confusion; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; or difficulty concentrating. Carry a piece of non-dietetic, sugary hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Some gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort or pain is likely to be experienced. Diarrhea may also occur. These side effects usually lessen with time.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect acarbose?
Digestive-enzyme supplements such as pancreatin (amylase, protease, lipase) in products such as Arco-Lase, Cotazym, Donnazyme, Pancrease, Creon, Ku-Zyme, and others may decrease the effects of acarbose. These medications should not be taken at the same time as acarbose.
Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
a thiazide diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), and others;
a steroid medication such as prednisone (Deltasone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others;
an estrogen (Premarin, Ogen, others) or an estrogen-containing birth control pill;
a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan), and others;
a thyroid medication (Synthroid, Levoxyl, others);
phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); or
a calcium channel blocker such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), and others.
The drugs listed above do not necessarily affect the actions of acarbose directly, but they are known to affect blood sugar levels. Special monitoring may be necessary.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with acarbose or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist has more information about acarbose written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Acarbose is available with a prescription under the brand name Precose. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Precose 50 mg--round, white, scored tablets
Precose 100 mg--round, white tablets
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Acarbose
Generic Name: Acarbose (ay-KAR-bose)
Brand Name: Precose
Acarbose is used for:
Treating type 2 diabetes in adults whose diabetes cannot be managed with diet alone. Acarbose may be used alone, in combination with other oral diabetes medicines, or with insulin.
Acarbose is a glucosidase inhibitor. It works by slowing down the enzyme that turns carbohydrates into glucose; this decreases blood sugar levels following a meal.
Do NOT use Acarbose if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Acarbose
you have blockage of the stomach or intestine or are at risk for these problems
you have long-term (chronic) bowel inflammation, colon ulcers, or stomach or intestine problems that interfere with digestion or nutrient absorption
you have cirrhosis of the liver or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
you have diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketone levels) or severe kidney problems
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Acarbose :
Some medical conditions may interact with Acarbose . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have stomach or intestinal problems, liver problems, or kidney problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Acarbose . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of their side effects, including bleeding, may be increased by Acarbose
Calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), estrogen, isoniazid, nicotinic acid, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), phenytoin, sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine), or thyroid hormone because they may increase or decrease Acarbose 's effectiveness
Insulin or sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Acarbose
Digoxin because its effectiveness may be decreased by Acarbose
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Acarbose may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Acarbose :
Use Acarbose as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Acarbose by mouth with food.
If you also take charcoal or digestive enzyme preparations, do not take them within 2 to 4 hours before after taking Acarbose . Check with your doctor if you have questions.
Temporary insulin therapy may be necessary during stressful periods (such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery).
If you miss a dose of Acarbose , skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Acarbose .
Important safety information:
Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Acarbose before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Carefully follow the regular testing of urine or blood glucose schedules given to you by your health care provider.
Acarbose , used with other diabetes medicines, may cause a loss of blood sugar control. Your health care provider may need to change the amount of medicine that you are taking. Because Acarbose prevents the breakdown of table (cane) sugar, be sure to use glucose (dextrose), not sugar or fruits, to treat symptoms of low blood sugar (tiredness, excessive hunger and sweating, numbness in arms or legs). Contact your health care provider if these symptoms occur.
Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and liver function tests, may be performed while you use Acarbose . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Acarbose should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Acarbose while you are pregnant. It is not known if Acarbose is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Acarbose .
Possible side effects of Acarbose :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Bloating; diarrhea; gas; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe stomach pain; yellowing of skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; gas; stomach pain or discomfort.
Proper storage of Acarbose :
Store Acarbose below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly sealed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Acarbose out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Acarbose , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Acarbose is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about Acarbose . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: October 3, 2007
Database Edition 07.4.1.001
Copyright © 2007 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
acarbose
Generic Name: acarbose (ah KAR bose)
Brand Names: Precose
What is acarbose?
Acarbose delays the digestion of carbohydrates (forms of sugar) in the body. This decreases the amount of sugar that passes into the blood after a meal and prevents periods of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Acarbose may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about acarbose?
Take each dose of acarbose with the first bite of a meal.
Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which include shaking; headache; sweating; pale, cool skin; fast heartbeats; drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; hunger; confusion; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; or difficulty concentrating. Carry a piece of non-dietetic, sugary hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acarbose?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or any other disease of the intestines;
ulcers of the colon;
a blockage or obstruction in the intestines;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.
You may not be able to take acarbose, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.
Acarbose is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take acarbose without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Acarbose passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take acarbose without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take acarbose?
Take acarbose exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Take each dose with the first bite of a meal.
It is important to take acarbose regularly to get the most benefit.
Your doctor may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with blood or urine tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with acarbose to monitor progress and side effects.
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.
Store acarbose at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
For maximum effectiveness, acarbose should be taken with the first bite of a meal. A missed dose taken within 15 minutes of the first bite of a meal will still be effective and should be taken as soon as remembered. If more than 15 minutes have passed since the first bite of the meal, a missed dose of acarbose may still be taken, although the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced. If a missed dose is not remembered until the next meal, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
An overdose of this medication is unlikely to occur. Symptoms of an overdose are unknown, but stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea might be expected.
What should I avoid while taking acarbose?
Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.
Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before you undergo any surgery.
Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications without first talking to your doctor.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may affect blood sugar levels.
Acarbose side effects
Stop taking acarbose and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
No other serious side effects have been reported from the use of acarbose. Consult your doctor if you experience any unusual or especially bothersome side effects.
Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which include shaking; headache; sweating; pale, cool skin; fast heartbeats; drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; hunger; confusion; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; or difficulty concentrating. Carry a piece of non-dietetic, sugary hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Some gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort or pain is likely to be experienced. Diarrhea may also occur. These side effects usually lessen with time.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect acarbose?
Digestive-enzyme supplements such as pancreatin (amylase, protease, lipase) in products such as Arco-Lase, Cotazym, Donnazyme, Pancrease, Creon, Ku-Zyme, and others may decrease the effects of acarbose. These medications should not be taken at the same time as acarbose.
Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
a thiazide diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), and others;
a steroid medication such as prednisone (Deltasone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others;
an estrogen (Premarin, Ogen, others) or an estrogen-containing birth control pill;
a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan), and others;
a thyroid medication (Synthroid, Levoxyl, others);
phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); or
a calcium channel blocker such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), and others.
The drugs listed above do not necessarily affect the actions of acarbose directly, but they are known to affect blood sugar levels. Special monitoring may be necessary.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with acarbose or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist has more information about acarbose written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Acarbose is available with a prescription under the brand name Precose. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Precose 50 mg--round, white, scored tablets
Precose 100 mg--round, white tablets
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Acarbose
Generic Name: Acarbose (ay-KAR-bose)
Brand Name: Precose
Acarbose is used for:
Treating type 2 diabetes in adults whose diabetes cannot be managed with diet alone. Acarbose may be used alone, in combination with other oral diabetes medicines, or with insulin.
Acarbose is a glucosidase inhibitor. It works by slowing down the enzyme that turns carbohydrates into glucose; this decreases blood sugar levels following a meal.
Do NOT use Acarbose if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Acarbose
you have blockage of the stomach or intestine or are at risk for these problems
you have long-term (chronic) bowel inflammation, colon ulcers, or stomach or intestine problems that interfere with digestion or nutrient absorption
you have cirrhosis of the liver or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
you have diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketone levels) or severe kidney problems
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Acarbose :
Some medical conditions may interact with Acarbose . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have stomach or intestinal problems, liver problems, or kidney problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Acarbose . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of their side effects, including bleeding, may be increased by Acarbose
Calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), estrogen, isoniazid, nicotinic acid, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), phenytoin, sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine), or thyroid hormone because they may increase or decrease Acarbose 's effectiveness
Insulin or sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Acarbose
Digoxin because its effectiveness may be decreased by Acarbose
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Acarbose may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Acarbose :
Use Acarbose as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Acarbose by mouth with food.
If you also take charcoal or digestive enzyme preparations, do not take them within 2 to 4 hours before after taking Acarbose . Check with your doctor if you have questions.
Temporary insulin therapy may be necessary during stressful periods (such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery).
If you miss a dose of Acarbose , skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Acarbose .
Important safety information:
Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Acarbose before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Carefully follow the regular testing of urine or blood glucose schedules given to you by your health care provider.
Acarbose , used with other diabetes medicines, may cause a loss of blood sugar control. Your health care provider may need to change the amount of medicine that you are taking. Because Acarbose prevents the breakdown of table (cane) sugar, be sure to use glucose (dextrose), not sugar or fruits, to treat symptoms of low blood sugar (tiredness, excessive hunger and sweating, numbness in arms or legs). Contact your health care provider if these symptoms occur.
Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and liver function tests, may be performed while you use Acarbose . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Acarbose should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Acarbose while you are pregnant. It is not known if Acarbose is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Acarbose .
Possible side effects of Acarbose :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Bloating; diarrhea; gas; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe stomach pain; yellowing of skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; gas; stomach pain or discomfort.
Proper storage of Acarbose :
Store Acarbose below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly sealed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Acarbose out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Acarbose , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Acarbose is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about Acarbose . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: October 3, 2007
Database Edition 07.4.1.001
Copyright © 2007 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
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