Posts Tagged ‘Several Ways’

Cinnamon Promotes Healthy Glucose Levels

Comments: 0May 3rd, 2011 by admin



Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and the number of people affected by it is on the rise. Even people who watch carefully what they are eating may experience rise in blood glucose as they age or their cells may become less sensitive to the effects of insulin. Certain ethnic groups are more susceptible to having diabetes than others. They include African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans.

The body regulates blood sugar levels in several ways. The most common understood way is through insulin; thus all of the drugs targeted at either increasing insulin from the pancreas or making the cells more responsive to insulin. Insulin is released by the pancreas in response to a meal. Insulin will get into the cells and proper sugar (glucose) metabolism occurs. If insulin cannot get into the cells, then the pancreas in response will increase the production of insulin in an attempt to force glucose into the cells. However, this may not always work and the result is the ever increasing levels of glucose in the blood.

There are several pharmaceutical drugs used for the treatment of diabetes. They each act in different ways to optimize insulin sensitivity in the body, but ultimately the goal is to control or lower the level of blood glucose in the body. Your physician will be able to choose the best treatment for you based on your glucose levels and the reason for which your body is not utilizing insulin properly.

There is good news for people wanting to naturally regulate their blood sugar. Scientists have discovered that along with weight loss and exercise, certain nutrients can help the body lower blood sugar naturally. Cinnamon is such a nutrient. Cinnamon is one of the world’s most common spices. It is used on everything anywhere from oatmeal to cappuccino. We will discuss the effects of coffee on blood glucose levels later. Several studies have been performed that showed that cinnamon is beneficial in lowering blood glucose.

For years there have been several studies done to prove the effects of Cinnamon in patients with type 2 diabetes. The results of the most recent of these studies appeared in the May 2006 issue of the European Journal of Clinical investigation1. The results of the study showed a 10 percent reduction in fasting blood glucose in the group that was given cinnamon extract and only a 3 percent reduction in the placebo group which led the scientists to conclude that the cinnamon extract seems to have a moderate effect in reducing fasting glucose concentrations in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control.

The above study is only the most recent done in humans that showed reduction of blood glucose after administration of cinnamon extract. The benefits of cinnamon extract have been confirmed in animal studies. For example, when rats were given two different doses of an oral cinnamon supplement for three weeks, glucose infusion into their cells more than doubled, even with the lower dose studied. The extract improved insulin action by enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle, resulting in increased glucose uptake2.

Because the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increased up to fourfold in type II diabetics, researchers have sought out nutrients that can simultaneously improve glucose metabolism and lipid levels. In a recent study published in Diabetes Care, cinnamon has been able to reduce not only the glucose levels but was also able to lower the lipid levels3.

It is not surprising that the diabetes epidemic is growing. It is caused directly by our lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. Fortunately, we can implement several easy habits in our life to reverse the effects of diabetes; habits such as regular exercise, nothing fancy a 30-minute walk every day or 10,000 steps per day which will help achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Finally we can give our body several nutrients such as cinnamon extract which can help our cells with the uptake of sugar thus lowering our circulating blood glucose.

References:

1. Mang B, Wolters M, Schmitt B, Kelb K, Lichtinghagen R, Stichtenoth DO, Hahn A. Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2. Eur J Clin Invest. 2006 May; 36(5):340-4

2. Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y. Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2003 Dec;62(3):139-48.

3. Khan A, Safdar M, Muzaffar Ali Khan M, Nawak Khattak K, Anderson RA. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003 Dec;26(12):3215-8

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Anaemia and Supplements

Comments: 0June 28th, 2010 by admin



Anaemia and supplements, is there a real connection? Anaemia itself is not a disease; it is the result the body malfunctioning somewhere and it stops producing the required number of red blood cells that it takes to keep your body functioning properly. It can affect both males and females at any age, but it is most common among young and middle aged females.

It is estimated that about 20 percent of all menstruating women and over fifty percent of pregnant women have anaemia. However, there are several other people that are at risk of developing this condition that affects the body in several ways.

Anaemia is a deficiency where the body does not produce either the required number of red blood cells or the quality that is required in these cells. Red blood cells carry the oxygen that your body uses through a protein called hemoglobin.

The normal concentration of hemoglobin that is required is 16 g/dl for men and 14 g/dl for women. The symbol g/dl stands for grams per deciliter, which is a volume of unit that is equal to one tenth of a liter.

When the levels of hemoglobin in the blood drop below this measurement, a person becomes anemic.

Hemoglobin is an iron containing protein that is stored in red blood and it transports oxygen form the lungs to several parts of the body including the muscles. Once it arrives, it releases oxygen. However, all tissues need oxygen to survive and without the proper levels it cannot properly convert the body’s sources of energy.

These energy sources are what activate muscle contractions, conduction of nerve tissues, and several other critical functions. Iron is extremely important in this process and a deficiency can cause anaemia, but so can deficiencies of other nutrients.

Causes of Anaemia:
There are several causes of Anaemia, but the most common causes are a lack of three critical nutrients in the diet; Iron, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid.

Iron, which is a mineral, is a critical nutrient in your body as every red blood cell contains iron and a deficiency causes IDA, or Iron Deficiency Anemia. IDA does not just suddenly develop; it develops over a period of time as the body becomes depleted of iron. Red blood cells need iron to produce at full strength, and when the supply is depleted, they become weaker and can not deliver the proper amount of oxygen.

IDA is most often caused by an insufficient amount of iron in the diet, poor absorption of iron in the body, or an ongoing blood loss by menstruation or a loss of blood in the intestinal tract. However, it can also be caused by very rapid growth spurts.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is caused when your digestive system is not able to properly absorb this critical vitamin. Vitamin B12 is essential in the manufacturing of red blood cells, and if your body is destroying this vitamin, you have what is referred to as Pernicious anemia.

You can also get this deficiency from Crohn’s disease, a bacterial growth, a parasite, or simply by taking heartburn medicine over an extended period of time.

Folic acid deficiency anaemia is caused by not getting enough folic acid either in your diet or by supplements. Folic acid is instrumental in the function of producing new cells in your body including red blood cells. Pregnancy drives the need for folic acid in the body but so do some diseases such as sickle cell disease.

Drinking too much alcohol will also deplete the body of folic acid as will any type of a severe kidney infection that requires kidney cleaners. Medications for Rheumatoid arthritis can also deplete your body of the vitamin.
There are also other causes that include malabsorption issues where your body cannot properly utilize the nutrients, such as coeliac disease.

Autoimmune disorders where the immune cells actually attack the red blood cells and decrease their life span can also be the cause.

Symptoms:

There are several symptoms that will be associated with Anaemia, depending on the severity. The most prevalent symptoms will be fatigue, weakness, and if severe, it can affect your breathing. Pale skin is also a very common with this condition.

Other symptoms will include a sudden drop in blood pressure from either sitting or lying in one position, especially after a large loss of blood. This symptom is very common among women during heavy periods. This may also be accompanied by rapid heartbeats.

Headaches, the loss of the ability to concentrate, and becoming irritated very easily are also common symptoms. If the condition is severe, it can cause cracked or red tongues and a sudden loss of appetite. This is most common among people on fad diets or vegetarians.

Treatments:

Treatments will have to be determined by your doctor after a series of testing to determine the actual cause. In most cases, treatments will be Iron supplements or supplements Vitamin B12 or Vitamin B9, Folic Acid. In very severe cases, these vitamins may be injected along with blood fusions or oxygen fusions where required.

It will be extremely important to take Iron supplements only as recommended or advised by your doctor. Iron is essential in fighting this condition, but it can also be toxic. Your body has a very difficult time in excreting iron excess so it must be taken only as directed.

However, besides the three nutrients, there are other natural ways to help fight off Anaemia. Beet juice is extremely powerful in helping this condition as it has several vitamins and is rich in iron. It is especially helpful to children and teenagers.

Lettuce and spinach are very easily absorbed and the iron found in them is natural and helps with the building of red blood cells. However, the most natural food to help with this condition is honey; it is very rich in iron, copper and magnesium, and can build hemoglobin back very quickly.

Summary:

Anaemia and supplements go hand in hand as a deficiency of the Iron, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid can rapidly deplete your red blood cell strength. Just be very cautious with over supplementing iron. There is no threat at all with either of the vitamins, simply because they are water soluble and it is impossible for them to be toxic as any excess is excreted daily.

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Foods That Maximize the Metabolism

Comments: 0February 22nd, 2010 by admin



Many overweight people suffer from a slow metabolism. It’s often hereditary, and then compounded by inactivity. But, anyone can speed up their metabolism, and there are several ways to do so. The first is exercise, and anyone trying to lose weight will see the benefits of exercise quickly.

Cardiovascular exercise is especially good for losing weight because it not only speeds up your metabolism while you’re exercising, but also for several hours afterwards. However, there are foods that increase the metabolism, too.

5 Foods That Increase the Metabolism

1. Cinnamon – Cinnamon tastes great on lots of things. But in addition to its great taste, it has been shown to increase metabolism and help control blood sugar naturally. If you’re pre-diabetic, cinnamon is one of the first foods that increase metabolism that you should try. There is much research going on today about how cinnamon might be used to treat diabetes naturally in the future.

2. Peppers – Hot peppers contain capsaicin. In fact, it is capsaicin that gives hot peppers their heat. Capsaicin stimulates your body to produce adrenaline. Adrenaline speeds up the metabolism, at least temporarily. Peppers like habaneros, cayenne and jalapenos are all good sources of capsaicin, so they are good foods that increase the metabolism.

3. Green Tea – Green tea contains EGCG, a catechin which also speeds metabolism. And, the great thing about EGCG is that it doesn’t speed up the heart rate nor have any of the negative side effects associated with too much caffeine. Green tea’s catechins also provide many other health benefits, and may even prevent serious diseases like cancer and heart disease if consumed regularly.

4. Milk - Calcium has been shown to increase the metabolism, which makes milk one of the best foods that increase metabolism. Not only can milk help boost your metabolic rate, but it also helps keep bones strong. This is especially important for women who are nearing menopause, because they can start to experience bone loss.

5. Ginger – Ginger is another food that can speed up the metabolic rate. Ginger is an herb that is great in many foods. It seasons both savory items and desserts, too. Experiment with recipes that use ginger, or try making a tea from it. Ginger also reduces the pH levels of your stomach enzymes, which makes it a great remedy for all sorts of gastric ailments, including heartburn and nausea.

These five foods that increase the metabolism are all easy to find and taste great. Just look for ways to include these foods into your everyday routine, watch your calorie intake and be sure you’re getting enough exercise. With this combination, and a faster metabolism, you’re sure to see the weight loss results you’ve been waiting for.

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