May 11th, 2011
The World Health Organisation has gone head to head with the US Sugar Association and published a report saying that sugar is a major cause of chronic conditions and to limit intake.
The WHO’s report looks at evidence on sugar intake and its association with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hyperactivity and tooth decay. It states that sugar should form no more than 10% of a person’s diet.
The US Sugar Association disputes these findings and says that sugar can safely form 25% of a person’s diet. It has called the report damaging and incorrect and has been threatening to lobby the American Congress to withdraw funding to the World Health Organisation unless it withdraws its sugar report.
Currently most governments support the World Health Organisation financially but the US Sugar Association is unhappy by this latest report. The Sugar Association includes members such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola who use sugar within some of their products.
The WHO’s director of non-communicable diseases, Dr Pekka Puska, commented “I don’t think this is a very wise strategy by the industry, because the evidence is so strong and the great public believes this message. I think it’s bit short-sighted to deny the facts and it would be better to collaborate. Food is different from tobacco. We always have to eat, so our aim is just to change consumption from unhealthy to healthy”.
Tags: cancer, diabetes, WHO
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March 21st, 2011
Researchers at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital have created a new early warning blood test that could detect type 2 diabetes up to 10 years before any symptoms occur.
Harvard Medical School
The study, reported in Nature Magazine is the first step to developing a commonly-used type 2 diabetes test which could help to prevent complications of the disease such as blindness, heart disease, stroke, amputation and kidney failure.
The test identifies levels of amino acids within the blood. The study, which looked at 2,422 individuals over a 12 year period, has shown that those with the highest levels of amino acid in their blood were five times as likely to develop diabetes within the 12 year period.
Diabetes UK
The Harvard research could help, Dr Victoria King of Diabetes UK says, “…identify those at risk as well as giving us new insights into how and why type 2 diabetes develops.”
“… therefore finding ways to identify those who are at risk of developing the condition are important”
Type 2 diabetes is linked to a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight and unhealthy eating. Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle can prevent or delay the condition, Dr King says.
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to process it efficiently. Type 1 diabetes is when the body is unable to produce insulin (which breaks down the glucose in the blood). In type 2 diabetes, the body is able to produce insulin but in insufficient quantities or the insulin produced does not work properly.
More studies are needed before this early warning blood test could become readily available.
Find out how leafy vegetables could cut risk of diabetes.
Tags: diabetes, diabetes test
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August 27th, 2010
The British Medical Journal reports that a portion and a half a day of green leafy vegetables each day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 14%.
The study from Leicester University which looked at 220,000 adults found that spinach and cabbage and other green leafy vegetables had a positive effect on type 2 diabetes and they indicated that approx. 100g (1.5 portions) of the vegetables was the ideal amount. 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day is still the recommended amount.
The researchers also found that although eating more fruit and vegetables in general was not conclusive proof of a lower risk, there appeared to be a ‘trend in that direction’.
The full list of vegetables identified in the study as being beneficial in lowering the risk included cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Kale and spinach. And although it is unclear about why these vegetables might have a protective effect, the anti oxidant levels (high) of vitamin C, for instance or the level of magnesium contained in them were proffered as possible reasons.
Tags: diabetes, freedom healthnet, health news
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