Posts Tagged ‘Glucose Management’

Grapes are the sweet way to health; for many Americans with high blood pressure and insulin resistance.

Grapes Health Benefits

The focus of a study at the University of Michigan Health system was to test the effect of grapes in reducing risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red and black grapes) that were mixed into a powdered form and integrated into the diets of laboratory rats as part of a high-fat, American style diet. All of the rats used were from a research breed that is prone to being overweight.

The researchers performed comparisons between the rats consuming a grape-enriched diet and control rats receiving no grape powder. Researchers added calories, and sugars to the control group to balance the extra calories and sugars gained from getting the grape powder.

Findings from a new animal study was presented at the Experimental Biology convention in Anaheim, Calif., showed encouraging results of a grape-enriched diet preventing risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This is a condition affecting an estimated 50 million Americans and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

After three months, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and blood than the rats who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance.

Phytochemicals In Grapes

The key focus should be the phytochemicals in grapes. The emerging evidence is that phytochemicals offer protection from all diseases. People who want to lower their blood pressure, reduce their risk of diabetes, and help their weakened hearts retain as much pumping power as possible should eat a whole foods diet. This means a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Grapes are instrumental in providing high levels of antioxidants, which are good for the heart. Emerging studies are proving that fruits and vegetables deliver what they promise, sweet goodness.

GLUCOSE TOLERANCE

Glucose levels are one of the most important indicators of health . The difference between a type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, is the increased risks of cardiovascular problems. Premature aging is much higher in people with impaired glucose tolerance.

FAT

As fat accumulates, especially in the abdominal area, insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance worsens. This can lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. The combination of insulin resistance and abdominal obesity is known as metabolic syndrome. This leads to the development of arthrosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

GLUCOSE MANAGEMENT

Both diabetes and aging contribute to increased free-radicals and tissue damage.  An important strategy to reduce the level of damage is to keep glucose levels in a healthy range under 100mg/dl after a fast. Optimal levels appear to prevent disease, and are a factor in longevity. Unfortunately, the problem of glucose management is negatively associated with the heating processes that food manufacturers use to enhance flavor, color, and texture of packaged food that are on the grocery shelves. This means it is not just the sugar in beverages, baked goods, and prepared foods, but it is also the sterilization, and pasteurization that heat up the food, before it can enter the food chain.

DIABETES

Pre-diabetes, is now a term that is used fairly regularly, to describe a population at risk for developing this major health problem. Diabetes in itself accelerates aging in ways that damages the body and its functions. It can cause; cardiovascular disease, poor circulation, arteriosclerosis, increased prevalence of certain types of cancer, vision problems, impotence, hearing and memory loss, infections, and loss of the skins elasticity and flexibility.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Type 2 Diabetes and aging are both conditions that respond to the same dietary, and lifestyle changes. The way to guard against premature aging is the same strategies that will guard against diabetes. The strategies in preventing diabetic complications do not go far enough, because most of the public has not been educated. The fact is diabetes can be reversed, or at the very least controlled to the point that medication is drastically reduced.

DIET

In societies that consume a more natural diet, which means non-processed, plant based, and grass fed meat, the incident of diabetes is just about non-existent. These are studies, which leave no doubt to why we have a condition of epidemic proportions in the United States. It is due to the lifestyle, we have the control, not the doctor or the pharmaceutical company. Pharmaceutical drugs can manage sugar surges, but there is a price.

PREVENT AND REVERSE

It is much easier to prevent the problem, than to treat it. However, it is possible to effectively reverse diabetes. The natural way is the best, because it is the only way for achieving long lasting results. The techniques have been identified by many health professionals outside of mainstream thinking. They have been used successfully by individuals that were willing to take responsibility, and make the changes required. Glucose management is the secret to health when done with the least amount of drugs.

Aging brings on a whole host of problems from fatigue to weight gain according to the prevailing wisdom. So, it is easy to write off diabetes as a condition that is more prevalent with age. However, this defies the statistics that show it is becoming prevalent at earlier ages. Aging is not the cause, or the contributor to most of the conditions plaguing us, it is on our plates that we can find the culprits that is robbing our health.