How to prevent diabetes with everyday foods
(NaturalNews) According to the most recent statistics, about one-third
of the entire U.S. population, or more than 100 million Americans,
suffers from either diabetes or pre-diabetes, a blood sugar condition
that can eventually lead to more serious health conditions and even
death. And based on U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projections, this number is expected to double by 2050 if trends
continue at current rates. But you and your family do not have to fall
victim to this sweeping diabetes epidemic -- here are some tips on how
to alter your diet and lifestyle to avoid developing diabetes and
potentially succumbing to premature death:
1) Eat more foods rich in quercetin.
A member of the flavonoid family of antioxidants, quercetin has been
shown to help lower blood glucose levels and improve plasma insulin
levels, two factors commonly associated with diabetes (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19496084).
Quercetin also helps neutralize damaging free radicals and inhibit
inflammation, not to mention lower blood pressure in people with
inflammation (
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/quercetin-000322.htm).
Foods
that are high in quercetin include apples, citrus fruits, onions,
parsley, sage, green tea, and red wine. Olive oil, grapes, dark
cherries, and dark berries are also rick in quercetin and other
flavonoids, according to the
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). And if dietary sources are not enough, quercetin is also
available in supplement form, including in the Rejuvenate! Plus green
superfood formula available at the
NaturalNews store (
http://store.naturalnews.com/Rejuvenate-Plus-500-g_p_95.html).
2) A teaspoon of cinnamon a day to keep the diabetes away.
Cinnamon contains powerful blood sugar-stabilizing compounds that not
only increase glucose metabolism by a significant amount, but also mimic
the activity of insulin inside the body. Supplementing with cinnamon
can also help slow the speed at which food empties from your stomach,
inhibiting the blood sugar rush that often comes following a meal high
in refined sugar and simple carbohydrates (
http://www.huffingtonpost.com).
Most
of the cinnamon you will find on grocery store shelves today comes from
the "cassia" family of cinnamon, which is not necessarily the most
medicinal variety. So-called "true" cinnamon, which is generally not as
flavorful or as easy to find as cassia
cinnamon,
comes from the "Ceylon" family, and has a much lower ratio of coumarin,
a blood-thinning compound, as well as higher overall nutrient content.
However, all major varieties of cinnamon possess demonstrable
diabetes-fighting properties (
http://www.naturalnews.com/035642_cinnamon_blood_sugar_regulating.html).
3) Eat more broccoli, cruciferous vegetables.
Rich in a cancer-fighting compound known as sulforaphane, broccoli and
other cruciferous vegetables are an important part of an anti-diabetes
diet because they protect blood vessels against cellular damage. Vitamin
C, chromium, fiber, beta-carotene, and many other nutrients found in
broccoli help protect against free radical damage, high blood sugar, and
high levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol, all of
which are linked to diabetes (
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/08August/Pages/Broccolianddiabetes.aspx).
4) Exercise more, and cut out the junk food.
This one might be a little more obvious, but simply engaging in
physical activity regularly can have a huge impact on whether or not
your body succumbs to a diabetic condition. Since obesity and poor
physical health are major factors in
diabetes,
it only makes sense that exercising and eating right are important
components for staying fit and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
It is best to start with shorter, higher-intensity workouts to get your
metabolism going and lower insulin and leptin resistance, and gradually
add in appropriate cardiovascular workouts.
As far as diet is concerned, it is best to avoid wheat and gluten-containing
foods as these have been shown to interfere with glucose metabolism. Foods
that contain ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), enriched
flour, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, preservatives,
food colorings, and genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) should also be
avoided if you are serious about preventing diabetes. Stick with whole,
organic foods; limit consumption of grains, including whole grains; and
consume healthy fats, including saturated fats from unrefined coconut
oil and grass-fed butter and pastured meat for optimal health (
http://www.charlespoliquin.com).
5) Make sure you are getting plenty of magnesium and probiotics.
More than 75 percent of the American population is said to be deficient
in magnesium, a mineral your body needs to activate more than 300
unique and necessary biochemical reactions. Your bones, cells, organs,
and tissues all rely on magnesium to function properly. Without enough
magnesium, your immunity, skeletal system, heart, and circulatory system
are all at serious risk. Making sure you intake high amounts of
magnesium is crucial for protecting against hypertension, cardiovascular
disease, and diabetes (
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/).
Similarly,
probiotic bacteria, which populate the gut and regulate the immune
system, are essential for thwarting the onset of diabetes. A study
published earlier this year found that altering the microbiota balance
of obese patients at high risk of diabetes can help reverse the
metabolic effects linked to diabetes (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22798958).
To learn more about preventing and curing diabetes, visit:
http://www.naturalnews.com/030150_diabetes_Americans.htmlAlso, check out the book
How to Halt Diabetes in 25 Days:
http://www.truthpublishing.com/haltdiabetes_p/yprint-cat21267.htmSource:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/040180_diabets_prevention_foods_cinnamon.html