April 13th, 2009

Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease?

A recent study by Mount Sinai faculty suggests that a gene associated with onset of type-2 diabetes also decreases in Alzheimer’s disease dementia cases. The research, led by Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, Ph.D., The Aidekman Family Professor in Neurology, and Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was published this week in the scientific journal, Archives of Neurology.

“This new evidence is of extreme interest,” Dr. Pasinetti tells us, “especially because of the evidence that approximately 60% of Alzheimer’s disease dementia cases have at least one serious medical condition primarily associated with type-2 diabetes, a chronic condition which includes high blood glucose content (hyperglycemia) and reduced sensitivity to insulin, among other conditions.”

“The relationship between type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease is elusive,” says Dr. Pasinetti. Not all subjects with type-2 diabetes are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and similarly, not all Alzheimer’s disease cases are diabetic. However, in the last few years, epidemiological evidence indicates that, relative to healthy elderly subjects, people of the same age affected by type-2 diabetes are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The reason is not known. The new study from Dr. Pasinetti, reported in this week’s issue of Archives of Neurology, provides insight into a potential mechanism that might explain the relationship between type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease onset and progression.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/tmsh-msr041009.php

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June 20th, 2008

6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save The World

Posted to General

At the TED2008 Conference in February, entrepreneurial mycologist Paul Stamets presented a fascinating lecture titled 6 Way Mushrooms Can Save The World.

Stamets lists 6 ways that mycelium (mushrooms) can help save the universe. Cleaning polluted soil, creating new insecticides, treating smallpox and maybe even the flu … in 18 minutes, he doesn’t get all the way through his list, but he has plenty of time to blow your mind. An audience favorite at TED2008.

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, is a yearly gathering of the world’s leading thinkers and doers.

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July 13th, 2007

Detoxification

Posted to General

Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., author of Salt Your Way To Health and numerous other natural health care titles, recently blogged on the importance of detoxification.

From his post:

“Our bodies are being exposed to an ever-increasing amount of chemicals that we have not had time to adapt to. There is a class of chemicals called ‘persistent organic pollutants’.”

and

“A recent study (Diabetes Care. 30:622-28. 2007) showed a greater than 750% increase risk of adult insulin resistance (the most common reason for the elevated diabetes rate) in the patients studied who had the highest levels of the ‘persistent organic pollutants’. In fact, as the levels of pollutants increased, the risk of diabetes also increased. “

http://www.drbrownstein.com/blog.asp

The Perfect Cleanse Kit from Garden of Life and the Renew Life product line developed by Brenda Watson are effective tools for assisting the process of detoxifying environmental toxins.

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July 5th, 2007

Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Cancer

Posted to General

Supplementing with vitamin D & calcium can reduce your risk of cancer by up to 60%, according to a study at Creighton University Medical School in Nebraska.

Most Americans and others are not taking enough vitamin D, a fact that may put them at significant risk for developing cancer, according to a landmark study conducted by Creighton University School of Medicine.

The four-year, randomized study followed 1,179 healthy, postmenopausal women from rural eastern Nebraska.* Participants taking calcium, as well as a quantity of vitamin D3 nearly three times the U.S. government’s Recommended Daily Amount (RDA) for middle-age adults, showed a dramatic 60 percent or greater reduction in cancer risk than women who did not get the vitamin.

This is yet more proof of the significant role vitamin D play in maintaining good health. And the best source of vitamin D is sunlight, so get outside and get your vitamins for free.

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July 3rd, 2007

Cinnamon & Blood Sugar Levels

Posted to General

A study by Swedish researchers demonstrated that cinnamon is helpful in controlling blood sugar levels, according to a report recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The intake of 6 g cinnamon with rice pudding reduces postprandial blood glucose and delays gastric emptying without affecting satiety. Inclusion of cinnamon in the diet lowers the postprandial glucose response, a change that is at least partially explained by a delayed GER (gastric emptying rate).

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/6/1552

Although this study looked at subjects with healthy blood sugar levels, other studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

For more information on cinnamon, click here.

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June 29th, 2007

Stone Age Diet Beneficial For Diabetics

Posted to Diet

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden recently found that eating a “Stone Age” Diet for three months resulted in an improved capacity to handle carbohydrates, according to a report from ScienceDaily.

“In a clinical study in Sweden, the research group has now compared 14 patients who were advised to consume an ‘ancient’ (Paleolithic, ‘Old stone Age’) diet for three months with 15 patients who were recommended to follow a Mediterranean-like prudent diet with whole-grain cereals, low-fat dairy products, fruit, vegetables and refined fats generally considered healthy. All patients had increased blood sugar after carbohydrate intake (glucose intolerance), and most of them had overt diabetes type 2. In addition, all had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Patients in the Paleolithic group were recommended to eat lean meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, root vegetables and nuts, and to avoid grains, dairy foods and salt.

The main result was that the blood sugar rise in response to carbohydrate intake was markedly lower after 12 weeks in the Paleolithic group (–26%), while it barely changed in the Mediterranean group (–7%). At the end of the study, all patients in the Paleolithic group had normal blood glucose.”

Researchers believe the improved glucose tolerance was unrelated to changes in weight, although the Paleolithic group did experience a slight decrease in waist size. The primary difference between the Paleo and Mediterranean groups was a much lower intake of grains and dairy products and a higher fruit intake in the Paleolithic group.

“If you want to prevent or treat diabetes type 2, it may be more efficient to avoid some of our modern foods than to count calories or carbohydrate,” says lead researcher Staffan Lindeberg.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070627225459.htm

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June 26th, 2007

Yoga May Elevate GABA Levels

Posted to General, Mind / Body

“Boston, MA–Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and McLean Hospital have found that practicing yoga may elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels, the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. The findings, which appear in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, suggest that the practice of yoga be explored as a possible treatment for depression and anxiety, disorders associated with low GABA levels.”

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/bu-yae052107.php

Imagine that… using exercise rather than pills to treat depression.

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February 1st, 2007

Celtic Sea Salt® Featured on San Franciso News

Posted to General

Grain & Salt Society® Chief Operating Officer Dennis Duffy was in San Francisco recently for the annual Winter Fancy Food Show. While there, Dennis (and Celtic Sea Salt®) were included in a news clip for KGO-TV/DT, an ABC affiliate in the San Francisco Bay area. To watch the video, click on the video display on the lower right.

Sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), the three annual Fancy Food shows are considered to be the premier showcase for the specialty food industry.

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January 16th, 2007

Charles Poliquin on Sea Salt

Posted to General, Exercise & Fitness

Charles Poliquin is a Canadian strength training coach who has trained world class athletes such as Olympic Gold medal sprinter Donovan Bailey, NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston, and NHL All Star Chris Pronger, among others.

Hailed as perhaps the most successful strength coach in the world, Poliquin has trained medalist in 12 different Olympic sports as well as numerous world champions and professional athletes. He has also authored five books and over 500 articles for various web sites, magazines and journals. In a recent article on his website, Poliquin shared his thoughts regarding the importance of unrefined natural salt in a healthy diet and recommends Celtic Sea Salt® by name.

Poliquin’s books and other resources are great tools for anyone wanting to learn about elite performance or just improve their all-around fitness.

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December 13th, 2006

Michael Eades on Saturated Fats

Posted to General, Diet

Dr. Michael Eades recently had a great blog post on saturated fat. He summarizes the results from several papers presented at the recent American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) meeting. Eades summed up the results of these studies by saying:

These results show what we’ve all known for a long time. As long as one keeps the carbs under control, it doesn’t seem to matter much how much saturated fat is consumed. It all gets dealt with by the body in harmless ways. I guess that’s how I eat all that steak and keep my lipids normal.

Dr. Eades and his wife, Dr. Mary Dan Eades, are the authors of the Protein Power diet books. You read other blog posts by them here.

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April 13th, 2009

Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease?

June 20th, 2008

6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save The World

July 13th, 2007

Detoxification

July 5th, 2007

Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Cancer

July 3rd, 2007

Cinnamon & Blood Sugar Levels

June 29th, 2007

Stone Age Diet Beneficial For Diabetics

June 26th, 2007

Yoga May Elevate GABA Levels

February 1st, 2007

Celtic Sea Salt® Featured on San Franciso News

January 16th, 2007

Charles Poliquin on Sea Salt

December 13th, 2006

Michael Eades on Saturated Fats

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