Healthy by Nature radio show this week: We discuss the hidden causes of diabetes, obesity and heart disease with one of my favorite guests, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND, CCN, MS. I also talk to an expert on drinking water about how to buy a truly clean bottle of water, made from rain water. David McMahon from Cardiol brings us news about a commonly used medication that increases the risk of diabetes. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and ways to listen nationwide. During the show questions: 1-800-281-8255.

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CARB HAPPY 2
That sounds a bit like a sequel to an animated movie, but I’m just continuing my rant from last week. Dietary fat is still typically blamed for everything that is wrong with Americans’ health, but carbohydrates are given a pass. E.g., pass the pie.

Carbs 101. In case you’ve just started looking into which foods do what, let me review. There are only 3 major categories of food. One is fats (e.g. butter and oils) and another is protein (e.g. meat, fish and eggs). Everything else is a carbohydrate (e.g. fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains). Okay, if you want to split hairs, an egg yolk contains some fat (even some cholesterol) and nuts have some protein, etc., but we’re talking the big picture here. Carbohydrates contain vitamins and minerals. Only carbs provide fiber and phytonutrients, so I’m certainly not saying that we should give up carbohydrates. As you will see, it is a matter of quality and quantity. Fructose, mentioned below, is commonly known as “fruit sugar”. But we get most of our fructose from high fructose corn syrup used in processed foods and beverages. Corn syrup is something relatively new to the diet and hasn’t been proven safe in the quantities in which we consume it.

Prostate / carbs. Last week, Health e-Note mentioned studies showing that excess starch and carbohydrates contribute to ovarian cysts and breast cancer reoccurrence. Here’s one for the guys: An animal study concluded that a diet high in refined carbohydrates (which results in elevated insulin) is associated with increased prostate tumor growth. LINK

Glycemic Index and Fructose. A Feb 2012 article in the Archives of Medical Science says basically “hey, wait just a darn minute” to that “let’s blame fat” idea.  Risk of Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease are both linked to “metabolic syndrome” (MetS). MetS is when a persons has fat around the waist, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, high triglycerides and imbalances in blood cholesterol. The researchers propose that MetS results from high glycemic index foods [e.g. starches and sugars], particularly fructose, combined with a relatively low intake of foods containing cholesterol and saturated fat. Animal studies show that when the liver is exposed to increased amounts of fructose, the indirect result is dysfunctional immune cells that in turn damage arteries, cause plaque and dangerous clots.  LINK

High-fiber carbohydrates seem to have a different effect. German nutrition guidelines still favor substituting carbohydrates for fats. However, European carbs are more often whole grains and vegetables, not donuts. This article concludes: “Furthermore, a high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereas a high dietary fibre intake, mainly from whole-grain products, reduces the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipoproteinaemia [cholesterol problems], cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer at varying evidence levels.” LINK  [That makes sense because fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbs which keeps the blood sugar from increasing as fast.]

Kids and carbs. Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset” or “maturity-onset” diabetes. The name has changed because so many young people are now diagnosed with diabetes. Some children are born with a genetic variation that makes them especially susceptible to diabetes at an early age. In those cases, medications are not very helpful. This study on high-carbohydrate diets vs modestly lower-carbohydrate diets found that when the children ate the higher carb diet they had more blood sugar trouble. LINK

Veggies. I’ve never seen a study on any type of diet or disease that didn’t agree that eating non-starchy vegetables was good for our health. Read about someone who didn’t eat them or actually anything but Chicken Nuggets.  LINK

BOTTOM LINE: “Diabetes” means that the body doesn’t handle carbohydrates very well. Therefore, it seems reasonable that reducing carbohydrate intake, at least the fast-absorbing, high-glycemic ones, would be helpful. Yet the diabetes “authorities” for the most part still recommend a very high level of carbs for pre-diabetics and diabetics. Hmm. The giant companies who produce extremely profitable foods and beverages made of flour, potatoes and high fructose corn syrup donate sizable amounts of money to the professional and charitable organizations that we view as authorities-just like the drug companies do. Could that be a factor influencing guidelines?

I’ve been talking about the problem of excess starch and sugar for many years and have been a little discouraged. But, just maybe we are at a turning point. As studies accumulate and more doctors like Dr. Bernstein demonstrate that diabetics can often reverse the disease or at least avoid diabetic complications with proper carbohydrate and insulin control, there may come a day when good results rather than dogma and payola will dictate the rules.

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My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2012 Martie Whittekin, CCN