Chocolate, tea and berries may protect from diabetes

Ingredients in chocolate, tea and berries could guard against diabetes – Eating high levels of flavonoids including anthocyanins and other compounds (found in berries, tea, and chocolate) could offer protection from type 2 diabetes. Findings reveal that high intakes of these dietary compounds are associated with lower insulin resistance and better blood glucose regulation.

Nut consumption lowers risk of diseases

Large study links nut consumption to reduced death rate — Research also shows people who eat nuts weigh less – In the largest study of its kind, people who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 30-year period than were those who didn’t consume nuts, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Weight loss may prevent and treat osteoarthritis in obese

Weight loss may prevent, treat osteoarthritis in obese patients — Obesity may trigger biomechanical changes, pathways that contribute to osteoarthritis – Weight loss may prevent and significantly alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, a progressive disease of the joints known as “wear and tear” arthritis. Obesity actually may trigger the biomechanical and inflammatory changes that cause osteoarthritis, and the pain and loss of mobility associated with the condition.

Obesity may lead to impaired brain function

Obesity and metabolic syndrome associated with impaired brain function in adolescents – Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with cognitive and brain impairments in adolescents and calls for pediatricians to take this into account when considering the early treatment of childhood obesity. As childhood obesity has increased in the U.S., so has the prevalence of metabolic syndrome ? a constellation of three or more of five defined health problems, including abdominal obesity, low HDL (good cholesterol), high triglycerides, high blood pressure and pre-diabetic insulin resistance.

Secondhand smoke linked to Type 2 diabetes and obesity

Secondhand smoke is linked to Type 2 diabetes and obesity – Adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke have higher rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes than do nonsmokers without environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, a new study shows.

Reducing refined carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss better

Study challenges the notion that a calorie is just a calorie — Reducing refined carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss better than reducing fat – Diets that reduce the surge in blood sugar after a meal–either low-glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate?may be preferable to a low-fat diet for those trying to achieve lasting weight loss. low-glycemic index diet had similar metabolic benefits to the very low-carb diet without negative effects of stress and inflammation as seen by participants consuming the very low-carb diet.

Increasing muscle mass may lower diabetes risk

Increased muscle mass may lower risk of pre-diabetes — Study shows building muscle can lower person’s risk of insulin resistance – The greater an individual’s total muscle mass, the lower the person’s risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes, revealed by researchers in a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

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