03 September

Cause of Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus affects over 16 million Americans and in the last few decades, its prevalence has increased and will likely continue to rise. There are however 3 types of diabetes; type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cause occurs when the pancreas cells that make insulin are destroyed due to a lack of insulin. This may occur due to a reaction known as autoimmune reaction. The body starts attacking and destroying its own cells in the pancreas eventually destroying most if not all of the insulin manufacturing cells. While it is not yet clear why this happens, a number of explanations have bee proposed. These include; an infection with a specific bacteria or a virus can make this happen, exposure to chemical toxins from food or even exposure to cow’s milk as an infant has also been shown to trigger the autoimmune reaction in the body.

Type 2 diabetes cause occurs when the receptors on body cells that normally respond to insulin fail to be stimulated, a reaction called insulin resistance. When this occurs, the body produces more insulin eventually resulting in over-production and the insulin-manufacturing cells fail. Alternatively, this type of diabetes can develop when there is simply not enough insulin or when the insulin that is available is abnormal and therefore does not work. Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in people advanced in years, those who are obese and in those who are not physically active. There are also other rarer causes of diabetes that have also been documented. These include certain medicines, during the pregnancy, in what is called gestational diabetes and as a result of disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin. A good example of such a disease is pancreatitis.

Another diabetes cause is the heredity. If both parents have type 2 diabetes, there is a chance that their children will have it too. In identical twins, if one of them develops type 2 diabetes, the chance of the other developing diabetes is nearly 100 percent as well. Drugs such as steroids and Dilantin have also been shown to have a bearing on diabetes cause. Drugs such as alloxan, thiazide diuretics and streptozocin are also toxic to the pancreas and can cause diabetes as well. To reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, regular exercise and healthy dietary habits will go a long way in doing this and thus avoid the risks that come with developing this disease.

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31 August

Cure for diabetes

While it’s a common belief that there’s no cure for diabetes, you may be surprised at how much you can do to get your blood sugar readings in the normal range and keep them there. Perhaps one of the most counterproductive attitudes for a diabetic is to believe that your condition is hopeless – that you’re doomed to progressively deteriorating health.

Your doctor and the various diabetic organizations typically state that there’s no cure for diabetes. You are prescribed medications to help regulate your blood sugar levels and perhaps others to protect your heart and kidneys, with regular follow up lab test and office visits to monitor your condition. Most diabetic patients know that diet and exercise play an important role in maintaining acceptable blood sugar readings, but also tend to accept that, eventually, the inevitable complications will develop. This attitude is your worst enemy when it comes to fighting diabetes.

While the cause of diabetes is essentially the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar levels, the condition also usually stems from many years of consuming foods high in sugar, which may be exacerbated by a genetic disposition to the disease. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, it’s time to retrain your body with healthier dietary and lifestyle choices. It’s certainly not the time to simply give up, believing there’s no cure for diabetes.

Diabetics who subscribe to the idea that there’s no hope often succumb to the urge for a sugary soda or other sweet treat. The diabetic recipes and confusing measurement of your carb intake can be less than helpful. If you’ve already developed heart and kidney problems as a result of diabetes and are overweight, the whole picture can be overwhelming. Instead of feeling as though you are simply a victim to this disease, you need to know that there is much you can do to control diabetes, even to the point of what might be called a cure. Let’s take a look at how you can take control of your own health and beat this disease, with your lab tests maintaining normal numbers time after time. Granted, you can’t eat anything you like, but this style of cure for diabetes is essentially a matter of retraining yourself to eat healthy, non-refined foods and following a regimen of exercise. Rome wasn’t built in a day!

A recent study by the John Hopkins University found that losing weight was the most important component in improving the diabetic condition. When you think about it, this does make sense. People usually become overweight by consuming too much fat, simple carbohydrates, processed and highly refined foods, and, of course, sugar. Sound familiar? Losing weight is the best first step you can take for your cure for diabetes program.

Switching to a diet that’s high in protein, fiber and complex carbs in reasonable amounts is a good dietary recipe for both losing weight and reducing your blood sugar levels. It’s a win-win for the diabetic. It may take some getting used to making these dietary changes, but the results are nothing short of phenomenal. You really don’t need special diabetes recipes, which you may find unappealing. Meal time should not be a punishment! Plan your menus with foods you enjoy and which are beneficial to your condition. For example, if you love a big, juicy burger, buy meat with a low percentage of fat, preferably of the no-hormones-added brands of beef. Prepare it with a whole-grain bun that’s high in fiber. Surprisingly, most common condiments, including mayo, with which we dress the bun, are not ‘forbidden’ items. Pile on dark leafy greens, slices of onion and tomato and enjoy.

Lean meats, poultry and fish are on your ‘approved’ list of foods. Have a larger portion of meat than usual, make a big green salad and forget the baked potato. Make your meats more interesting and flavorful with marinades and salsas for a little spark that makes up for the buttered potato. Load up on fresh veggies, full of nutrients and fiber. Herbal seasonings provide extra flavor to veggies, helping you avoid that deprived feeling. Not only will you lose weight, you’ll feel full and satisfied at the end of the meal – and your blood sugar levels will drop.

Daily exercise is another of your best friends in your quest for that cure for diabetes. Again, this shouldn’t be a dreaded experience. Choose a form of exercise you enjoy. This helps assure you’ll stick with it and realize all of the long term benefits.

Once you implement these simple dietary and lifestyle changes, you’ll not only feel better but you’ll be better. Your lab tests will tell the story. There are many people who have followed this easy plan, finding their own virtual cure for diabetes – just as you can!

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30 August

Diabetes and Heart Failure

Is it True that when you take Avandia for Diabetes Heart Failure often soon Follows?

Do you know anyone who takes Avandia? The rate at which diabetes seems to occur among the population, it is possible you know someone who struggles with the disease, and takes this controversial drug. It is controversial because, as well as good as it is on diabetes, it gives dozens of people heart attacks every single month; and the FDA is trying to find a way to break the news, and ban the drug. This is a drug for Type II diabetes, and it has been long suspected that it can damage the heart. The government believes that in the last six months alone, some 500 people died taking this drug.

So why would the friendly folks at GlaxoSmithKline hold off for so long on withdrawing the drug? There is an alternative, and it is just as effective with diabetes, without killing you. Even in the FDA, there is not enough agreement that this drug is capable of hurting you. In fact, on a website that advertises legal services for those injured by the drug, it is claimed that GlaxoSmithKline completely denies that there is a connection between its formulation and the deaths. But Avandia is not a new drug; it’s been around for years. Why should all of this erupt over the diabetes heart failure that it is causing, right now? Right now is a good time because the Senate decided to investigate right about now, and there has been new research out, that seems to confirm everyone’s worst fears.

That’s an unfortunate state of affairs for one of the most highly hyped drugs ever. They’ve been selling billions of dollars worth of these for years. Around three years ago, a study by an individual American heart specialist, pointed out how there was something fishy about all the diabetes heart failure cases involving this drug, that they were seeing. Right away, the FDA put out a warning, and it was the end of the party for Avandia. There have been studies one on top of the other, and FDA panels on the subject too. Most of them seem to feel that there might be still a chance that the drug isn’t lethal. But around the world, lots of diabetes specialists, have stopped prescribing the drug, although many still do take it.

The Senate’s findings, don’t look very good for GlaxoSmithKline. They suggest that the company, instead of turning its energies to doing something about the problem, decided to do something about the physicians who said it was a problem that it was giving people with diabetes heart failure rates in alarming numbers. It appears that the company is not entirely in touch with itself. On the one hand, it did go along with the government’s recommendations, and put out some damning studies that did confirm some fears. And on the other hand, it has always been vigorously promoting its drug. And these are the people we trust our lives to.

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23 August

Safe Weight Loss is The Real Goal

Back in the seventies and eighties it seemed that there were new fad diets coming around nearly every week. First it was the all fruit juice diet, then the no fruit juice diet. Some diets were all about beets and beet juice (yuck) and some diets were all about eliminating all dairy products. No fat or low fat diets were very popular for a while until scientists debunked them because most of them had high caloric content which actually made you gain weight. We all of course know about the protein diets that eliminated most of the carbohydrates from the diet like the Atkins diet. One thing is for certain, for real, effective, safe weight loss you first need to understand how the body works and what effect certain foods have on our bodies.

We all know those types of people that are naturally skinny and can eat anything they want without getting fat. There seem to be these people everywhere we look, especially on TV, the movies, or in all the magazines. They seem to be mocking us regular folks with their smug attitudes and easy fit lifestyles while the rest of us have to shop at big and tall stores and hit the gym every day with the false hope of losing an inch or two. Why can some people eat anything they want and some get fat just looking at rich foods? Genetics does have a lot to do with it, but so does the absence of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that tell you when you are full. If you don’t have these signals, you will keep on eating even if you should be feeling full.

When you first get a plate of food and you are hungry everything tastes great and your brain tells your body to eat in order to survive. For naturally skinny people when they eat a sufficient amount, the brain sends out signals to make them stop eating. As they feel fuller, the food starts tasting not so good anymore. All of this is a natural system that ensures that we eat just enough to continue to live. For fat people or people who have a propensity to gain weight (and that is a lot of people in the U.S.), the mechanism is broken and somehow the brain refuses to tell them that they are full and should stop eating.

To achieve safe weight loss then one must eat foods that will break the cycle. Certain foods at certain times of the day will trigger our brains to shut down our eating. In the morning it is best to eat protein, and that means egg white omelets with some lean ham and some veggies tossed in. A mid morning snack will keep the metabolism burning and let you have safe weight loss without feeling hungry. Lunch should be a salad without croutons and just a little bit of dressing. Mid afternoon you need another snack such as an apple or a Zone Perfect bar. Dinner needs to be some lean meat and brown rice or one slice of lean whole wheat bread. If you crave a snack in the evening, try some light yogurt. Stop eating sugar of any kind and no fried foods.

Safe weight loss will result if you combine this plan with a consistent exercise routine that includes aerobics and some weight training at least four times a week. Exercise and lots of small, carefully planned meals during the day will result in safe weight loss.

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20 August

Ultimate Weight Loss Secrets of the Stars

Do Hollywood stars really have hidden secrets when it comes to ultimate weight loss results? This is probably not true since most of them practically live on diets (mostly fad diets) and they never seem to get fat. What do they need secrets for if they are on perpetual low caloric intake programs? There are several easy tips however that one can use that will guarantee ultimate weight loss results in a short period of time. These tips are easy to follow and will help you to shed those unwanted pounds and inches.

One very easy secret to ultimate weight loss is to follow the three day rule. The three day rule is simple to understand and start but much harder to stick to, especially the first time that you attempt it. Simply stated, you begin your diet and exercise program and you stick to it religiously for 3 straight days. The 4th day, whether you want to or not, you go off the program and eat whatever you like. The next day you start all over again and do another three days straight of diet and exercise with the fourth day off. This is one of the ultimate weight loss secrets that is most effective and you should not be surprised when you drop the weight in big chunks.

Another ultimate weight loss secret is to not weigh yourself for at least a week after beginning any program. That means putting the scale away and not sneaking a peek no matter how much you are tempted to do so. Many of the top dieting programs such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and Nutrisystems teach this technique. After one week, go ahead and weigh yourself and you will be very pleased with the results. If you weigh yourself each day you will be disappointed on the days you don’t lose or gain weight, even if you have done your best to stick to your diet and exercise. This is because most true weight loss does not happen until three to four days after the actual diet or exercise is done. Any rapid weight loss on a single day is most likely due to water weight being lost through sweating and not to real fat loss.

Muscle weighs more than fat and that means that you should work out with light weights and do more aerobic exercises like the Lifecycle or treadmill. Experts say that you need at least thirty to forty five minutes of hard aerobic exercise in order to start losing water weight. A lot of people go to the gym regularly but they never break a sweat. If you are not dripping wet with sweat after every workout then you are just not working out hard enough. You need to be breathing deeply and practically gasping for air when you work out otherwise you are just wasting your time. This is the theory behind Spinning and Step Class and we all know how very effective both of those techniques are when it comes to ultimate weight loss.

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07 August

Eating Right and Exercising The Best Weight Loss method

With so many

weight lossprograms and diet plans out there today, it is difficult to know which

weight loss dietplan is best for you. If you go to any doctor, personal trainer or fitness expert, however, the answer is always the same. If you want to lose weight, you need to diet and exercise. There are no quick fixes or magic pills, and it is much healthier to do it the right way. My own personal experience with

weight losshas been quite extensive, and I have tried many of the so-called diets or diet products on the market today. What I ultimately realized is that I either lost weight at first and then stagnated, or I actually gained all of the weight back and more. When I first decided to try a

weight loss dietplan that included watching what I ate and exercising, I became discouraged, because I had not been used to moving around so much, and I had to give up a lot of my favorite foods. I quit after a little over a week and started looking for another product that would help me take off the weight. I went to see my doctor about my weight problem a few months later, and asked if there was some type of pill that I could take to lose weight, or some other plan. The whole time that I was talking, my doctor was shaking her head, and then she said, “You need to diet and exercise; it’s as simple as that.” I decided to put a hold on trying to diet for a few more months and gained even more weight. The psychological effect is the worst, because you feel bad about yourself and self-conscious about your body image. Ultimately, I decided to try the doctor’s advice and started up a

weight loss dietplan where I dieted and exercised mainly to prove to her that it would not work for me. I decided to give it a month, and then go back to her with the results. In a month’s time, I had lost 11 pounds, was feeling much better than I had felt in years, and the best part was that I actually craved the good foods – the fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole-grain bread that I had started eating – and that eating fast food or junk food made me feel terrible. Within about eight months I had lost 60 pounds and was down to a healthy weight, and realized that my doctor was right all along. Now, there are those people that have glandular problems or metabolic disorders that do make it difficult to lose weight, but for most of us, the best

weight loss dietplan is just a matter of eating healthier and becoming more active. You can also try Zone Diet – Created by Dr. Sears, this is one of the most popular diets in the country. The site offers a free 7-Day Meal planner and various health and wellness products.

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29 July

Drink water to lose weight

When you drink water to lose weight, consider this:

  • Drink water so that you can eat less and feel satisfied.
  • It also flushes out your kidneys and cleans your bloodstream

As a result, you’ll feel the will experience certain benefits like :

  1. increased vitality,
  2. a general sense of well being
  3. you’ll experience increased weight loss!

When you drink water to lose weight you’re doing a tremendous amount of good to your entire body and you’ll lose more weight in less time. Also please stay near the toilets at all time.

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26 July

Best Tips to Lose Weight Fast

Our country’s fascination with fast food and giant sized, big manly man servings has led directly to the epidemic of childhood and adult obesity that we are hearing about so much on television and radio talk shows. We all secretly believe that we know just how to lose weight and we all give out tips to lose weight fast to our friends or anyone who will listen. The problem is not in the knowledge but in the execution and actual performance of the program. We are just too darned lazy to commit to a real weight loss plan. Most of the fad diets out there are just not realistic if you look at them closely and use common sense. If you drink only beet juice for seven days in a row sure, you will probably lose a few pounds, but you will also be perspiring ruby-colored sweat.

The following are just some casual common sense tips to lose weight fast that you can easily fit into your current lifestyle.

1) Weight loss program not disrupt your life too much.
2) Commitment to exercising, even moderately,
3) Break a sweat and lose weight. Experts say you have to work out for at least forty five minutes each time you do it or else you do not lose weight.
4) Filling up with protein is another great way to stave off that appetite and lose weight.
5) Eat a banana and drink a glass of water before at least two of your scheduled meals each day.

These are just some of my tips to lose weight fast.The most important thing is that you get past the first few days. After that it will get a lot easier to stick to your weight loss program because your stomach will shrink and you won’t get so hungry.
Anyone, has better suggestions?

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20 July

Walking and Weight Loss Go Hand in Hand

A good diet combined with a steady, regular regimen of walking will lead to substantial weight loss without leaving you feeling depleted. A good diet that many experts recommend is one that incorporates all of the necessary food groups, starting with fresh fruits and vegetables. Add lean protein like white meat chicken or fish like salmon which has recommended levels of Omega-15 fatty acids which promote artery health, and you will have the beginnings of a healthy diet. Add some walking and weight loss will come naturally.

Walking is arguably the best exercise there is. Anyone can do it and they can do it just about any time, in just about any weather. A good thirty to sixty minutes per day, three days a week is all it takes. This amount of walking and weight loss will be the result in just a matter of weeks. You need to be steady and regular with the walking in order to achieve the best results. If you combine it with a good diet, you cannot help but lose weight, and you will do so with increased energy and a positive mental attitude.

Walking and weight loss can be accelerated by walking up hills. Hill walking is one of the most low impact and highly recommended exercises by experts in the field. Get some comfortable walking or running shoes and find a track with some stairs, or just find a decent sized hill that you can walk up to the top of without getting too winded. The point is that if you get too winded you will stop and you need to continue for at least thirty to sixty minutes. The key is to keep going because walking and weight loss require long periods of hill walking in order to get the heart rate up but not so much that you get too tired too quickly. Many times walkers will graduate to light jogging and even running if they are in good enough shape. Just be careful if you have arthritis or suffer from hip pain or joint pain. Running can be a bit too much pounding for people that are not athletes or just out of shape.

As with any diet or exercise program you should consult with your doctor first and get his approval. Keep going for at least four weeks and you should see some dramatic results from walking and weight loss programs like this one.

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19 July

Walking and Weight Loss

Most fitness gurus and diet doctors agree that the way to lose substantial amounts of weight is not by diving into crazy fad diets. Fad diets can ruin your health because most of these diets do not give you the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and protein that a healthy body needs to keep functioning. Fad diets can lead to dizziness, nausea, intestinal problems, anemia and in severe cases even diabetes. One thing that all of these experts agree on is that walking and weight loss are two very compatible behaviors that complement each other very well.

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