Obesity & Diabetes Soar In Mexican Town Where Coca-Cola Is Used As Drinking Water

Cola plantNiamh Harris – A Mexican town is running so low on water that the  locals are using Coca-cola as an alternative.

In the town, situated next to a Coca-Cola plant which is draining the local water supply, the sugary concoction is not only drunk but used in religious ceremonies and even as a currency.

Meanwhile obesity and diabetes is soaring among the local residents and Coca-cola accepts no responsibility for creating a public health crisis.

RT reports: Cristobal de las Casas, in the Mexican state of Chiapas, has for years been caught between an inept local government and a multinational corporation which is draining its local water supply in a case of crony capitalism at its worst. Continue reading

3 Easy Salad Recipes To Help Control Diabetes

diabetesJoe Martino – Diabetes is one of the most rampant diseases of our time, and when you take a look at the average North American diet you begin to see why. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2012 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. [1]

Sadly, diabetes rates are still rising steadily because we are not doing enough to adjust our diets, despite the wealth of nutritional information available to us. A study completed by the CDC & Research Triangle Institute concluded that, if recent trends in diabetes prevalence rates continue linearly over the next 50 years, future changes in the size and demographic characteristics of the U.S. population will lead to dramatic increases in the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes. [2]

Finding The Right Foods

When you are diabetic, changes in diet are pretty well a must. Finding the right diet for some people can be a bit tricky, as we are often tempted by other foods or run out of creative ways to enjoy healthy meals. The truth is, the average person might look at something like a salad and think that it’s a healthy option for a diabetic given the low sugar content, yet many times we turn around and throw a sugar laden dressing on top of that salad, which entirely compromises our well-intentioned effort.

Below is a short list of salads which can be good for a diabetic diet. If you are adventurous and want to try an interesting fruit which can help treat diabetes, check out bitter melon. Research has shown some very promising things with this plant.

Spinach With Garlic Vinaigrette

Ingredients Continue reading

Use This Herb to Treat Alzheimer’s, Boost Liver Health And Prevent Diabetes

AshwagandhaHealthy Food House – You’ve heard about ‘superfoods’, so how about ‘wonder herbs’. As you might expect, a wonder herb is a herb that has a vast number of different health benefits and that has been shown to help combat any number of problems.

One such herb is Ashwagandha. This is a herb that may just be able to prevent Alzheimer’s, to combat diabetes and to improve liver health. That’s a lot of bang for your buck, so how exactly does it work and what is this miracle substance?

What is Ashwangandha?

Ashwagandha is an evergreen perennial herb that grows as high as five feet. It is also known as winter cherry and Indian Ginseng and as the latter name suggests, it is found in India.

As with many herbs, ashwagandha has been enjoyed historically for numerous health benefits. These include improved energy and vitality. Today though, evidence is mounting to suggest that ashwagandha may also be able to treat a number of conditions.

Ashwagandha and Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious condition that is a form of dementia. It essentially involves the deterioration of neurons throughout the brain which in turn leads to the loss of functions. The problem is widespread and growing and causes symptoms such as confusion, personality changes, hallucinations, forgetfulness, motor control impairments and more. Continue reading

Could You Have High Blood Insulin?

insulinSandra Cabot, M.D. – Most people think about diabetics when they see the word insulin, but problems with insulin can occur in a number of different conditions, in people with normal blood sugar. You have probably heard of insulin resistance; it is a significant health problem because it’s associated with an increased risk of obesity, heart attacks, cancer and other serious conditions. People with insulin resistance usually have excessively high levels of this hormone, because it doesn’t work properly. We are seeing an increasing number of patients who have been diagnosed with insulin resistance by their own doctor, yet they don’t fully understand what this term means.

How would you know if your insulin level is too high?

There is a blood test that can measure your fasting insulin, but it isn’t always reliable and many doctors are not willing to order this test. This is a shame because elevated insulin is bad for your health and shortens your lifespan.

Insulin has many important roles in your body. People with too much insulin in their bloodstream are said to have insulin resistance, syndrome X, metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes. They are all interchangeable terms.

Due to modern diets and lifestyles, nearly everybody produces more insulin in their pancreas than they should. This is a problem because if blood insulin levels have been high for years, the cells of your body start to ignore it. The insulin becomes less and less effective at its important job in your body (getting glucose inside your cells so you can burn it for energy).

Knowing whether or not you have too high insulin is important because it can allow you to make some changes and avoid some serious health problems in the future. Luckily there are several tell tale signs or clues that your body gives you, alerting you to this problem.

The role of insulin in your body

Insulin is a hormone that your pancreas secretes into your bloodstream after you have eaten. It enables the glucose from your food to enter your cells, where it is burned for energy. If insulin is not doing its job properly, less glucose will be burnt for energy and more of it will be converted into fat.

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Monk Fruit Is A Power-Packed Longevity Boon For Diabetics And Health Enthusiasts

Carolanne Wright ~ A fruit belonging to the gourd family is causing quite a stir among health conscious consumers as an all-natural sweetener that won’t aggravate diabetes or contribute to maladies like cancer, heart disease, obesity, candida or tooth decay. Many times sweeter than sugar, Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvernorii) only contains 2 calories per serving and will not elevate blood sugar levels. The secret to its sweetness is found in mogroside, a compound from the same glycoside family as stevia.

monk fruitA humble melon, the fruit was reportedly eaten by monks in 13th century China and is frequently known by its common name: monk fruit. Considered a longevity superfood, local residents of the Guangxi Province in Southern China consume the fruit regularly and enjoy exceptional life spans.

Monk fruit is difficult to find fresh because of its short shelf life and unpalatable flavor. However, once dried, the fruit takes on a nutty aroma and sweet, caramel toffee flavor, notes the wellness site Make Health Connect. Luo Han Guo extract has a clean taste that’s void of bitterness and is useful for adding a touch of sweetness to beverages, cooked foods and baked goods.

High in vitamin C, protein and 18 amino acids, monk fruit is a nutritional powerhouse that has been used medicinally for everything from allergies to heart disease and cancer. Monk fruit also supports immunity and both the endocrine and respiratory systems. Over and above that, Luo Han Guo tea helps to cool heat stroke, reduce inflammation of the throat, encourage elimination in the elderly and soothe digestive complaints. Nevertheless, where the fruit really shines is with diabetes. Continue reading