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Besides the fact that some cookies taste so darn good, what's the real reason that  I can't eat just ONE COOKIE? Chances are that if it contains Glucose-Fructose Syrup, a type of sugar  that is used to add bulk and moisture to foods, you've found the answer.

Found in processed snack foods, cereals, yogurt and sodas, it makes the brain think you need to eat more and, worse, according to a new study, can contribute to diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

 Dr. Carel Le Roux, a consultant in metabolic medicine at Imperial College London, says that fructose can "scramble mesages to the brain about being full. When we eat sugar, our body releases insulin which tells the brain that we have had enough to eat. High insulin levels are one of the factors that dampen the appetite, But fructose doesn’t trigger as much of an insulin response as regular sugar, so the brain won’t get the message that you are full.”

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Joan Yankowitz  on healthylivingtimes.com suggests that there are 7 changes that you can make to your daily lifestyle that may prevent you from developing Type 2 diabetes:

1) By putting less food on your plate, you will gradually eat less and start to lose weight. Drink a glass of plain water or a sugar-free drink before eating to lessen your hunger pains.

2) Reduce your fat intake by grilling or baking foods instead of frying.

3) Read food labels and check the Glycemic Index of the food you are eating to make better choices.

4) Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Keep a bottle of water with you and sip frequently  throughout the day.

5) Choose a healthy snack rather than a chocolate bar.

6) Use skimmed rather than full-fat milk in hot drinks.

7) Exercise is good for health. But, if you are not used to exercising,  then start in moderation by walking each day for 15 minutes until you gradually get into a regular exercising pattern.

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 The risk of developing type 2 diabetes may be reduced by consuming more whole fruits and green leafy vegetables on a daily basis.
 Researchers at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health have discovered that eating three more servings of whole fruits each day was associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes. And, with an additional serving of green leafy vegetables daily, the risk for diabetes was further decreased. 

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Do want to remember your wedding anniversary next year? Go on a diet!

The first link between calorie-restricted diets and improved memory in people was seen in a study published Monday in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Although the study was small, involving 50 people ages 50 to 72 who ranged from normal weight to overweight, the calorie-restricted group averaged 20 percent improvement in memory performance. The other groups showed no significant change.

Dr. Agnes Flöel, of the University of Münster in Germany, and a researcher in the study, said the memory improvement might be linked to a decrease in insulin and inflammation in the calorie-restricted participants, who lost four to seven pounds.

In my opinion, maybe those who lost weight had better blood flow to the brain and therefore more nourishment and oxygen helped memory.

In either case,  if you want to do well on Jeopardy or remember your kid's birthday or recall all of the words to the Star Spangled Banner, go on a diet and lose weight. You may feel better as well!

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A recent study published in Diabetes Care showed that older men who take Vitamin K supplementation for 36 months, at doses that can be achieved through dietary intake, may be able to reduce the progression of insulin resistance.

US researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, report their top 10 Vitamin K food sources:

1. Kale

2. Collards

3. Spinach

4. Turnips greens

5. Beets greens

6. Dandelion Greens

7. Mustard Greens

8. Brussels sprouts

9. Broccoli

10. Spring Onions

Drink your Green Smoothies, eat your salads and stay healthy and strong.

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"I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.”                                -  Ex-President George H. W. Bush

Little did Mr. Bush know at that time how important broccoli may be to people with diabetes. A compound called sulforaphane has been found in broccoli by researchers at the University of Warwick. This compound seems to have protective benefits for blood vessel damage caused by high glucose levels in people with diabetes. It is believed that sulforaphane causes a protein to become activated which then protects cells and tissues from damage. Damaged blood vessels increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular disease by five fold in people with diabetes

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New research published in the journal BMJ finds that people who adhered closely to a traditional Mediterranean diet, which includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, fish, olive oil and wine and small amounts of meat and dairy products, had "substantial protection" against Type 2 diabetes.

In an article by Sally Squires of WashingtonPost.com, studies show that eating foods from the Mediterranean menu not only helps lead to a healthier body weight, but there's strong evidence that it can lower the risk of heart disease, reduce some types of cancer and perhaps even cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It seems to produce these benefits by reducing inflammation  and thereby limiting the production of substances that are known to accelerate aging and contribute to chronic conditions, including arthritis and heart disease.

Previous research had suggested that the Mediterranean diet could help reduce diabetes risk only in those who already have health problems, such as heart disease. But a new study found that healthy adults who most closely adhered to the traditional Mediterranean diet had the lowest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This held true even for those who were older, heavier and had a family history of Type 2 diabetes -- all factors that placed them at increased risk for the disorder.

As with everything, though, moderation is a key ingredient. It does not mean liberally pouring olive oil on foods and drinking a lot of wine -- common misconceptions. Olive oil adds 120 calories per tablespoon and should only be used for cooking and flavoring rather than butter or oils with unhealthy trans fatty acids. Wine is beneficial only in moderation, which means one drink a day for women, two for men.

The traditional Mediterranean diet contains :

• high consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
• olive oil as an important monounsaturated fat source
• dairy products, fish and poultry  consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten
• eggs consumed zero to four times a week
• wine consumed in low to moderate amounts  

Eating well has never been so healthy!

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A cup of hot tea, a glass of red wine, and now a mug of hot cocoa all have one thing in common; they all contain natural plant compounds called Flavonols.  New research suggests that by satisfying a craving for cocoa,  you can actually help blood vessels to function better. Furthermore,  cocoa  might soon be considered part of a healthy diet for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in people with diabetes.

Remember, it's the Flavonols that are responsible for cocoa’s healthful benefits.

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Ahhh. You come home late after a busy and aggravating day at work, you throw your coat on the chair (or floor), and sit down to dinner. But first, a sip of that new Merlot that you purchased last week. All of a sudden, you feel better, and can deal with the balance of your day.                                  
But, here's another reason for you to indulge in that glass of red wine - resveratrol, a chemical commonly found in it has the ability to lower blood sugar levels. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in grapes that has been reported to have cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and glucose-lowering properties.

That's great news, huh? A few more glasses of Merlot on a regular basis and I'll be able to throw away my diabetes medication, cancel my gym membership, and have that chocolate fudge sundae.Whoa Nellie!   I DON'T THINK SO!

Here's the bad news:"It's exciting to see resveratrol's glucose-lowering effect in diabetic experimental animals. However, studies are currently underway in our laboratory to determine whether the agent inhibits glucose transport in the brain of normal and diabetic animals," said Dr Kimberly Martin, MD, and mentor, Dr. F. Ismail-Beigi,Martin.The research will be presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 17th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress on May 16th, at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando.

And, by the way,all kidding aside,  NEVER stop taking your medications or vary from  your healthy lifestyle without getting the authorization from your physician. He or she is well versed on all of the newest treatments and medications and can make a more educated decision about YOU than you can.

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I have a question.

How can you have a story about higher rates of diabetes and obesity in New York than elsewhere  and have a banner ad for Dunkin Donuts smack in the middle? Ok, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because I understand how "key words" in stories trigger certain advertisers on websites but I just don't think it's right that just after the AP writer states that "health officials say a big reason for the gain is sugary sodas and sweetened drinks which add a lot of calories", a banner ad for Dunkin Donuts appears, Check it out for yourself. You may not see it right away because the ad alternates with other advertisers but it's there. Believe me. I printed it out. It may not cause the obesity and diabetes rate to increase but it sure doesn't help.

 APRIL 30, 2008 UPDATE: The ad is no longer there but the article is. We'll keep checking to see if it comes back! JDS

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Vitamin D supplements in early childhood may ward off the development of type 1 diabetes in later life, reveals a research review published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.  MORE.

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Dr. Neal Barnard claims that the approach of the American Diabetes Association and its diet is all wrong when it comes to preventing and treating diabetes. In his new book, Dr. Barnard comes up with an alternative that may be much more effective at preventing, treating and even reversing diabetes   Click here for more

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