This paper published in the journal Diabetologia may contradict some assumptions. The investigators set out to “examine the association of consumption of coffee and tea, separately and in total, with risk of type 2 diabetes and which factors mediate these relations.” Their findings may be a surprise to some: “Total daily consumption of at least three cups of coffee and/or tea reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by approximately 42%.” They go on to conclude: “Drinking coffee or tea is associated with a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes, which cannot be explained by magnesium, potassium, caffeine or blood pressure effects. Total consumption of at least three cups of coffee or tea per day may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.” How can this be? There are compounds in both beverages that have anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects. As you know, chronic inflammation plays an important role in type 2 diabetes. HOWEVER: bear in mind that caffeine can aggravate Th2-type autoimmune conditions, and it may be poorly tolerated by those with sympathetic nervous system hyperarousal.
Archive for the ‘Good Eating’ Category
Coffee and tea reduce risk of type 2 diabetes
Saturday, December 26th, 2009Sensible weight-loss advice in Glamour magazine? Who would have thought…
Friday, December 25th, 2009OMG! This departs from my usual posts on publications in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, but it is so rare for me to see something I can recommend in a lay publication that I couldn’t pass it up for the holiday season when it was pointed out by a follower. This article describes the eating plan of Padma Lakshmi, host of the television show Top Chef. It is refreshingly sane. Happy holidays!
Dairy reduces inflammation and oxidative stress more than soy
Sunday, December 6th, 2009This is a surprising paper just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Don’t forget that allergy to casein (dairy protein) is a serious matter, but when that is not a factor note what the investigators found: “The dairy-supplemented diet resulted in significant suppression of oxidative stress and lower inflammatory markers and increased adiponectin, whereas the soy exerted no significant effect.” Just goes to show the importance of the scientific approach and an open mind. The authors conclude: “An increase in dairy food intake produces significant and substantial suppression of the oxidative and inflammatory stress associated with overweight and obesity.” The best dairy is from animals eating alpine grasses or forage rather than grain, whether cow, sheep or yak. [In fact, 'yak' refers to the male of the species; the milk-bearing female is the dru.]
Study links dark chocolate to lower anxiety through gut bacteria
Sunday, December 6th, 2009This interesting study recently published in the Journal of Proteome Research documented improvement in anxiety with lower levels of cortisol and catecholamines (excitatory neurotransmitters) that were associated with changes in chemicals produced by the bacteria in the gut. The authors state: “The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 g of dark chocolate during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of free living and healthy human subjects, as per variation of both host and gut microbial metabolism.” The intervention was performed with a daily intake of 40 g (1.4 ounces) of dark chocolate (Noir Intense, 74% cocoa solids, Nestle).
Sugar shortens life span
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009You are probably aware of earlier studies that demonstrated increase in life span of experimental animals by the effect of caloric restriction on insulin regulating pathways. This interesting study recently published in the journal Cell Metabolism elucidates the flip side: “We found that adding a small amount of glucose to the medium (2%) shortened the life span of C. elegans by inhibiting the activities of life span-extending transcription factors that are also inhibited by insulin signaling…” The authors conclude: “Together, these findings raise the possibility that a low-sugar diet might have beneficial effects on life span in higher organisms.”
Mediterranean diet and depression
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009As this paper recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry states: “Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) is thought to reduce inflammatory, vascular, and metabolic processes that may be involved in the risk of clinical depression.” Not surprisingly, a way of eating that reduces or protects against chronic inflammation in the brain is likely to help prevent or treat depression.
Alkaline diets favor muscle mass in older adults
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009The 384 men and women in this 3 year trial that was reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition were more successful at preserving muscle mass when they had a higher intake of vegetables and fruits. These are alkali-producing largely due to their potassium content (unlike acid-producing cereal grains and protein).
Long-term effects of a very low-carbohydrate diet and a low-fat diet on mood and cognitive function
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009An original investigation just published in Archives of Internal Medicine showed similar effects for weight loss and cognitive function, but severely restricting carbohydrates for a year resulted in more “total mood disturbance, anger-hostility, confusion-bewilderment, and depression-dejection”. The authors conclude: “Over 1 year, there was a favorable effect of an energy-restricted LF [low fat] diet compared with an isocaloric LC [low carb] diet on mood state and affect in overweight and obese individuals. Both diets had similar effects on working memory and speed of processing.” [Isocaloric = same amount of calories.] Lapis Light patients know to eat an abundance of low glycemic carbs of multiple colors.
