Category Archives: Diabetes

Cinnamon and Diabetes

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Insulin resistance is considered a major metabolic change associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome, which can increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Insulin resistance is caused by a down regulation of the cellular insulin cascade, … Continue reading →

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Reducing Glycaemic Load

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Carbohydrates play a role in the development of obesity and diabetes. In particular, high intakes of refined carbohydrates, particularly disaccharides and monosaccharides, are associated with increased glycaemia, insulin release, and the development of blood sugar disorders than can contribute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Amylase, Beans, Carbohydrate, Diabetes, Fibre, Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic load, Insulin, Starch, Sucrose, Sugar | Comments Off on Reducing Glycaemic Load

The Okinawan Diet

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Robert Barrington

A number of traditional diets have been identified and researched because they may protect from chronic disease. Of these, the Mediterranean diet is perhaps the most well known. Generally, traditional diets are high in plant based foods such as whole … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fibre, Fish Oils, Fruit, Mediterranean Diet, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Okinawan Diet, Vegetables | Comments Off on The Okinawan Diet

The Glycaemic Index

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The effect that a particular carbohydrate food has on the postprandial plasma blood glucose concentration can be assessed and quantified using the glycaemic index (GI). Foods that elicit a low postprandial rise in blood sugar levels can be said to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cancer, Carbohydrate, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP), Glucagon-like Peptide 1, Glucose, Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic load, Metabolic Syndrome | Comments Off on The Glycaemic Index

Flax Seed and n-3 Fatty Acid Status

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The flax plant produces seeds that contain high levels of n-3 fatty acids in the form of α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)). Around 55% of the fatty acids by weight in flax seed oil are ALA. The benefits of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Diabetes, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Flax Oil | Comments Off on Flax Seed and n-3 Fatty Acid Status

Homocysteine and Health

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Homocysteine is a metabolite of the amino acid methionine and elevated plasma levels are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine levels become elevated due to low intakes of vitamin B6, B12 or folate, which are required as co-factors … Continue reading →

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Quality Nutrition and Balance

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Robert Barrington

It is clear from the nutritional literature that there is no magic bullet to reverse the epidemic of diet-related diseases that have started to affect so many. Lifestyle conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity have multi-factorial aetiologies, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Fat, Fatty Acids, Metabolic Syndrome, Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, Obesity, Omega 3, Omega 6, Saturated Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Quality Nutrition and Balance

Is Magnesium Protective Against Type 2 Diabetes?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Robert Barrington

An inverse association between magnesium and type 2 diabetes has been reported from some studies. For example, researchers1 have used a cohort study of 17,592 Japanese subjects aged 40 to 65 years to investigate the association between magnesium intake and … Continue reading →

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More on the Benefits of Almonds

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Dietary modification has been shown to benefit individuals with metabolic syndrome, a known risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. High quality diets are protective of metabolic syndrome because they provide nutrients required by the body for the maintenance of … Continue reading →

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Adiponectin and Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Metabolic syndrome is characterised by insulin resistance and is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The exact cause of metabolic syndrome is unknown, but research suggests that a low quality diet high in refined carbohydrates and added sugars is … Continue reading →

Posted in Adiponectin, Diabetes, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Mediterranean Diet, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity | Comments Off on Adiponectin and Metabolic Syndrome