Could it be the sugar-sweetened beverage companies know that the reward system is activated by fructose, creating more compulsion to purchase?

The incidental side effect is an excessive fat accumulation in the liver, and our epidemic of NAFLD, Metabolic Syndrome, Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes. Could the priming of the opioid epidemic be associated?

Table of Contents:

Blood sugar
Artificial sweeteners
Bacteria

Can artificial sweeteners disrupt blood sugar via its effect on gut bacteria?

According to a study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2018 Annual Meeting, the use of low-calorie sweetener capsules altered the gut microbiota in favor of the pathogenic bacteria compared to the capsules used on the placebo group. This alteration, caused by consuming artificial sweeteners, increased bad bacteria and decreased beneficial ones. This disruption in gut balance lead to certain metabolic consequences that are harmful to the consumer.

Researchers found that after two weeks of supplementation, the experimental group showed increase glucose absorption and glycemic response while the response to glucagon production decreased thereby altering glucose metabolism. More sugar isn’t absorbed while the mechanism regulating sugar metabolism is disrupted. Due to this finding, experts say that the use of low-calorie sweeteners can actually interact with the effects of diabetes medication making them less effective in the long run.

Long-term data is still not present to make a conclusive interpretation as of the moment. Experts now believe that the use of low-calorie sweeteners should be in moderation as it has been shown to have both negative and positive effects on weight control.

European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2018 Annual Meeting

https://www.medscape.com/viewcollection/34642

 

Chances are you already know that eating too much sugar isn’t good for you. Yet you’re probably still overdoing it. Sugary drinks, candy, baked goods, and sweetened dairy are the main sources of added sugar. Added sugars can be hard to spot on nutrition labels since they can be listed under a number of names, such as corn syrup, agave nectar, palm sugar, cane juice, or sucrose.No matter the name, sugar is sugar, and it can negatively affect your body in many ways. Here’s a closer look at how sugar can affect your health negatively.

What effect of sugar makes it harmful?

The amount of sugar a person should consume varies, depending on their sex and age. Sugar appears in our food in many forms, including sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Sweet as it is, it sometimes has a negative impact on our health. Let’s have a look at some of these:

1. Can Cause Weight Gain- Rates of obesity are rising worldwide and added sugar, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, is thought to be one of the main culprits. Sugar-sweetened drinks like sodas, juices and sweet teas are loaded with fructose, a type of simple sugar.
2. Can drain your energy -Because your glucose levels spike and plummet, the unstable blood sugar can leave you experiencing mood swings, fatigue, and headaches. It also contributes to cravings, which begins the cycle of false hunger. By contrast, those who avoid sugar report having fewer cravings while feeling more emotionally balanced and energized.
3. Sugar affects cognition in children.-Let’s not forget about our little ones! When New York City public schools reduced the amount of sugar in their lunches and breakfasts, their academic ranking increased by 15.7% (previously, the greatest improvement ever is seen had been 1.7%).11 The study also eliminated artificial colors, synthetic flavoring, and two preservatives, showing the importance of natural ingredients for children.
4. Increases Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes- There is a clear link between excessive sugar consumption and diabetes risk. Obesity, which is often caused by consuming too much sugar, is considered the strongest risk factor for diabetes.Additionally, prolonged high-sugar consumption drives resistance to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance causes blood sugar levels to rise and strongly increases your risk of diabetes.
5. Your immune function can be affected by sugar.-As if being sick wasn’t bad enough, studies have shown that sugar can interfere with the way your body fights disease. Bacteria and yeast feed on sugar, so excess glucose in the body causes these organisms to build up and cause infections.
6. A high-sugar diet can lead to chromium deficiency.-Chromium, a trace mineral that helps regulate blood sugar in the body. While it can be found in meats, seafood, and plant foods, 90% of Americans still don’t get enough chromium because of refining searches.6 Other carbohydrates can also rob foods of their chromium supplies, so limiting your carbs is your best bet for increasing those mineral levels.
7. Sugar accelerates aging.-While you probably know that sugars can affect your body composition, they can also mess with your skin by contributing to wrinkles and sagging. After sugar hits your bloodstream, it attaches to proteins. The mix of these proteins with sugar causes the skin to lose elasticity and leads to premature aging.
8. Sugar causes tooth decay.-With all the other life-threatening effects of sugar, we sometimes forget the most basic cosmetic damage it does. When it sits on your teeth, sugar causes decay more efficiently than any other food.8 It’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day to stop sugars from fueling plaque and bacteria.
9. Sugar can cause gum disease, which can lead to heart disease.-Increasing evidence shows that chronic infections, like those that result from dental problems, play a role in the development of heart disease. It is believed that a connection stems from the body’s inflammatory response to infection. Luckily, this works both ways. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will decrease your risk of common illnesses, which reduces the chance that they’ll become a more serious condition later on.
10. Sugar takes the place of important nutrients.- According to USDA data, people who consume the most sugar have the lowest intakes of essential nutrients––especially vitamins A, C, B-12, and calcium. This is because the body needs these vitamins to process the sugar which results in the body using up its reserves and therefore “negative calories” and loss of vitamins occur.The trade-off is especially dangerous for children and teens, because they simultaneously consume the most sugar and need the most nutrients.
11. May Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease.-High-sugar diets have been associated with an increased risk of many diseases, including heart disease, the number one cause of death worldwide. Evidence suggests that high-sugar diets can lead to obesity, inflammation and high triglyceride, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels — all risk factors for heart disease.Additionally, consuming too much sugar, especially from sugar-sweetened drinks, has been linked to atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by fatty, artery-clogging deposits.
12. Can cause Acne. Foods with a high glycemic index, such as processed sweets, raise your blood sugar more rapidly than foods with a lower glycemic index. Sugary foods quickly spike blood sugar and insulin levels, causing increased androgen secretion, oil production, and inflammation, all of which play a role in acne development.
13. May Increase Your Risk of Cancer.-Eating excessive amounts of sugar may increase your risk of developing certain cancers.First, a diet rich in sugary foods and beverages can lead to obesity, which significantly raises your risk of cancer.Furthermore, diets high in sugar increase inflammation in your body and may cause insulin resistance, both of which increase cancer risk
14. Can Accelerate the Skin Aging Process.-Wrinkles are a natural sign of aging. They appear eventually, regardless of your health. However, poor food choices can worsen wrinkles and speed the skin aging process.
15. Increase kidney disease risk.-Having consistently high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the delicate blood vessels in your kidneys. This can lead to an increased risk of kidney disease.
16.  Increase the risk of developing gout. Gout is an inflammatory condition characterized by pain in the joints. Added sugars raise uric acid levels in the blood, increasing the risk of developing or worsening gout.
17. Accelerate cognitive decline: High-sugar diets can lead to impaired memory and have been linked to an increased risk of dementia.

How can you reduce your sugar intake?

Because excessive added sugar has many negative health effects and consuming small amounts now and then is perfectly healthy, you should try to cut back on sugar whenever possible. Simply focusing on eating whole, unprocessed foods automatically decreases the amount of sugar in your diet has huge gains.

Tips on how to reduce your intake of added sugars:

• Swap sodas, energy drinks, juices and sweetened teas for water or unsweetened seltzer.
• Drink your coffee black or use Stevia for a zero-calorie, natural sweetener.
• Sweeten plain yogurt with fresh or frozen berries instead of buying flavored, sugar-loaded yogurt.
• Consume whole fruits instead of sugar-sweetened fruit smoothies.
• Replace candy with a homemade trail mix of fruit, nuts and a few dark chocolate chips.
• Use olive oil and vinegar in place of sweet salad dressings like honey mustard.
• Choose marinades, nut butter, ketchup and marinara sauce with zero added sugars.
• Look for cereals, granolas and granola bars with under 4 grams of sugar per serving.
• Swap your morning cereal for a bowl of rolled oats topped with nut butter and fresh berries, or an omelet made with fresh greens.
• Instead of jelly, slice fresh bananas onto your peanut butter sandwich.
• Use natural nut butter in place of sweet spreads like Nutella.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages that are sweetened with soda, juice, honey, sugar or agave.
• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store, focusing on fresh, whole ingredients.
• Eating fruit can help ensure a person gets enough fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However many fruits are high in natural sugars and may not be suitable for those looking to lower their sugar intake. Some low-sugar fruits include strawberries, peaches, blackberries, lemons, limes, honeydew melon, oranges, and grapefruit.

Should we stop taking sugar?

Sugar is not unhealthful in itself. However, having excess sugar in the diet can cause a range of conditions, including heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes. To be aware of added sugars in food products, it is important to read labels carefully. Also, eliminating sugar from the diet can help prevent weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and other problems. For these reasons, added sugar should be kept to a minimum whenever possible, which is easy when you follow a healthy diet based on whole foods.

If you need to cut added sugar from your diet, try some of the small changes listed above. You will slowly realize that you don’t need as much sugar as you once did.

References

Healthline(2018):11 Reasons Why Too Much Sugar Is Bad for You. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-sugar#section2
Atkins (2019): 10 Reasons Why Sugar Is Bad for Your Health, Retrieved from https://www.atkins.com/how-it-works/library/articles/10-ways-sugar-harms-your-health
WebMD: How Does Too Much Sugar Affect Your Body? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/how-sugar-affects-your-body
Medical News Today (2019): 5 reasons why sugar is bad for you. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324854.php

If you are like most people, you are probably thinking that I have confused diabetes for diabesity, or you are probably wondering whether I intended to say obesity. You are not so far away from the truth as diabesity is a modern disease that links obesity with type 2 diabetes. Diabesity should be a concern for people with normal blood sugars who may be accustomed to unhealthy eating and lifestyle patterns. It is unfortunate that much is not mentioned about diabesity, which can predispose you to severe obesity, diabetes, and other fatal chronic conditions.

What Is Diabesity?

Diabesity is a sequence of events that starts with optimal blood sugar balance, to progressive insulin resistance, to being overweight, then becoming obese, and finally to full-blown Type-2 Diabetes. It comes in a spectrum that includes elevated blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other health complications. These problems stem from diet, lifestyle, and environmental toxins interacting with our unique genetic susceptibilities. A study published in NCBI in 2013 concluded that “(diabesity) makes a strong call for utilizing indigenous, low-cost means of enhancing healthy dietary and physical activity habits.” Diabesity can also be described as the coexistence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

What Are The Triggers For Diabesity?

Diabesity occurs following the development of insulin resistance and obesity. When your diet is full of empty calories: quickly absorbed sugars, liquid calories (soda, juice, sports drinks), and refined carbohydrates, you are likely to develop a resistance to insulin. Insulin (produced by beta cells in the pancreas) is the hormone that is responsible for grabbing glucose out of the bloodstream and storing it in cells. This ensures that blood sugar remains even in the blood. When the body starts ignoring the signal sent out by insulin, we call this insulin resistance. A high insulin level is one of the first signs because beta cells will keep releasing more and more insulin to try to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, the higher your insulin levels are, the worse your insulin resistance becomes.  High insulin levels will also cause a spike in appetite which leads to overeating. Very soon, you develop weight gain around the belly, more inflammation and oxidative stress, and other effects such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low HDL, atherosclerosis, and increased risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and depression.

It is important t note here that the root cause of the problem is insulin resistance and not elevated blood sugar. Fortunately, insulin resistance can be reversed since it is strongly linked to a poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Most people can save themselves from diabesity by eliminating the factors that send their biology out of balance and replacing them with what’s needed to help the body re-balance itself.

Diabesity and Genetics

Many people believe that insulin resistance and diabesity are genetic conditions that cannot be extraneously controlled. True enough, our genetic predisposition plays a role in how we choose what to eat and how to live. It also plays a role in the development of insulin resistance. However, insulin resistance and diabesity are greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. By controlling these factors, you can greatly minimize your chances of developing the conditions.

How To Reverse Diabesity

Before reversing diabesity, there are a few things you can do to keep safe. They include:

1. Know the signs of insulin resistance.

One of the first tell-tale signs of insulin resistance is uncontrollable weight gain. You might also experience increased blood pressure and skin discoloration (acanthosis nigricans) on rare occasions. Unfortunately, insulin resistance may go unnoticed for years. Hence, you may be better off having some tests done.

2. Get the right tests done

You should get tested if you have a positive family history of type 2 diabetes and are affected by a poor diet as well as a sedentary lifestyle. An insulin response test is the best test to tease out the condition.

If you have already been diagnosed with diabesity, here are three things you can do to start your reversal journey.

Make healthy diet choices

This may involve the input of your physician, nutritionist/ dietician, and yourself to come up with the right meal plan. A healthy diet will start with the elimination of sugary and processed foods. Opt for wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, white meat, and unsaturated fats. You can read more about this type of diet here. (hyperlink to foods that improve insulin sensitivity).

Get adequate rest

Stress is a major contributor to insulin resistance and blood sugar imbalance.  Stress also contributes to making unhealthy food choices and overeating. You need to make a conscious effort to distress frequently by:

• Sleeping for at least 7 hours daily
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga
• Taking breaks in between work, like every two hours
• Taking sabbaticals and vacationing periodically

Quit a sedentary lifestyle

Modern jobs involve sitting at an office desk and hitting the keypad for hours on end. In a world where work is compensated by the hour, it can be difficult to make time for exercise. However, when you consider the negative long-term effects of a sedentary lifestyle, you will be forced to reconsider the value of the extra money. What is the point if it’s going to cost your health in the long run? Quitting a sedentary lifestyle involves making deliberate choices about exercise and fitness. This may mean walking at least 30 minutes every day or engaging in more vigorous aerobic exercise 4-6 times a week.

References

1.   Science Daily (2012): Genetic variants are linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120626151107.htm

2.   NCBI (2011): Is fast food addictive? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21999689

3.   NCBI (2013): Diabesity. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23905459

4.   NCBI (2008): High-fat diets cause insulin resistance despite an increase in muscle mitochondria. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2409421/

About us:

Our mission and beliefs:

Mission:

Our protocol offers real hope and transformational change to patients who would otherwise be consigned to a lifetime of medications, doctor’s visits, and suffering.

Beliefs:

We believe the health of the individual is the fundamental unit of the health of the community.

We expose misaligned incentives and return the power of health to the individual.

We believe empowered individuals change their communities.

We are citizen scientists and choose the health span, not just the life span.

If you are overweight, obese, prediabetic, or have type 2 diabetes, this protocol is for you.

Only 12.2 per cent of American adults are now metabolically healthy.  Eighty-six million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes, and 70% of these individuals will eventually develop diabetes.  Being overweight or obese is the main factor in the progression of diabetes.

The best way to reverse diabetes is not to get diabetes in the first place because your chances of heart disease, cancer, and death are increased even as a prediabetic.

Our protocol offers real hope and transformational change to patients who would otherwise be consigned to a lifetime of medications, doctor’s visits, and suffering.  Welcome to ReverseDiabetes.md

Why we care.

We own and operate chronic care health-related companies, but we also own and operate restaurants.  We have been fascinated with the intersection of health, dietary intake, and lifestyle.  We view nutrition as a program, or a subroutine, that informs and instructs the body to a specific action.  A corrupted program leads to a corrupted outcome.

Our clinics evaluate and treat several thousand patients annually for chronic and acute pain in an urban setting where access to high-intensity healthcare is readily available through several large academic centers and government-sponsored outreach clinics. Unfortunately, despite the availability of cutting-edge medical treatment, individual and population health continues to decline year over year.  Over 90% of our patients have untreated metabolic syndrome, and over 80% have undiagnosed prediabetes or diabetes type 2.  The symptom of pain is the final common pathway for the human body to signal impending tissue damage, and most patients avoid contact with the health delivery system until they develop a symptom that they can no longer ignore.  Unfortunately, our clinical practice is not unique; pain is the leading reason for patients seeking medical care and is one of the most disabling, burdensome, and costly conditions in the US. Overall, pain care/treatment and lost productivity cost $635 billion per year.  The common nexus between metabolic syndrome and chronic pain is the hyperinflammatory state or metal inflammation.

As we have treated this patient population over the last 20-plus years, we have discovered some common threads that trouble us.  About 80% of the patients have either obesity, prediabetes, or diabetes, with the vast majority remaining undiagnosed.  More than half of these patients go on to have significant expensive complications, and about 20% eventually require dialysis. By 2026 the Medicare system will be so overwhelmed with the diseases of metal inflammation, Medicare will literally run out of money.  We must engage individual patients in improved health outcomes in order to change the community.  We have less than 7 years.

We are passionate about returning this patient population to health by avoiding bariatric surgical procedures, which are costly and carry significant risks of organ injury, death, and long-term disability.  We have found that academic institutions avoid this population until extraordinary and expensive complications set in, requiring hospitalization.  It is our opinion that there is a fundamental cultural disconnect between the ivory tower of the institutions and the actual communities where these patients reside.  This cultural disconnect prevents patient engagement in lifestyle changes.  Additionally, the Medicaid system does not reimburse for lifestyle and dietary modification for obesity but does reimburse for bariatric surgery.

The overwhelming marketing from processed food manufacturers targets the urban minority communities with disingenuous messaging, suggesting health benefits for obesogenic foods.  This combined with supplemental nutrition benefits and game theory, promotes the hyper-consumption of farmer-subsidized high fructose corn starch as well as industrial seed oils.  It is our opinion that the overconsumption of hyper-palatable, nutritionally deficient food is a major contributor to reduced academic success, reduced employment opportunities, increased incarceration rates, and progression of metabolic dysfunction.  It is a root cause of social and economic disparity.

Why we are personally passionate:

Ami Grimes

I was slowly gaining weight and found that it was difficult to return to my ideal weight. Even though no one would consider me outwardly obese, my body percentage fat was slowly climbing, and as my biomarkers for autoimmunity became positive (lupus antibodies and elevated CRP), I developed clinical symptoms of a hyper-inflammatory state.  I had a history of severe endometriosis with its associated abdominal pain, which had brought me to the emergency room and operating room on multiple occasions.

As I journeyed my way back, it became painfully clear that standard medical care was merely a treatment of symptoms and failed to address the root cause.  At one time, medicine had provided life-altering disease-specific cures and preventions when diseases could be easily identified due to infectious causes or other traumatic events.  Once the dietary information (our largest daily physical input) presented to our bodies was corrupted, everything changed.  The system-wide effect of multiple variables has resulted in a focus on symptom management rather than disease reversal.

Gurpreet S Padda, MD

I lost my father to undiagnosed prediabetes; he had lived a healthy lifestyle in India but inexplicably gained about a pound of weight per year after arriving in the united states, no matter what exercise or diet he tried.  My father was a scientist, both a statistician and a physicist, and he was highly disciplined.  Like so many other people, he relied on the federal government’s healthy eating guidelines, shifting to a “healthy” low-fat diet and abandoning saturated natural fats for industrial seed oils.  As he became progressively more overweight and metabolically unhealthy, his physician added the recommended statins, which only hastened his disease progression.  He became a casualty of big food marketing, governmental policy, and big pharma.  At the time, I could see what was happening but didn’t have the insight.

I also noticed that as I was becoming middle-aged, I too started to gain weight, despite the heroic physical activity.  In fact, I learned of my father’s unexpected death while on an intense mountain bike trip in the canyonlands of Utah.  Clearly, something was wrong, and it wasn’t for the lack of physical activity.

We:

We initially tried calorie restriction and calorie counting, which only made us hungrier, and I wanted to eat my arm off.  Calorie restriction left Ami with a berserker experience and me in utter fear.  Clearly, not a way to live. These were insidious changes that needed a systems solution.  The severe calorie restriction methodology did produce temporary weight reduction and improvement in biomarkers but was not a sustainable solution.

Many of our relatives, friends, customers, and patients have struggled with weight their entire lives, this protocol is for them and all the people like them (us).

Who is this protocol for?

The end result of a damaged metabolism is overweight, obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.  If you are anywhere on this path, this protocol is for you.

We have a lot of information in this protocol explaining and detailing our processes.  You don’t need all of this information to successfully self-manage, but the complexity of the problem may require more than just one tool or treatment type to manage successfully.

Medical supervision is absolutely required before a person changes the level of  their carbohydrate intake if they are on medications such as:

• Medications to lower blood glucose, such as insulin and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (sglt2) medication, including Invokana, Forxiga, Xigduo, Jardiance, etc. And other types of glucose-lowering medication, such as Victoza, etc.
• Medications for blood pressure such as clonidine, Ramipril, Lasix, lisinopril/ace inhibitors, and atenolol / β₁ receptor antagonists.
• Mental health medications such as antidepressants, anxiety disorders, or mood stabilizers.

Metabolic health protocol

We offer an evidence-based approach to weight loss & nutrition that is monitored in real-time & physician-supervised.  Our focus is on helping our patients make drastic changes through lifestyle interventions.  We provide real-time vitals, glucose, and body composition tracking, as well as telemedicine visits and coaching, along with standard medical care. Our greatest efforts are placed on preventing and reversing disease.

Direct primary care

Our protocol includes a comprehensive annual physical exam with specific risk stratification.  We utilize diagnostic ultrasound and laboratory testing to treat, prevent & reverse disease.  We engage the patient with biometric feedback and trackable data, closing the loop of cause and effect.  Se educates the individual patient to educate the community.

Telemedicine

Online care through our telemedicine portal is available, if your schedule is too busy to make it to our office, or you are not well enough to leave home. Our office utilizes HIPPA-compliant video conferencing software, connecting us to the comfort of your own home. Not only can we see you from home, but we can help manage your blood pressure, blood glucose, weight & body composition.

Https://doxy.me/

Our metabolic health protocol

Our unique 24-week program with real-time monitoring & health coaching

Key points

·        eat until full and eat real foods

·        affordable & sustainable

·        fix your appetite, satiety & hunger

·        physician-supervised for lasting success

·        no calorie counting

·        no meal replacement

·        no expensive supplements or pills

·        no gimmicks

What we treat

Some of the medical conditions that improve through lifestyle modifications:

 Metabolic

· Overweight

· Metabolic syndrome

· Obesity

· Pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes

· Obstructive sleep apnea

Cardiovascular

·        High cholesterol

·        High blood pressure

Gastrointestinal

·        Reflux

·        Irritable bowel

·        Leaky gut

·        NAFLD and NASH

Musculoskeletal

·        Arthritis

·        Chronic pain

·        Sarcopenia or muscle wasting

Neuro-psychiatric

·        Depression

·        Anxiety

·        Migraines

·        Seizures

Rheumatologic

·        Fibromyalgia

·        Lower back pain and neck pain

·        Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

·        Lupus symptoms

Our approach

We promote wellness using a customized approach to help you achieve your goals.  Some of the techniques we use include:

Dietary changes

·        Atkins

·        Low carb

·        Ketogenic

·        Paleo

·        Plant-based keto

Fasting

·        Time-restricted feeding

·        Intermittent fasting

·        Protein sparing modified fast

·        5/2 fasting

·        Prolonged fasting

Hormones

·        Cortisol

·        Estrogen

·        Insulin

·        Testosterone

·        Thyroid

Lifestyle

·        Medical fitness

·        Mental health

·        Pain management

·        Sleep hygiene

·        Stress management

Your initial visit

Comprehensive evaluation & diagnostics

The initial appointment is focused on you 

You can come into our office, or we can start the consultation completely remotely using our telemedicine software in the comfort of your own home, using a state-of-the-art, encrypted video conferencing application from your desktop or smartphone.

Our program is smart & connected

When you begin the protocol, you will receive a smart scale & blood pressure cuff that communicates directly to our staff for close monitoring. We will monitor your weight, BMI& body composition & blood pressure, all seamlessly.

We spend time with you because we care.

Your initial consultation is typically 1-1.5 hours. In this visit, we review your entire medical history family history, and order labs & diagnostics. We create a custom nutrition plan & focus on fixing hunger, satiety, and appetite with the goal of reversing disease.

Month 1

Following your weekly progress

A close follow-up for great results

For the first 4 weeks, we will have weekly follow-up visits to track progress and ensure that the transition to your new lifestyle program is smooth. Our team will be monitoring your blood glucose, blood pressure, body fat %, and weight very closely during this time.

We focus on the numbers, you focus on you

Our program is designed to work without tracking calories or tracking much of anything. Your sole focus will be understanding and fixing your satiety, appetite, and hunger. We want you to focus on what matters; let us handle the rest.

Month 2

Metabolic fine-tuning

We monitor your metabolic markers

After 8 weeks in our program, we will repeat lab work to monitor your progress and ensure your blood work improves. At the 2-month visit, we will review this lab work and make some minor changes to maximize the effects of lifestyle changes.

We continue to focus on the whole you

During this visit, the focus will shift from diet composition to various other features for health, including sleep schedules, stress, time-restricted feeding, and intermittent fasting. Our team will continue to monitor your progress during the transition to ensure the process is smooth.

 Month 3

Fasting & Fitness

Re-examining barriers to success

During your 3 month visit, we will continue to work on any barriers to your progress. We will re-evaluate your dietary composition, satiety, hunger, and appetite. We will review your eating schedule.

Beginning medical fitness together

We will discuss the role of a medical fitness program in complementing your lifestyle changes. This will improve your insulin sensitivity, body composition, and overall health.

 Months 4, 5, and 6

Follow-up for continued success

Ensuring great metabolic health

Between your 4 and 6 months visit, we order repeat lab work and diagnostic testing to ensure good metabolic health. We advise you for long-term success.

We discuss factors that increase the chances of weight loss maintenance, as well as special ways to handle weight loss plateaus and special situations.

We hardwire your habits.  We hope that you change your community as you change yourself.

Pricing for medical supervision does not include patient-specific lab and diagnostic workups.  Pricing does not include any patient-specific medications. Non-weight loss disease management is billed to insurance or directly to the patient.

The 24-week weight-loss self-management protocol

No real-time monitoring
No intensive follow-up

No diagnostic testing or laboratory testing

Use our information for free

This is ideal for patients who wish to self-manage and do not have significant medical problems.  Download our tools and let’s get started today.

The 24-week weight loss protocol, medically supervised

No real-time monitoring
No intensive follow-up

$320/month*

The 24-week weight loss protocol was intensively supervised for success
With real-time monitoring
With intensive follow-up

Monthly medical follow-up, weekly text supported.

$460/month*

*Diagnostic or laboratory testing is billed to insurance or the patient. Non-weight loss disease management is billed to insurance or directly to the patient.

Obesity, Prediabetes, and Diabetes Type 2 are associated with most of the diseases of modern society (cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease). These are all metabolic dysfunctions related to the malnutrition of overconsumption which leads to metabolic inflammation, or metal inflammation. This series of articles provides a recipe on how to make a healthy society, and create metal inflammation, which results in severe chronic disease and requires expensive lifelong treatment.

Whether by coincidence or concerted action, this chronic disease model produces tremendous revenue for the medical-industrial complex, big pharma, big food, and reduces upward mobility. I would even contend that generational metal inflammation is a primary driver of economic disparity and plays a significant role in violence and incarceration rates.

Type 2 Diabetes hits African American populations especially hard.

• African Americans are 1.7 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.
• The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes among African Americans has quadrupled during the past 30 years
• African Americans with diabetes are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to develop greater diabetes-related complications such as amputations, adult blindness, kidney failure, and increased risk of heart disease and stroke due to a delay in diagnosis. Being Prediabetic starts the injury, even before becoming Diabetic five years later.
• Death rates for African Americans with diabetes are 27 percent higher than for non-Hispanic whites.

Metainflammation is the lynchpin for over 80% of human suffering and healthcare expense in the United States. Understanding the common root causes, which appear unrelated on the surface, is the first actionable step in preventing and reversing the disease and restoring health to a community.

Are Obesity, Prediabetes, and Diabetes Type 2 really a significant problem?

Obesity, Prediabetes, and Diabetes are a new phenomenon in the United States. Obesity and Diabetes type 2 in the 1940s was nearly unheard of. In the 1970s only 13% of adults and 5% of children were obese. Today 35% of adults and 17% of children are obese.

Diabetes Obesity disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic minority groups. By 2035 nearly 100% of African American females will be overweight or obese, which is only 16 years from now.

Nearly 72% of adults in the United States are now overweight or obese. Obesity is a contributing factor to approximately 100,000–400,000 deaths in the United States per year, and directly accounts for 5% to 10% of the national health care expenditure. Obesity is the second leading cause of death and is likely to become the first (Mokdad, Marks, Stroup, & Gerberding, 2004). Statistics predict that 86% of the United States population will be overweight or obese by 2030. It is highly likely that future adults will have shorter life-spans than the current generation (Olshansky et al., 2005). Not only do obese individuals have a shorter life span, but they also have a significantly shorter health span (healthy living before getting a debilitating illness) which reduces their quality of life and worsens economic disparity. They are far more likely to suffer from stroke, breast, and colorectal cancer, osteoarthritis, and depression (Jebb, 2004).

There are 84.1 million Prediabetics in the United States (34% of the population), a condition that if left untreated leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. Less than 11 percent of adults with Prediabetes know they have it.

There are about 30.3 million diabetics in the United States (9% of the population), 23.1 million are diagnosed and 7.2 million are undiagnosed diabetics. Over 95% of all diabetics are type 2 diabetics, which is a disease created by the modern lifestyle. The American Diabetes Association currently estimates the total costs of diagnosed diabetes have risen from $245 billion in 2012 to $327 billion in 2017, a 26% increase over a five-year period. For diagnosed diabetics, the average annual medical expenditure is approximately $16,752 per year:

• hospital inpatient care (30% of the total medical cost)
• prescription medications to treat complications of diabetes (30%)
• anti-diabetic agents and diabetes supplies (15%)
• physician office visits (13%)

Statistics predict that the prevalence of diabetes will increase by 54% to more than 54.9 million Americans between 2015 and 2030; annual deaths attributed to diabetes will climb by 38%, and annual medical and societal costs will increase 53%. By 2050, nearly 1/3 of the United States population is predicted to be diabetic.

So, what exactly is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which glucose sugar builds up in your blood. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin (Type 1 Diabetes) or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should (Type 2 Diabetes). Other than the fact that there is too much glucose in the bloodstream, Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes is not the same disease.

The focus of this discussion is Type 2 Diabetes, what causes it and how to reverse it.

Our bodies normally use a combination of carbohydrates (sugars such as glucose), fats, and proteins for energy.  When the body senses that it is going to receive a carbohydrate load, the Beta cells of the pancreas release a hormone called Insulin. Insulin works through specialized receptors and transporters to clear the bloodstream of glucose, and deposit the glucose into the cells. Glucose inside the cells is rapidly converted to energy or stored for later use as glycogen or converted to fat. Insulin specifically triggers a series of enzymes to cause fat storage. Whenever you hear the word insulin, think “fat-storage hormone.”

 

As the fat cells uptake excessive circulating glucose, they overflow their capacity to use glucose for energy and their limited glycogen storage. The cells produce chemical inflammatory signaling compounds that leech into the bloodstream, activating the immune system, contributing to the onset of metal inflammation. The cell also begins to leech out stored fats as triglycerides.

If the cell becomes overwhelmed with glucose and runs out of fat storage capacity, it eventually reaches a critical size and will literally explode. This cell death also causes an inflammatory reaction or metal inflammation.

Extra glucose outside the cells quickly damages the cells by a process of glycation, making cell walls, proteins, and receptors sticky and function poorly. Imagine putting sugar into your car’s gas tank, as the clean gas is burned it would leave a sticky residue in the engine and over time your engine would seize up and all the parts would stop moving.

Insulin resistance due to glycation occurs as the cell receptors can no longer efficiently move and the circulating proteins such as insulin become sticky. We measure this as Hemoglobin A1C, which tells us how much glucose is sticking to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, the higher the number, the greater the glycation.

It can take up to 12 years for a patient to develop decompensated diabetes until then the fasting blood sugars appear normal, but the patient is in a state of metal inflammation.

Trajectories of glycemia, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: an analysis from the Whitehall II study. Lancet 2009; 373: 2215–2221.

The body compensates by increasing the production of insulin, even more, to clear out the toxic glucose, which only leads to even more insulin production and worsening insulin resistance, and more fat storage.

Insulin resistance also occurs because of the constant stimulation of biological receptors causes the receptors to down-regulate. These transporters become fatigued if there is too much insulin or the frequency of insulin release becomes too often.

Eventually, the tremendous excessive fat storage and cell structure disruption become so great that the liver and pancreas become congested with fat, and blood flow to the pancreas decreases so insulin production is severely reduced, and the patient now becomes dependent on injected insulin.

Diabetes results in metal inflammation because your body is trying to clean out the sticky residue, or glycated parts.  Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and pain. Unfortunately, the most patient does not realize they have diabetes until some significant symptom causes them to seek care, usually pain which is the common pathway of tissue damage in metal inflammation.

What is wrong with the standard of care treatment for diabetes?

Current medical guidelines specifically consider Type 2 Diabetes a chronic and progressive disease, in which the patient has little choice.

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/

The standard of care usually starts with one drug, then two, then three and sequentially increasing insulin. Most people assume that we are treating their diabetes with medications to make their disease better. It’s simply not true, we are not actually treating the disease. We are treating the symptom of diabetes, the elevated blood sugar; the disease of insulin resistance is getting worse year after year. Diabetes is getting worse, not better. The complications of diabetes track insulin resistance over time, not just the glucose level.

In fact, the American Diabetes Association almost seems to relish in this learned helplessness and dependence on insulin.

“Using insulin to get blood glucose levels to a healthy level is a good thing, not a bad one. For most people, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. When first diagnosed, many people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood glucose at a healthy level with a combination of meal planning, physical activity, and taking oral medications. But over time, the body gradually produces less and less of its own insulin, and eventually, oral medications may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels in a healthy range.”

The American Diabetes Association is definitely dependent on insulin, or at least dependent on the companies who manufacture insulin and fund the Association.

Eli Lilly

Novo Nordisk

Sanofi

http://www.diabetes.org/about-us/corporate-support/our-corporate-supporters.html
and
http://www.diabetes.org/about-us/corporate-support/banting-circle-supporters.html

While the use of agents, including insulin, to reduce glucose is absolutely necessary for certain circumstances, it does not address the disease of diabetes, which is insulin resistance.

What’s wrong with conventional dietary advice of multiple small meals per day?

Conventional dietary advice suggests that patients should eat 3 meals per day plus snacks, resulting in a feeding frequency of approximately five times per day. This dietary recommendation is baseless in the normal adult population, and inconsistent from an evolutionary perspective.

Hunter-gatherer eating patterns were characterized by intermittent energy intake depending entirely upon food availability and required an extraordinarily high level of physical and mental functional capacity during the extended periods without food. These adaptations allowed for organs to rapidly uptake and store glucose when available, as fat and glycogen storage, and mobilize these reserves as needed as glucose, fatty acid, and ketones in times of need.

Less than 10,000 years ago, converting from a hunter-gatherer eating pattern to an agrarian eating pattern resulted in year-round availability of food and the current three meals per day eating pattern.

The concept of multiple snacks between meals is a modern development, which began in the 1950s and closely tracks with the loss of healthy eating patterns, food overconsumption and the epidemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.  In a study conducted by the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services on food consumption behavior, the percent of the American population eating three or more snacks a day increased from 11% to 42% between 1977 to 2002. Snacks now constitute more than 27 percent of children’s daily calories.

Adapted from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 1999

In fact, there is no actual data supporting even three meals per day. Breakfast as a meal has only been advocated as the “most important meal of the day” in the media since 1917, and there is no evidence that breakfast consumption promotes weight loss or that skipping breakfast leads to weight gain. In fact, people who eat breakfast consume on average 260 calories/day more than those who skip breakfast and are heavier.

Effect of breakfast on weight and energy intake: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ 2019; 364 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l42 (Published 30 January 2019)

Insulin is a fat-storage that clears glucose from the bloodstream (lipogenesis). It is produced by the pancreas in anticipation of a carbohydrate load. Its primary function is to rapidly clear the bloodstream of excessive glucose after a feast, and convert it to long term fat storage for later use in a time of famine. Maintaining elevated levels of insulin, both as in terms of spikes and for a proportionate period of time, causes a continuous shunting of circulating glucose to fat storage. When insulin is decreased, the body automatically shifts to burning fat as a fuel source (lipolysis).

Insulin acts as a growth hormone, preventing the cellular stress responses involved in removing damaged cells and organelles (autophagy). Allowing dysfunctional cells and organelles to accumulate is the hallmark of aging and the common pathway for diabetes, cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease. When insulin is decreased, autophagy is increased.

Intermittent energy restriction permits a cyclical ebb and flow which maintains insulin receptor sensitivity and minimizes excessive fat storage due to chronically elevated insulin. In other words, eating less frequently exercise your insulin system and prevents insulin resistance. Constantly eating results in lipogenesis and accumulation of cellular debris.

What’s wrong with the conventional dietary advice to consume carbohydrates?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the USDA recommends that carbohydrates make up 45 to 65 percent of total daily calories. Based upon a  2,000 calories/day, between 900 and 1,300 calories should be from carbohydrates (225 and 325 grams of carbohydrates a day). The Institute of Medicine also recommends 45 to 65 percent calorie intake as carbohydrates, with at least 130 grams of consumed carbs per day. The American Heart Association recommends that refined sugar should be limited to 6 to 9 teaspoons per day. All of these organizations suggest that there is an absolute requirement of carbohydrate necessary for human function, with the majority of nutrition coming from carbohydrates.

However, the lower limit of carbohydrate consumption is likely zero, there are no essential carbohydrates required for living.  According to the Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and Amino Acids (2005), the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for carbohydrate,  considered to be the average minimum amount of glucose needed by the brain or central nervous system (CNS), is 130 g/day for adults and children.

The CNS comprises less than 2% of total body weight but consumes roughly 20% of the total daily calories.  Historically the brain has been considered the only organ that required glucose as a fuel source, utilizing approximately 100-140 g glucose per day.  However, with keto-adaptation, the CNS reduces the obligatory glucose requirement by approximately 80%, resulting in a true utilization of 20-28 g glucose/d.

Traditional civilizations (Masai, the Greenland, and Alaskan Inuit and Pampas indigenous people) survive on a “minimal amount of carbohydrate for extended periods of time with no apparent effect on health or longevity“.

“In the absence of dietary carbohydrate, de novo synthesis of glucose requires amino acids derived from the hydrolysis of endogenous or dietary protein or glycerol derived from fat. Therefore, the marginal amount of carbohydrate required in the diet in an energy-balanced state is conditional and dependent upon the remaining composition of the diet.”

Endogenous glucose production through gluconeogenesis is approximately 2.8-3.6 g/kg/d, or approximately 210-270 g/d in a 70kg human, far greater than the obligatory requirement of 20-28g glucose/d of the keto-adapted human.

“The lower limit of dietary carbohydrate compatible with life apparently is zero, provided that adequate amounts of protein and fat are consumed” (pg. 275). There is no essential need for dietary carbohydrate, provided that “adequate amounts of protein and fat are consumed”.

This does not mean that patients should strive to be zero carbohydrates, what it means is that half your calories don’t need to come from carbohydrates.

What’s wrong with the conventional dietary advice to diabetics?

Newly diagnosed diabetics are instructed to eat “multiple” small meals per day to have a steady-state glucose level. This sounds reasonable until you examine what the patient is being recommended to eat.

Diabetics are often instructed to consume more than 50% of their calories as carbohydrates. They are often instructed to consume “healthy” fruits and vegetables, as if “fruits and vegetables” was a single food group. Selective breeding of plants over the last 9,000 years has resulted in fruit that is sweeter, and bigger. Modern fruits are genetically engineered to contain sugars at or above the level of soda.

Patients often think that fruit juices, or “juicing” is healthy. That’s understandable, given that it is natural and has the word “fruit” in it. Fruit juice contains just as much sugar and calories as a sugary soft drink… and sometimes even more. Minute Maid 100 percent apple contains nearly 66 grams of fructose per liter. That’s more than the 62.5 grams per liter in Coca-Cola and the 61 grams per liter in Dr. Pepper. The fructose in fruit comes with fiber, which slows down and reduces the absorption of the sugar in the body, and juicing the fruit removes the fiber. The minimal amount of vitamins and antioxidants in the juice do not make up for a large amount of sugar, and the sugars may actually prevent vitamin absorption.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70013-0

Diabetics are often instructed to use rescue sugars when they feel light-headed. Many diabetic patients automatically consume sugar, but when you actually look at their glucose level, it’s often in the normal ranges. What’s happened is that their brain is insulin resistant. The normal or even high blood sugar can’t get from the bloodstream to the interior of the brain cell. Being lightheaded is the symptom of intracellular hypoglycemia. The temporary fix at that moment is to control the symptom of hypoglycemia by consuming a rapidly absorbed fuel source. The issue is that if you constantly use rescue sugars, the insulin resistance only worsens. The better option is to reduce medications while reducing carbohydrate consumption and consider a fuel source such as ketones as a rescue (ketones do not require insulin to get inside the cell) and excess ketones are rapidly exhaled through your breath.

Type 2 Diabetes is a lifestyle choice that requires conscious decision making, because the default acceptance of the current nutritional recommendations has resulted in a catastrophic failure, disproportionately injuring the urban minority communities.

When enjoying your tasty donut, the last thing on your mind your long-term mental health. However, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that you should be thinking of just that. Most of us know the harm of too much sugar on our physical health. It can cause obesity, wide-spread inflammation, and poor dental health and can lead to diabetes. However, few understand the significant impact of a high sugar diet on our mental health. In this article, we will at how a diet filled with too many sweeteners, such as sugar, honey, maple syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and molasses can have a detrimental impact on mental well-being.

1. Sugar and mental health: A toxic combination?

We all know how diet affects your physical health, but did you know that it can also have lasting effects on your mental health?  Regular consumption of meals high in sugar can affect your brain increasing your risk of developing mental illnesses and mood disorders like depression.

The science of sugar

Sugars are simple, soluble carbohydrates essential for cell and organ functioning. Our bodies have the ability to break complex carbohydrate molecules into simple sugars and as such, it is not necessary to take sugar in its simple form.

What happens to your neurons when you take too much sugar?

Neurons are very sensitive cells and are not well prepared for sugar level spikes. In fact, individuals with diabetes are at risk of neuronal damage. A study by researchers from the Department of Neurobiology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, performed on diabetic rats showed that high blood glucose, a simple sugar, led to inflammation and neuronal damage and death in the brain.

2. What is the link between sugar consumption and mental health?
   1. Inflammation
   

Inflammation is a natural process that helps the body protect itself from damage and also aids in the healing process. Regular consumption of refined carbohydrates and added sugars triggers inflammatory responses that can cause inflammation in the brain and lead to depression.

2. Stress responses

After consumption of a high sugar meal, one can become hypoglycemic, a condition characterized by very low blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia occurs when too much insulin is produced following a high sugar meal. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. This, in turn, causes the sugar circulating in the body to drop to levels lower than normal. Hypoglycemia can trigger several stress responses including confusion, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

High insulin levels can also cause an imbalance of hormone estrogen and progesterone. A balance of these two hormones is important in keeping us happy and calm.

3. Obesity and depression

High consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugar is associated with excess body weight and obesity. Overweight and obese people are more likely than people with healthy weight to suffer from depression. Obesity can cause poor self-image, low self-esteem and social isolation, all known contributors to depression.

4. High release of dopamine

Due to the powerful impact sugar has on the mesolimbic dopamine system — the brain’s reward system — sweet foods are highly desirable. Just like drugs, sugar can activate this reward system causing the release of dopamine, a chemical that controls the brain’s reward and pleasure center making you crave more sugar because it makes you feel good. Short term surges in dopamine can be pleasurable, but high concentrations can cause depression and attention deficit disorder.

5. Increases the risk of mental illnesses

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein that promotes the survival of nerve cells and cognitive function. Low levels of this factor are associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. A diet rich in fats and refined sugar is associated with a low brain-derived neurotrophic factor increasing the risk of psychiatric disorders and depression.

6. Starving the Brain

When you consume excessive sugar, a lot of insulin is produced to push this sugar into cells for energy production. The resultant dip in blood sugar can alarm the body and the adrenal glands, making them work overtime.  These glands are charged with producing cortisol (which ultimately promotes insulin resistance or the lack of cellular response to insulin) and fight or flight chemicals that can get your heart racing, and rev up anxiety.  This will make you consume more sugar, which will inflict more suffering on your brain and potentially even putting you at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia, down the line.

7. Disrupting Hormones

When cortisol is in demand for its blood-sugar balancing effects, or because of other psychological or bodily stressors, the body “shunts” the production of progesterone to support further cortisol output. This makes evolutionary sense because if we are under stressful circumstances, preserving progesterone, our “pro-gestational” reproductive hormone, becomes secondary. Insulin can also stimulate the production of DHEA and sex hormones including testosterone, which can drive the pathology we see with the polycystic ovarian syndrome. Sugars have also been demonstrated to reduce liver production of sex hormone-binding globulin, freeing up testosterone and estrogen in ways that may promote symptoms of estrogen dominance including premenstrual moodiness and irritability.

3. What effects does sugar have on mental conditions?

• Depression & Schizophrenia: The rapid fluctuation of blood sugar can worsen mood disorders. Research has shown that high sugar can lead to an increased risk of depression and even worse outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. Interestingly, countries with high sugar intake also have correspondingly high rates of depression.
• Anxiety: Although sugar does not increase your risk of anxiety, it can worsen your symptoms and weaken the body’s ability to respond to stress. By minimizing sugar, you can lessen the severity of anxiety symptoms, improve mood and improve the body’s ability to cope with stress.
• Addiction: There’s a growing amount of evidence of sugar’s addictive potential. Drugs and sugar both flood the brain with the “feel-good” chemical dopamine. In studies, rats have been shown to prefer sugar-water over cocaine. And they also display classic signs of addiction, including tolerance and withdrawal when the sugary products are removed.
• Learning & Memory: Sugar can affect how and how much we learn and remember. After 6 weeks of drinking a fructose solution, much like soda, rats “forgot” how to find their way out of a maze. Insulin resistance from a high sugar diet can damage communications between brain cells involved in learning and memory formation.

4. How do we avoid the pitfalls of sugar?

How easy is it to avoid sugar? We are bombarded with advertisements for convenience foods and tasty treats. But even seemingly healthful foods can have high levels of hidden sugars.

Breakfast cereals, sauces (including ketchup and pasta sauce), flavored milk, wholemeal bread, and many products labeled as low fat, such as fruit yogurts are such culprits.

Smoothies and fruit juices for children were in the spotlight last year in an article published in BMJ Open. It was noted that over 40 percent of products surveyed contained at least 19 grams of sugar – a child’s entire maximum daily amount of free sugars. High sugar levels have also been reported in baby and toddler food products.

Always remember to check the nutritional labels. While the list of ingredients might claim no added sugars, the nutrition facts panel will show the number of carbohydrates and sugars in the product.

What is the evidence that cutting down on sugars will have health benefits? Studies have shown that individuals who experience depression benefit from eating a healthful diet.

The next time a low mood threatens to spoil your day, remember where sugar is hidden in plain sight and look to other tasty treats to lift you out of the doldrums.

5. Do we need to limit our sugar?

Our bodies and minds were not designed to take in such immense amounts of sugar that have become the norm in American society. Thanks to ongoing research, we are more and more aware of the intricate link between diet and wellness. It has a significant role to play in both physical and mental health. Grappling with mental illness is difficult enough without having additional obstacles in your way. Make sure sugar isn’t making your situation harder than it needs to be.

Additionally, choosing foods that are low in refined ingredients, such as sugar, but high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals can relieve the symptoms of depression. Scientists think that the power of these foods lies in promoting good brain health.

References:

1. Everhealth (2012): The Impact of Sugar on Mental Health. Retrieved from http://everhealth.net/patient-education/the-impact-of-sugar-on-mental-health

2. Medical News Today (2017): Sugar and mental health: A toxic combination? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318818.php

3. Kelly Brogan:3 Ways Sugar Is Ruining Your Mental Health. Retrieved from https://kellybroganmd.com/3-ways-sugar-ruining-mental-health/

4. Neuroscience (2017): Sugar is Not So Sweet For Mental Health. Retrieved from https://neurosciencenews.com/sugar-mental-health-7194/

5. Standard Media (2018): The link between sugar and mental illnesses. Retrieved from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001282656/link-between-sugar-and-mental-illnesses

6. NCBI (2014): Nod-like receptor protein 1 inflammasome mediates neuron injury under high glucose. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24014157

It’s no secret that sugar is bad for you. It spoils your teeth, packs on pounds around your belly, and provides zero nutrition. Unfortunately, these are the least of sugars crimes. The biggest reason why you should stop taking sugar is that it is one of the most pro-inflammatory foods. Current Research suggests that chronic, body-wide inflammation is associated with many modern diseases, like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. So what role does a high-sugar diet play in chronic inflammation? In this article, we’ll delve into this and much more….

1. So, what is inflammation?

Inflammation is part of the body’s natural healing process.

Acute inflammation develops rapidly in response to an injury or infection. This type of inflammation tends to be good: It’s your body’s way of trying to fight off further damage while jump-starting healing. It usually lasts a few days to a few weeks.

Chronic inflammation is a long-term inflammation that occurs over months or years. It has several causes, including unhealthy lifestyle factors like diet. Over time, chronic inflammation can increase your risk of serious diseases.

Some foods, like sugar, can also cause inflammation in the body, which is normal. However, eating too many inflammatory foods may cause chronic low-grade inflammation. This can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and

2. Sugar and inflammation

People who take diets rich in refined sugar may be increasing their risk of chronic inflammation. Research suggests that when people eat and drink less sugar, inflammatory markers in their blood decrease.

A high sugar diet can have harmful effects on health, such as increasing the risk of chronic diseases, weight gain, and tooth decay. It can also result in chronic inflammation, where the body’s immune system activates, which results in damage to healthy cells.

Inflammation resulting from lifestyle factors, such as obesity, smoking, and a sedentary existence can contribute to a range of diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.

3. Is too much-added sugar linked to inflammation?

A lot of research has been carried out on how sugar causes inflammation.  Diets high in added sugar are thought to signal the production of pro-inflammatory molecules in the body. Over time, that can create an environment of chronic, low-grade inflammation and lead to trouble in the future. Sugar also stimulates the production of free fatty acids in the liver. When the body digests these free fatty acids, the resulting compounds can trigger inflammatory processes.

Different kinds of sugar may contribute more or less to inflammation. For instance, some research has suggested that fructose may cause more inflammation than glucose. However, a systematic review found no difference in the inflammation from fructose and glucose, so more research is needed.

Also, the researchers saw no differences in inflammatory factors between the groups that consumed high fructose corn syrup vs. sucrose. The sample sizes were small, and the quality of the studies was low, so more research is necessary to confirm these findings.

Below are some of the common signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation:

• depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
• body pain
• constant fatigue and insomnia
• constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, and other digestive issues
• weight gain
• frequent infections

People with chronic inflammation may have an increased risk of diabetes, depression, and dementia.

Chronic inflammation in older adults may also have links with a higher risk of death. Doctors are working on how to reduce chronic inflammation.

4. How does added sugar affects your body?

When you consume excess added sugar and refined carbohydrates there will be a few changes in your body, which help explain why a diet high in sugar can lead to chronic, low-grade inflammation.

• Excess production of AGEs: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are harmful compounds that form when protein or fat combine with sugar in the bloodstream. Too many AGEs lead to oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Increased gut permeability: Bacteria, toxins and undigested food particles can more easily move out of the gut and into the bloodstream, potentially leading to inflammation.
• Higher “bad” LDL cholesterol: Excess LDL cholesterol has been associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation.
• Weight gain: A diet rich in added sugar and refined carbohydrates can lead to weight gain. Excess body fat has been linked to inflammation, partly due to insulin resistance.

It is important to note that inflammation is unlikely to be caused by sugar alone. Other factors like stress, medication, smoking, and excess fat intake can also lead to inflammation.

5. Is natural sugar linked to inflammation?

It’s important to note that there is a difference between added sugar and natural sugar. Added sugar is removed from its original source and added to foods and drinks to serve as a sweetener or increase shelf life.

Added sugar is found mostly in processed foods and drinks, though table sugar is also considered an added sugar. Other common forms include high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), sucrose, fructose, glucose, and corn sugar.

Among US adults, around 13% of total calories come from added sugar. This is high, considering that government guidelines advise that no more than 5% to 15% of calories should come from both solid fats and added sugar.

Natural sugar has not been linked to inflammation. In fact, many foods containing natural sugars, such as fruits and vegetables, maybe anti-inflammatory. Natural sugars include those naturally occurring in foods. Examples include fructose in fruit and lactose in milk and dairy products.

Consuming natural sugars should not be any cause for concern. That’s because they act very differently than added sugar when consumed and digested in the body.

Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Inflammation

It is important to be aware of what we can do to minimize the inflammation in our bodies. Here are some simple tips to help reduce inflammation:

• Adopt a low glycemic diet: High sugar intake links to chronic inflammation, stroke risk, coronary heart disease risk, and type 2 diabetes risk. Soda, refined carbohydrates, and high fructose corn syrup are foods that can promote inflammation.
• Read food labels: If you are unsure about certain products, get into the habit of reading food labels. Look out for ingredients like sucrose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, maltose, and dextrose.
• Choose whole-grain carbs: These include oats, whole-grain pasta, brown rice, quinoa, and barley. They have lots of fiber and antioxidants, which can help control blood sugar and protect against inflammation.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which can protect against and reduce inflammation in the body.
• Eat lots of antioxidant-rich foods: Fill your plate with foods rich in antioxidants, which naturally help counteract inflammation. These include nuts, seeds, avocados, oily fish and olive oil.
• Keep active: Regular physical activity, including both aerobic and resistance exercise, can help protect against weight gain and inflammation.
• Manage stress levels: Learning to manage stress levels through relaxation techniques and even exercise can help reduce inflammation.
• Add curcumin to food: A component in turmeric called curcumin improves several inflammatory diseases.
• Get enough fiber: Researchers have shown an association between high fiber diets and lower inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha and interleukin-6.
• Drink green and black teas: Scientists have associated compounds found in green and black teas with lower C-reactive protein in the blood.
• Eat more nuts: Almonds and other nuts may help to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are pro-inflammatory states. Diabetes is a chronic inflammatory disease.
• Add fish oil to the diet: Omega-3 fatty acids positively affect lower levels of inflammatory factors in the blood, such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and TNF-alpha.

6. Does sugar cause inflammation?

Inflammation is a critical component of metabolic syndrome. However, chronic low-grade inflammation leads to diseases like type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, non- alcoholic liver diseases, and gout. Research suggests that eating lots of sugar can lead to chronic inflammation

In the United States, the amount of high fructose corn syrup people consume increased from 1978 to 1998 and then stabilized according to the  Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys. With greater awareness of the risks of added sugar, sugar intake in the U.S. has been declining. Nonetheless, people are still consuming too much sugar.

There are several things you can do to help fight inflammation, including exercising regularly and effectively managing your stress levels. Furthermore, cut down on processed foods and drinks, choose whole foods, and limit your intake of added sugar and refined carbohydrates.

References

1. Medical News Today (2017): Everything you need to know about inflammation. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248423.php

2. Healthline (2017): Does Sugar Cause Inflammation in the Body? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sugar-and-inflammation

3. Medical News Today (2019): Does sugar cause inflammation in the body? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326386.php

4. Mindbodygreene (2019): The Real Reason You Should Quit Sugar + How To Cut It Out Of Your Life For Good. Retrieved from https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24763/the-real-reason-you-should-quit-sugar-how-to-cut-it-out-of-your-life-for-good.html

5. NCBI (2014): Chronic inflammatory disorders and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and stroke: a population-based cohort study. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24970784

7. NCBI (2019): Chronic Inflammation. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
8. Greatist (2019): Does Sugar Actually Cause Inflammation? Retrieved from https://greatist.com/health/sugar-and-inflammation

The diabetes state of affairs has taken the world by storm. With easy to access processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle, obesity has become all too common. As in many chronic diseases, people are always looking for a cure. Though many diabetics are often under treatment, it is well understood that conventional medicine only manages the diabetic condition but does not offer any hope for reversal or a cure. Is the carnivore diet the missing piece in this puzzle?  How can adapting the carnivore diet start reversing the effects of this disease? In this article, we will look at the possibilities of these statements and shed some light on how the carnivore diet can actually help.

1. What about the carnivore diet that would make it ideal for reversing Type 2 Diabetes?

The carnivore diet is very effective in achieving two common aims of diabetes control, lowering blood glucose levels and reducing weight.

The all-meat diet, also known as the carnivore diet, is exactly what its name suggests: a diet that consists of 100% of meat. Think of the keto diet without any salads or low carb vegetables.

The carnivore diet has been claimed to have a variety of benefits including:

• lower blood pressure
• improved insulin sensitivity
• reduced dependency on medication
• reduction in weight
• improvements in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, without adding to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol
• a drop in insulin

Proponents of the diet tout its ability to aid in weight loss, cure autoimmune diseases, decrease digestive issues, and improve heart health.

The idea with this diet is to stay away from carbohydrate-rich foods that could spike insulin levels. Typically, carbohydrates are totally eliminated from a carnivore diet.

The carnivore diet should consist of the following types of food:

• Meats: Fatty meats are acceptable, but should be eaten in moderation to be mindful of heart health. Also, be mindful of consuming too much protein. Combining a high level of protein with low levels of carbohydrates may cause the liver to convert the protein into glucose. This would raise blood sugar levels.
• Eggs: Eggs are low in carbohydrates, as well as being an excellent source of protein.
• Fish: This is a good source of protein.
• Poultry: Also a good source of protein
• Organ parts: Apart from giving nutrition, they also have nutrients important for the body
• Cheese: Not everyone on a carnivore diet takes cheese but it can be included.

There has been anecdotal evidence that people with diabetes have been able to stabilize their blood sugar using this diet. From a biochemistry standpoint, if you’re eating only meat, you’re largely not taking in glucose, so your blood glucose levels are likely to be the table.

2. What are the effects of Carbohydrates on a diabetic?

Foods containing carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, pasta, milk, and fruit, are the main fuel source for many bodily processes. The body uses insulin to help bring glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.

Type 2 Diabetes is a disease of insulin resistance, people suffering from this condition produce too much insulin and their receptors don’t work. This disrupts the body’s ability to use carbohydrates effectively and, in turn, causes high blood sugar levels.

When a person with Type 2 Diabetes eats a high-carb meal, this can lead to a spike in blood glucose.

Because the carnivore diet totally eliminates carbohydrates, glucose spikes are avoided. In fact, the body starts using the stored up fat for energy. This leads to weight loss and stable sugars.

In a nutshell, the carnivore diet might:

• reduce the risk of diabetes in people who do not yet have it
• improve glycemic control in people with diabetes
• help people to lose excess weight

3. What impact would the carnivore diet have on a diabetics’ medication?

The carnivore diet may help reduce blood sugar levels. As such, some people with type 2 diabetes who start this diet may be able to reduce their need for medication. One should have their blood glucose levels constantly monitored so as to adjust medication accordingly.

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels fall to 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less.

4. What is the impact of a carnivore diet on weight loss?

People on a carnivore diet tend to lose weight because:

• They totally eliminate carbohydrates and sugar, which are converted to fat very readily.
• Their bodies start burning fat for energy. Naturally, this leads to reduced weight.

Diabetes has been linked to obesity and one of the factors that help in the prevention and management of this disease is keeping one’s weight within their BMI. As such, this aspect of the carnivore diet can go a long way in managing, and even reversing Type 2 Diabetes.

Does the Carnivore dirt have side effects?

The Carnivore diet may be a viable glucose management option for some people with type 2 diabetes. However, as it involves switching to a different source of energy, it can lead to some adverse effects.

Short-term side effects

The dietary change might cause symptoms that resemble withdrawal from a substance, such as caffeine.

These symptoms may include:

• keto-flu, a short-term group of symptoms that resemble those of flu
• noticeable changes in bowel habits, such as a running stomach
• uncomfortable leg cramps
• a noticeable loss of energy
• mental fogginess
• frequent urination
• headaches
• loss of salts

In most instances, the side effects are temporary. People often experience no long-term health problems.

5. Are there any long-term side effects?

Measuring blood sugar looks at the short-term, immediate effect of food. But over time, eating a diet of mostly or only meat can have long-term health consequences.

Long-term effects might include the development of kidney stones and an increased risk of bone fractures due to acidosis.

Other complications include the risk of dyslipidemia and a possible increase in hypoglycemic episodes.

Some animal studies have suggested that, since a low-carb diet often involves additional fat, there might be a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), due to a buildup of fats in the arteries. People with diabetes already have an increased risk of CVD.

There is a lack of evidence about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the carnivore diet, and researchers have called for more primary studies and more evidence before recommending this diet.

6. Are there alternatives to this diet?

A doctor may recommend a specific meal plan rather than suggesting a diet. The carnivore diet is one of many eating plans that might help people manage their weight.

However, a majority of health professionals do not recommend the carnivore diet for managing diabetes. There are many other nutrient-dense diets available that aim to balance carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, control body weight, and keep blood sugar within a healthful range.

7. What are the Criticisms of this diet?

Critics of the carnivore diet focus on the adverse effects, including the possibility of kidney damage, CVD, and hypoglycemic episodes.

Maintaining this type of diet can also be difficult on a long-term basis, as it is highly restrictive.

This may lead to weight gain later on, particularly if an individual starts to eat unbalanced levels of carbohydrates once they switch back to a regular diet.

Critics also note that there is no evidence to support the long-term benefits of the carnivore diet.

8. So, is it advisable for a diabetic to go on a carnivore diet?

Unlike the other diets, the carnivore diet is easy to track and maintain because it involves eating all kinds of meat in any quantities. It is thus easier to follow and much harder to fall off the wagon than being on diets such as the keto diet and others that need careful monitoring and measuring in some.

Much remains to be discovered about how this way of eating impacts our health, but it’s certainly worth a try if you’re struggling with autoimmune diseases, obesity, diabetes or psychiatric issues. Going on a carnivore diet as a short-term experiment is reasonable and safe, albeit socially challenging.

Therefore, at this point in time, without scientific studies to back the safety of this diet, and without substantial anecdotal evidence about long-term success, there isn’t really any way to say for certain if the all-meat diet is good for people with diabetes. One thing it won’t do, however, raises blood sugar levels. And that’s a good thing!

References:

1. A sweet life (2018): Is the All Meat Diet Good for People With Diabetes? Retrieved from https://asweetlife.org/is-the-all-meat-diet-good-for-people-with-diabetes/

2. Nutrita (2019): The ultimate guide to the carnivore diet. Retrieved from https://nutrita.app/guide-to-the-carnivore-diet/

3. Healthline (2019): All Meat, All the Time: Should People with Diabetes Try the Carnivore Diet? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/carnivore-diet-for-diabetes#1

4. NCBI (2017): Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452247/