Summary: The prevalence of obesity in children and young adults has risen in the US and even globally. It will have long-term consequences like an increase in diabetes, hypertension, and other related disorders. It has been an ongoing trend for the last few decades. Even worse, a new study by CDC indicates that covid-19 doubled the rate of weight gain in children. Weight gain has been highest among children aged 5 to 11 years. Moreover, these changes happened in a very short time. If steps are not taken to reduce obesity in children, it will have long-term consequences that would be felt even decades after the pandemic is over.
Keywords: obesity in children, weight gain, covid-19 pandemic
Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, arthritis, respiratory disorders are a huge burden for healthcare in the US. Early studies show that grounds for these health issues are laid down in wrong lifestyle choices in childhood. At present, close to 20% of children in the US are living with obesity1.
But that is not all. Data clearly shows that even before the covid-19 epidemic, the rate of obesity was continually rising among children aged 2 to 19 years2. Obesity has various impacts on the physical and mental health of children. Though diseases like diabetes or heart disorder occur much later in life, psychological issues related to obesity start much earlier3.
In 2020, the covid-19 pandemic caused a considerable change in the lifestyle of young and old. It resulted in many restrictions. It meant that children did not go out as often and were physically less active. It also meant consuming more calories. Increased use of gadgets, computer gaming also rose considerably.
One of the largest studies has been published by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), indicating a sharp rise in obesity amount children. As per the report, the rate of weight gain doubled in less than nine-months4.
Impact of covid-19 pandemics on obesity in children
The study used the medical record data of 432,302 children aged 2 to 19 years to see how pandemic affected their body weight or BMI. BMI is a more accurate way to understand obesity as it shows weight relative to height.
The study found that almost all children gained weight, except a small number who were underweight. Moreover, the study found that gain in body weight was more remarkable in younger children. Thus, preschool and school-aged children were affected more than adolescents.
It is evident why these young adults were more affected than adolescents. It appears to be the result of closed childcare centers and schools. As a result, most children did not engage in much physical activity at home.
And they spent more time in front of screens.
Some data is truly alarming, like 5.3 times increase in proportions of weight gain. Thus, obesity in 2-19 years rose from 19.3% in August 2019 to 22.4% in August 2020. It is worth noticing that such a severe increase occurred in just about 6-months of the pandemic. The study found that the rate of weight gain was 6.1 and 7.6 pounds, compared to 2.7 pounds in those with a healthy weight. This study also found the greatest increase in body weight among children aged 6-11, with 2.5 times greater change than the pre-pandemic rate4.
These findings should raise the alarm for all the caretakers. Since such an increase in weight gain may have severe long-term health consequences. It may cause a considerable increase in type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and depression in this population group. Needless to say, that the impact of this pandemic will be felt even after decades.
Simple measures may help reverse these health issues
Thus, most professional organizations recommend the need for raising awareness. There are many ways in which this weight gain can be countered. It is vital to encourage children to do more physical exercise, spendmore time in the sun, and start moving.
It may also mean making dietary changes, reducing total calorie intake, less frequent snacking, or switching to healthy snacks. It is also vital to reduce portion sizes. Limiting the use of processed foods is an absolute must.
Finally, limiting screen time may also help. So many children these days are tied to gadgets, screens. Thus, a need to limit the time children are viewing TV, playing on gaming consoles.
References
1. Childhood Obesity Facts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. Published April 5, 2021. Accessed October 8, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
2. Skinner AC, Ravanbakht SN, Skelton JA, Perrin EM, Armstrong SC. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity in US Children, 1999–2016. Pediatrics. 2018;141(3). doi:10.1542/peds.2017-3459
3. G V, Mr L, M M, et al. [Health consequences of obesity in children and adolescents]. Minerva Pediatr. 2014;66(5):381-414.
4. Lange SJ. Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2–19 Years — the United States, 2018–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7037a3
Important Points:
- Weight Loss
- Benefits
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Pain
- Cognitive function
What are the health benefits of losing weight?
1. It will improve your cognitive function
Losing weight is not just a physical change; it can also affect the way a person thinks. According to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, intentional weight loss improves verbal memory, verbal fluency, executive function, and global cognition. If you feel that you need improvements in this department, losing weight would give you a boost.
2. It helps with your mood
Losing weight through exercise not only makes you healthier it can also make you happier. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, exercise can help with mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem.
3. It can improve your sex life.
In a study published in the journal Obesity, it was shown that those who suffer from obesity are more prone to erectile dysfunction. It has also been reported that the quality of sex in the obese is lower compared to people without a weight problem, so with regular exercise and weight loss, penile function will improve, and you can restore a satisfying sex life.
4. It can increase reproductive functioning.
Losing weight can help improve fertility in women especially those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, while in men, weight loss helps improve semen health increasing the chances of reproduction.
5. You sweat less
Losing weight through losing body fat, which acts as a natural insulator, will keep you feeling cooler and decrease the tendency to sweat.
6. Your blood pressure will become lower
As little as a loss of ten pounds can lower a person’s blood pressure back to normal. The effect is so great that weight loss is recommended along with medication in treating hypertension.
7. It strengthens the heart
Losing weight makes it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout the body while exercising strengthens your heart muscles. Losing weight is generally healthier for your cardiovascular health.
8. It prevents Type 2 Diabetes
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight delays the onset of type 2 diabetes.
9. It helps prevents cancer
Obesity is a risk factor to the many forms of cancer from breast to colorectal cancer. Losing weight eliminates this risk factor thereby reducing the risk of you developing cancer.
10. It is good for the kidneys.
Because losing weight can reduce high blood pressure, it prevents renal damage and kidney diseases. Add to that the fact that losing weight prevents diabetes, a common culprit for kidney failure, and then you have two great perks of losing weight.
11. It prevents pancreatitis and pancreatic stones.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk for pancreatitis and gallstones both of which are surgical risks and can cause a person a lot of pain. By losing weight you decrease the likelihood of stone formation and ensure your pancreas is in tip-top shape.
12. Your skin will be clearer
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease closely associated with obesity. Maintaining a normal weight has been shown to lessen psoriasis severity and the incidence of flare-ups. Aside from psoriasis, people who are obese are generally more prone to skin problems compared to those with normal weight.
13. It improves oral health
Losing weight has been correlated to reducing inflammatory gum conditions thereby improving oral health.
14. It helps with body pain
By being overweight you add extra work on your joints which leads to joint pain and inflammation. By reducing your weight you lessen the burden on your knees and back which helps alleviate joint pain.
15. It improves your nail health
According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, obesity has been strongly linked to Iron deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can wreak havoc on your nail health causing them to be brittle and fragile.
Cognitive Effects of Intentional Weight Loss in Elderly Obese Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/3/1104/2804876
Exercise for Mental Health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470658/
Sexual Functioning and Obesity: A Review
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2012.104
Sexual Quality of Life Lower for the Obese
https://corporate.dukehealth.org/NEWS-LISTING/SEXUAL-QUALITY-LIFE-LOWER-OBESE
Weight loss before fertility treatment may improve pregnancy odds for women with PCOS
Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/hbp_low.pdf
Health Risks of Being Overweight
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/health-risks-overweight
Obesity and Cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/ABOUT-CANCER/CAUSES-PREVENTION/RISK/OBESITY/OBESITY-FACT-SHEET
Obesity and pancreatitis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28719397
Psoriasis and Obesity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28226326
Skin problems in people with obesity
https://journals.rcni.com/DOI/ABS/10.7748/NS2004.05.18.35.38.C3609
Obesity and oral health–is there an association?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23213928
Obesity as an Emerging Risk Factor for Iron Deficiency
Important Points:
- Insulin price
- Diabetes
- Ration
Is there a solution to rising insulin prices?
The subject of the rising cost of insulin has been a contentious topic of debates about policies in the eyes of the public; however, the human struggle of patients trying to cope has been given less exposure. Patient struggles include hospitalization and even the death of those who tried rationing their insulin supply to make it last longer.
Aside from rationing, some patients resulted to decreasing their carbohydrate intake just to reduce their insulin dose, while others cut cost by reusing insulin needles and blood glucose test strips, all the risk of inaccurate measurements and infection.
Despite this alarming news, the exact number of people who died or were harmed because of these rationing practices is not known most likely because patients and family members are embarrassed about reporting.
Because of these difficulties, grassroots advocacies were formed including the campaign hashtag #Insulin4all under the support of UK nonprofits T1 and Pendsey Trust. Most of the supporters within #Insulin4all are very critical of those involved in making policies especially politicians. They go as far as accusing the pharmaceutical industry of making diabetics an underclass.
The alleged reason for the skyrocketing prices of insulin has been attributed to the monopoly of three companies with a choke hold on setting the price for insulin.
The theory behind preventing deaths from rationing is that having a more open communication between the patients and the clinician is the key. Many times, this conversation is limited due to patient’s feelings of failure, of not being seen as independent, of embarrassment about not being able to afford their own medication.
One foreseen consequence of the rising prices is the desire to go back to using older generation human insulins called NPH and Regular. This is inconvenient for the patient since it requires a syringe and a needle, and unlike modern prefilled doses that comes in pens, could result in the patient not getting the right dose or figuring out the right dosing schedule.
Given the problem stated above, the solution may lie in making laws. Some experts are a fan of transparent pricing in which drug companies are required to reveal detailed information on how prices for insulin are determined. Associations like the American Medical Association have strongly urged the US Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to strictly monitor insulin pricing and to enforce actions when possible.
It is important to note that the brands Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly promised means and ways to remain affordable to the patients, but relying on corporate promises may not be the best solution to this serious problem either.
Diabetes Patients Beg, Ration Insulin in Deepening Crisis
Full-fat dairy may protect against obesity. A 2014 study concluded: “Participants in the highest tertile of whole-fat dairy intakes (milk, cheese, yogurt) had significantly lower odds for being obese.”
Important Points:
- whole grains
- refined grains
- Western dietary pattern
- diabetes
- obesity
Refined Grains: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Flour is all around us and a temptation at every meal. Breakfast toast, bagels, cereal, and pancakes fill our tables. Lunch revolves around sandwiches, wraps, pasta and pizza. Refined grains have been vilified as one of the leadings causes of ill health. Is there any truth to this? Should we toss all refined grain products off our tables? We will have an in-depth look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of refined flour to give you a better understanding of the goodies on your plate.
What are Refined Grains?
Refined grain is the term used to refer to grains that are not whole, because they are missing one or more of their three key parts (bran, germ, or endosperm). White flour and white rice are refined grains, for instance, because both have had their bran and germ removed, leaving only the endosperm. Refining a grain removes about a quarter of the protein in a grain and half to two thirds or more of a score of nutrients, leaving the grain a mere shadow of its original self.
Further refining includes mixing, bleaching, and brominating; additionally, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron are often added back in to nutritionally enrich the product. Because the added nutrients represent a fraction of the nutrients removed, refined grains are considered nutritionally inferior to whole grains. However, for some grains the removal of fiber coupled with fine grinding results in a slightly higher availability of grain energy for use by the body.
Grain refining led to disastrous and widespread nutritional problems, like the deficiency diseases pelagra and beri-beri. In response, many governments recommended or required that refined grains be “enriched.”
The Good
The federal government’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that half your daily grain intake be from high-fiber whole-grain sources, foods like brown rice, oatmeal and whole-wheat bread. Nutritionists often exhort people to choose whole grains over refined ones whenever they can.
But according to one leading nutrition researcher, Julie Miller Jones, a professor emeritus at St. Catherine University, we shouldn’t be so eager to throw out refined grains altogether. Refined grains do have some benefits — namely, nutrients added to refined flours.
Since folic acid was added to bread, cereal and other grains in 1999, the rate of newborns with neural tube defects — a known consequence of folic acid deficiency — has decreased 46%. Additionally, important nutrients like copper and iron are more easily absorbed when eaten with refined grains. Whole grains are healthy because they’re so high in fiber, which Americans don’t get enough of, but that fiber also fast-tracks food through the digestive system, absorbing nutrients along the way.
The Bad
As our national appetite for flour has inched up, so has the incidence of diet-related ills, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Coincidence? Many nutrition experts don’t think so. When they weigh the evidence linking food choices and disease, they see the white, dusty fingerprints of flour everywhere.
Flour started out as an ingenious fix to a vexing problem. Grass seeds were plentiful, but the tough outer shell (the husk) made the seeds difficult to chew and digest. Early humans outsmarted the seeds by grinding them between stones, crushing the outer layers to get at the goodness inside. The result — a coarse powder — was the first whole-grain flour.
The downside was spoilage. Crushing the germ released its oils, which quickly turned rancid when exposed to air. With the advent of industrial milling in the late 1800s, machines began filtering out the germ and pulverized the remaining endosperm into a fine, white powder that lasted on the shelf for months. And so all-purpose white flour was born — along with a host of health problems.
Beneath their rigid architecture, whole-kernel grains conceal an array of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber. But when machines pulverize kernels into flour, even whole-grain flour, what’s left behind is a starchy powder capable of wreaking havoc on the body.
The Ugly
Overconsuming flour can lead to a number of problems in the body, including:
- Food Allergies/Intolerances. Gluten intolerance is a term that has become synonymous with the current generation. Wheat is one of the biggest dietary triggers of food allergies and intolerances. While the exact reason is unclear, many experts blame the higher gluten content of modern wheat varieties
- Blood-Sugar Spikes. The difference between a whole-kernel grain and a processed grain all boils down to the glycemic index, which is how quickly the body turns food into fuel, or glucose. Foods made with wheat flour are particularly damaging. A carbohydrate in wheat, called amylopectin A, is more easily converted to blood sugar than just about any other carbohydrate. Two slices of bread made with whole-wheat flour raise blood sugar higher than six teaspoons of table sugar and higher than many candy bars.
- Food Cravings. One of the biggest changes in modern wheat is that it contains a modified form of gliadin, a protein found in wheat gluten. Gliadin releases a feel-good effect in the brain by morphing into a substance that crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds onto the brain’s opiate receptors and makes you want to eat more.
- Caloric Overload. A refined grain packs more calories than a whole-kernel grain because it is more concentrated, and foods that are high in grains also tend to be high in sugar and industrialized fats. These foods contribute largely to obesity and the diabetes epidemic.
- Metabolic Slowdown. Research shows that the body may shift nutrients into fat storage and away from muscle burning in the presence of high-glycemic-index foods. In 2004, Ludwig and his colleagues at Harvard conducted a study, published in the journal Lancet, in which they fed rats diets with identical nutrients, except for the type of starch. By the end of the study, rats in both groups weighed roughly the same, but those eating a high-glycemic diet had 71 percent more fat than the low-glycemic-index group.
- Inflammation. A diet high in grains stokes inflammation. When blood sugar spikes, glucose builds up in the blood significantly. When glucose drifts in the blood, it attaches itself to nearby proteins resulting in a chemical reaction called glycation, a pro-inflammatory process that plays a role in a host of inflammatory diseases.
- GI Disorders. Studies show that the lectins in grains inflame the lining of the gut and create fissures between cells. Also, when whole-kernel grains are refined, 80 percent of the fiber is lost, and gut health suffers. Additionally, fiber helps sweep the gut of debris and supports the body’s critically important elimination and detoxification processes, which also play a role in keeping high cholesterol and inflammation at bay.
- Acid-Alkaline Imbalance. The body has an elaborate system of checks and balances to keep its pH level at a steady 7.4. A diet high in acidic foods, such as grains, forces the body to pull calcium from the bones to keep things on an even keel. When researchers looked at how the diets of more than 500 women affected their bone density, they found that a diet high in refined grains, among other nutrient-poor foods, was linked to bone loss. A highly acidic diet also chips away at our cellular vitality and immunity in ways that can make us vulnerable to chronic disease. Grains are the only plant foods that generate acidic byproducts. Wheat, in particular, is among the most potent sources of sulfuric acid, a powerful substance that quickly overcomes the neutralizing effects of alkaline bases.
The Bottom Line….
Grains are not essential, and there is no nutrient in there that you can’t get from other foods.
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.
The best way to reverse diabetes is to not 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.
Important Points:
- Diabetes
- Active
- Inactivity
- Health benefits
How much inactivity can trigger diabetes symptoms?
One of the core risk factors for diabetes and general unhealthiness is sticking to a sedentary lifestyle. Not moving around or having no physical activity not only promotes muscular decline and weakness of the heart, it can also lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
According to a study published in The Journals of Gerontology, two weeks of inactivity in pre-diabetic individuals was enough to trigger symptoms of diabetes. Researchers asked the study participants to limit their daily steps to no more 1000 steps per day using a pedometer, and after two weeks’ worth of inactivity, the symptoms of diabetes became apparent, including an increase blood sugar levels, an increase in the onset of insulin resistance, reduction in skeletal muscle mass, and hastening of the onset of diabetes itself. Researchers expected these results but what shocked them the most was how much harder reversing the symptoms was. Even more alarming is the fact that it takes two weeks of normal activity to restore the body into its prediabetic symptoms state.
The silver lining we can get from this study is knowing the importance of staying active. If you want a more serious incentive to keep moving, keep in mind that activity directly prevents diabetes as well as producing overall health benefits. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight as it helps delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, and keeping active will aid in losing that body weight, thus furthering the relationship between activity and diabetes prevention. Keeping yourself active – even just 40 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 3 to 4 times a week – will reduce your blood pressure and help regulate your cholesterol level.
Sedentary lifestyle and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12733740
Failed Recovery of Glycemic Control and Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis With 2 wk of Physical Inactivity in Overweight, Prediabetic Older Adults
Health Risks of Being Overweight
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/health-risks-overweight
American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults
Important Points:
- Intermittent Fasting
- Benefits
- Diabetes
How can intermittent fasting help with your health?
Intermittent fasting may be a new concept for some, but it’s gaining a lot of popularity especially because of its touted health benefits. Intermittent fasting is not a diet in a classical sense since it does not limit the amount of food or restrict the type of foods eaten. Instead, it changes the time in which a person eats, most often practiced by fasting the whole day and only eating at a specified time once a day.
A research article published on Annual Review of Nutrition states that the benefits of intermittent fasting include prevention of obesity and its related conditions including diabetes and cancer. Another study in mice found that mice who fasted lived healthier and longer compared to mice that had free access to food. One study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that people who fasted showed marked improvements on disease indicators. Their fasting blood sugar, which is an indicator of diabetes risk, and their cholesterol and triglyceride levels all improved. It’s notable that participant’s lost abdominal fat without losing muscle mass.
How exactly does fasting help our body stay healthy such that we can reap these benefits? The current theory is when a person fasts, the body uses stored fat as a primary source of energy instead of using glucose. This is why those who fast showed a marked reduction in body fat compared to those who didn’t.
It is important to understand that despite having these benefits, not everyone should practice intermittent fasting. Those already in top health would not see as much benefit from fasting, and those who already have diabetes will struggle to achieve these benefits.
If you want to try out intermittent fasting, be safe and get help with your diet.
Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting
https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634
Daily Fasting Improves Health and Survival in Male Mice Independent of Diet Composition and Calories
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413118305126?dgcid=rss_sd_all
Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease
Important Points:
- Diabetes
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fatigue
- Multiple Sclerosis
Gut Bacteria’s Effect on Brain Health
Our brain is one of the most complex living structures know to man. Until recently, we have viewed the brain as sole and central to our bodies function, but today there is new information telling us that the brain might not be working on its own. We would never typically associate the brain’s complicated functions with the system responsible for processing our food, but there is a strong connection. Our brain function is heavily influenced by our gut, specifically by our gut bacteria.
Through science, we have determined that there is good and bad microbiota within our digestive system. Its careful balance is important in our nutrition and ultimately our survival. According to the study done by the European Academy of Neurology, the function of those bacteria may not be limited to nutrition alone. They have determined that this microbiota is capable of eliciting bravery and even triggering the disease process for multiple sclerosis. The research points out those mice that have a germ-free intestinal environment experience a state of relaxation, relatively free from anxiety, producing an effect of increased bravery. It was also shown that when the gut is maintained germ-free, there is an associated increased in the formation of the brain’s protective structure in the form of myelination. Lack of myelination or damage to the myelin sheath is one of the pathologic processes behind Multiple Sclerosis.
The strong link between the gut and the brain does not end there. A research finding published by the University of Illinois shows that gut microbiota can alter the body’s endocrine function. In the study, it was found out that black males with Type 2 Diabetes have significantly lower number of good bacteria and more of the bad ones.
Another recent study confirms the importance of a healthy microbiota to healthy rest and was published by Cornell University. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a condition in which normal activity causes extreme weakness which is not alleviated by rest, has stumped doctors for decades. The findings revealed that those with the condition have a distinct inflammation found in the gut. Upon further analysis, it was found out that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have intestinal bacteria that can trigger the immune response causing the debilitating condition.
Recent studies all point out the significance of the gastrointestinal system in neurologic, endocrine, and inflammatory diseases. Perhaps a better approach is to start exploring the gut for the culprits first instead on focusing on the affected organ. It also opens up the playing field to new classes of drugs that can alter the microbiota instead of targeting the brain itself.
European Academy of Neurology. (2016, May 29). Connections between gut microbiota and the brain. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 5, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160529174445.htm
University of Illinois at Chicago. (2015, March 6). Gut bacteria may contribute to diabetes in black males. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 5, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150306102752.htm
Cornell University. (2016, June 27). Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 5, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627160939.htm
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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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/
- Nutrita (2019): The ultimate guide to the carnivore diet. Retrieved from https://nutrita.app/guide-to-the-carnivore-diet/
- 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
- 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/