Beta cells in the pancreas create insulin in response to sugar obtained from food. When beta cells start to function less effectively, they produce less insulin, leading ultimately to diabetes. The USC team found that about 40 percent of the sweets consumed by the children in this study came from sugary drinks such as soda or sweetened juices. (See: Fat Land by G. Critser).
If you compare the population of non-diabetics to diabetics, the average life span is 10 years less. There are many complications that occur with diabetes. They include coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, blindness, kidney disease and loss of sensation in the hands and feet.
Older people may have something to worry about also. The leading theory about the cause of Alzheimer's disease implicates insulin. Insulin concentrations in the brain drop significantly in early Alzheimer's and continue to fall as the disease worsens, suggesting that Alzheimer's disease may be Type 3 diabetes. Researchers found that insulin is not just produced in the pancreas, but also in the brain. If you wish to prevent diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, the prudent thing to do is to read the label of food items and beverages before you buy them at the store. If you see High Fructose Corn Syrup – Don't Buy It!
If you see sugars don’t use it! One tip is to try an ethnic grocery store – such as an Asian or Latino food store, if you have trouble finding HFCS free foods that you like. The American food industry doesn't give two "hoots" about your health. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, "Immediate action is needed to address this problem on a societal level. The time for blaming the victim, for putting the entire responsibility of the obesity epidemic on a gluttonous population is over. The science is clear, and we have the means to save lives and millions in health care dollars." Question of the decade: Why doesn't the FDA approve stevia as a sweetener? Stevia accounts for over 40% of the sweetener market in Japan and is commonly used in South America. Only 24 percent of Japanese aged 15 and older is believed to be overweight, compared to over 65 percent of adults in the United States.
According to Dr. William Dietz of the CDC (Center for Disease Control), in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, "Consumption of excess calories can produce weight gain. The high fructose content of sugar-sweetened beverages may promote hepatic lipogenesis, and the reduced insulinogenic response may decrease the inhibitory effects of these sugar-sweetened beverages on food intake. In addition, significant weight gain may occur when carbohydrates are consumed as liquids rather than as solids."
Soft drinking teens pile on pounds and obesity — and so do adults — best not to kid ourselves!
This is a real picture of a diabetic child…
According to a study released March 6, 2007, the number of overweight children is on the rise worldwide and by the end of the decade the number of overweight children will have caused a strain on our health system as they age. It is estimated that just under half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, up from about 28%. In Europe, about 38% of the children will be overweight, compared to 25% currently. Researchers did analyze reports from 1980 to 2005 as well as World Health Organization data. They found data for trends over time covering school-age populations in 25 countries and preschool-age children in 42 countries. In the drinks study, a team at Boston's Children's Hospital monitored the weight of 103 teenagers, putting half of them on unsweetened or artificially-sweetened drinks and letting the other half continue to consume sugary drinks. They concluded that a single 330ml can a day of sweetened drinks could lead teens to put on 1 pound every three or four weeks. Diabetes Risk Factors
- Are you overweight?
- Do you drink soft drinks or juices with High Fructose Corn Syrup everyday?
- Do you have high cholesterol?
- Do you spend too much time online or watching TV and don't exercise enough?
- Do you have relatives with diabetes?
- Do you have heart disease?
- Do you smoke?
- Are you over 55?
- Are you over 45 and have high blood pressure?
- Are you over 35 and is Asian, Black, Latino or Native American?
As a footnote, a recent Italian study suggests Aspartame (NutraSweet) causes cancer in rats at levels currently approved for humans.
The Dangers of Corn Oil
A study at the San Francisco VA Medical Center demonstrates that omega-6 fatty acids such as the fat found in corn oil promote the growth of prostate tumor cells in the laboratory.
But, if you are a female and read on, we have bad news for you too… Working with human prostate cancer cells in tissue culture, researchers identified for the first time a direct chain of causation: When introduced into prostate tumor cells in culture, omega-6 fatty acid causes the production of cPLA2, which then causes the production of the enzyme COX2. In turn, COX2 stimulates the release of PGE2, a hormone-like molecule that promotes cell growth. What's important about this is that omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn oil and most of the oils used in bakery goods, which means that if you're eating a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids, it's possible that you're turning on this cancer cascade, which has been shown to be a common denominator in the growth of prostate, colorectal, and some breast cancers. The study points out that 60 years ago in the United States, the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, a beneficial fatty acid, was 1 to 2. Today, the ratio is 25 to 1. Over that same 60 years, the incidence of prostate cancer in the U.S. has increased steadily. This is one more reason it is important to pay attention to the fats that you are eating. Substitute olive oil whenever possible, and take omega 3 fish capsules daily. Corn on the cob is delicious and nutritious, so is canned and frozen corn, just don't let yourself be corn holed by the food and beverage industries. If you would like to eat as Nature says try the ECHA Plan. This is not a commercial diet and is intended for people whose interests center in living long and, most of all, healthy and active lives.
References
Furnished by request.
Félix E. F. Larocca MD
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