Cugila aka Kenny Boy the ex hardman mod at the DCUK forum says "Better late than never"

All the old timers at the DCUK forum also known as the flog, will never forget the moderator Cugila, after a bit of handiwork by me and Graham and some help from Jimmy Moore, we organised Cugila's exit visa at the big one. Without doubt, the most oafish buffoon ever given the tiller of a diabetes forum. Countless low carbers were banned in Cugila's days and he took pleasure in deleting many thousands of low carb posts. Editing of members posts and thread locking was turned into an art form. He ruled with an Iron fist, he knew all the answers. The slightest criticism of his fiefdom was ruthlessly dealt with, usually backed up by chief henchman Sid Bonkers, together with Nobblyhead and the Cherub (current flog mods) and very often assisted by his technical adviser, Phoenix. 

Although Cugila claimed to be low carb, he claimed to be low everything, especially fat. Fat was Satan's work and to be avoided at all costs. When Dr Jay Wortman joined the flog and stated Cugila's stated diet was unsustainable, once weight loss had been achieved, Cugila banned Jay almost immediately. It was the start of the end for the Stalanistic mod. He was demoted to the rank of ordinary member, this was too much for the once mighty one. He done his best to disrupt the forum, then stalked off into the night.

So, why bring up the subject of Cugila again? Because he started his own forum ABC diabetes, it was a disaster, and has been as dead as a doornail for months. Then low and behold, a couple of posts get posted, and as you can see Cugila and his Moll have done a complete 180. Now, if we can convince Kenny Boy of the error of his ways, DUK and the NHS should be a doddle.

Eddie

Jimmy Moore and Franziska Spritzler in Conversation - 24 March 2015

It has been so encouraging to see the many newspaper reports, blog reports, Forum Articles and all round good news about the LCHF lifestyle. It can benefit all, but especially diabetics.

Now. it does take courage to go against the established dogma for what consists of the so called healthy diet. Increasingly, more Doctors and Healthcare Professionals are sticking their heads above the parapet, they refuse to be conned by big pharma and junk food companies. They are more interested in the health of their patients and clients than the pay cheque or job security. They are boat rockers, and deserve our support. Such a Woman is Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE. We need more people like Franziska, please visit her site, let her know she is appreciated, it’s people like Franziska who will bring about the much needed change.

She will be in conversation with Jimmy Moore on the 24th March 2015 - put the date in your diary. She has also recently written a book called 'The Low Carb Dietitian's Guide to Health and Beauty' which contains great advice not only for women .... the man in your life could well pick up some great health tip pointers .... just leave it on the coffee table for him!

Franziska's blog is here

Link to her book here

Please note we have no commercial interest in promoting Franziska or her book, we do so because we believe in and live the LCHF lifestyle.

All the best Jan, Eddie and all on the low carb team

Thank You To All Our Readers

Well Monday comes round once more ...... the weeks do fly by. For most parts of the UK the weekend was a very pleasant one - the sun shone, and Spring is definitely in the air.

The low carb team are working hard, and enjoy..... presenting articles, news items, thoughts, recipe ideas, some music and even a cartoon every now and then for all to read.

We firmly believe in the LCHF lifestyle.

We would like to to say a big thank you to ALL our readers, and those who do take time to stop and leave a thought or comment, you are appreciated.

Included here are just a few thank you's from the many different countries who use this blog, with some apologies, because we know there are many languages that do not appear here.

THANK YOU to all.

merci,   danke,   tak,   terima kasih,   xie xie,   grazie,   dziekuje,   spasibo,   gracias,   tack,   tesekkür ederim,   do jeh,   Дякую,   thank you.

Good Luck and Good Health To All

From everyone at 'the low carb team'

DCUK on Twitter. Is the forum of flog finally getting the message ?

Diabetes.co.uk ‏@Diabetescouk  5 mins5 minutes ago

"@DrAseemMalhotra: Is this some sort of sick joke " Is this supposed to be a joke @Tesco? What are your thoughts? #doc

Eddie Mitchell ‏@lowcarbdiabetic  31 secs31 seconds ago

@Diabetescouk @DrAseemMalhotra @Tesco Whatever you do, don't tell Sid "everything in moderation" Bonkers. Yes DUK & Tesco a sick joke!

Whatever you do, don't tell Sid "everything in moderation" Bonkers. And do not mention the forums gruesome diabetic hampers full of carbs DCUK used to flog.

Eddie

Could a change in diet revitalize children who suffer from unresolved fatigue?

Abstract: Many children deal with fatigue for which no proper treatment can be given. A possible explanation for their fatigue is a micro deficiency of minerals and vitamins.

In this non-randomized controlled trial, we clinically evaluated symptoms of fatigue in children for whom a nutrient-rich diet was advised. A group of 98 children (2–18 years old) with unexplained symptoms of fatigue was examined. 

The dietary modifications consisted of green vegetables, beef, whole milk and full-fat butter. Children in the intervention group were asked to follow the diet for three months, whereas the control-group followed their normal diet.

The primary outcome was symptoms of fatigue, as determined by a PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and secondary outcomes were compliance with the diet and BMI. Children, who followed the diet showed a significant decrease in the need to sleep (CI 0.83; 14.86, p = 0.03). They slept better through the night and took fewer naps.

When analyzing components of the advised diet separately, a significant larger decrease in cognitive fatigue symptoms was seen for eating green vegetables according to the diet guidelines (CI 2.27; 30.63, p = 0.024). Furthermore, a lower need to sleep was seen when whole milk was consumed almost daily (CI 0.02; 14.62, p = 0.049). Our study showed that nutritional advice is an elegant, and effective method for decreasing some symptoms of medically unresolved fatigue in children.

Full text: http://www.mdpi.com/

Graham

Are diabetics the laziest most apathetic people on the planet?

Over at diabetes.co.uk the self styled "Largest Diabetes Forum in Europe" a poll was started the thick end of three days ago. This outfit boasts of over 240,000 people receiving their news letter ( a mail shot selling tool ) and over 140,000 forum members. As you can see below, the response from the members has been absolutely pathetic. Which leads me to wonder, and ask the question, are diabetics the laziest most apathetic people on the planet? Eddie

We call on Diabetes UK to recognise the LCHF diet alongside the HCLF diet.

1. I have had good blood glucose control & improved health with LCHF

   39 vote(s)
   86.7%
2. I have had good blood glucose control & improved health with the standard HCLF diet

   1 vote(s)
   2.2%
3. I have had unsatisfactory results with LCHF

   5 vote(s)
   11.1%
4. I have had unsatisfactory results with the standard HCLF diet
   
   Link to poll here.
   
   
   
    

   25 vote(s)
   55.6%
   
   
   

   
   

Low Carb Spicy Shrimp and Avocado Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients
2 large, ripe avocados
12 ounces small cooked shrimp (no tails), thawed and drained if frozen
2 tbsp mayonnaise (homemade olive oil mayo or homemade walnut oil mayo)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp sriracha or other hot sauce (more to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
Cut avocados in half lengthwise and remove pit. Score flesh into chunks, careful not to cut through the skin, and use a spoon to scoop flesh out into a medium bowl. Reserve skins for serving.
Add shrimp, mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha or hot sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.
Divide salad among reserved avocado skins and serve

Original recipe idea here but see here too

Such great food ....... enjoy

All the best Jan

The Holy Kale Salad

This kale salad is so "refreshing and light. The combination of tangerine and avocado is insane! It’s great as a meal or makes the perfect side dish for brunch."

Ingredients - Serves 2
2½ heaping handfuls of kale
1 handful of baby arugula (rocket salad)
1 tangerine, peeled and sectioned
1 tomato, sliced
1 cup purple or white cauliflower, diced
⅓ cup scallions, (spring onions) chopped
½ avocado, diced

Dressing

2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ lemon, juiced
sea salt and black pepper, to taste
rosemary or basil, chopped for garnish

Instructions
For the salad, combine the kale, arugula (rocket), tangerine, tomato, cauliflower, scallions (spring onions) and avocado in a large bowl.
For the dressing, mix all of the ingredients together.
Toss the salad with the dressing, and garnish with rosemary or basil.

Notes
***Please choose all organic ingredients if possible***

If you know someone who loves kale, or needs to, please share this recipe with them ......... we will. See recipe idea from here

With the better weather fast approaching why not add this to your salad recipes.

All the best Jan

Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans

Graham

The Weeknd-Where You Belong

Graham

VOLTAJ - All over again

This is a great song and tells the story about a man that has to leave home, to try to earn a decent living, to give his family a better life. Millions are in this position, and how their children must miss them. Get the tissues out. Eddie

Free - My brother Jake

Bassist Andy Fraser, who co-wrote Free's 1970 hit All Right Now, has died in California aged 62. One of the great bands of their time. May he rest in peace. Eddie

Saturday Night Is Music Night - Jermain Jackman - The Voice Winner

Saturday Night is music night on this blog, and I'm starting things off with Jermain Jackman and 'How Will I Know' Jemain won UK's 'The Voice' in 2014 and has been working hard these past few months. He always seems a very nice and sincere young man when I've heard him interviewed and I wish him luck. Will.i.am mentored him on the BBC talent show.

All the best Jan

Spinach and Goat-Cheese Pie. A low carb masterpiece !

Ingredients

6 servings
Pie crust
1½ cups almond flour
¼ cup peeled sesame seeds
1 tablespoon wheat bran
1 tablespoon psyllium husk, ground
½ teaspoon salt
¾ ounce butter
1 egg

Egg batter
4-5 eggs
1 cup heavy whipping cream or sour cream
salt, pepper

Spinach and goat-cheese filling
½ pound fresh spinach
2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil
1 clove of garlic
1 pinch ground nutmeg salt, pepper
4 ounces grated cheese
1/3 pound goat cheese, sliced

Method

1. Mix almond flour and sesame seeds in a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and mix to form a dough. Press the dough into a springform tin and prick holes in the bottom with a fork.

2. Whisk together the eggs and whipping cream or sour cream. Add salt and pepper. Add the filling in the following steps.

3. Chop the spinach coarsely. Finely chop the garlic. Brown the garlic butter or oil for a few minutes. Add the spinach and sauté some more. Season.

4. Add the chopped spinach to the pre-baked pie shell. Mix the grated cheese into the egg batter and pour over spinach. Top with goat cheese. Bake at 350°F (175°C) 30–40 minutes.

Recipe from Swedish chef Anne Aobadia. Above text and photograph from the mega Diet Doctor blog here.

Eddie

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Way More Rampant Than We Believed

"We need far more vitamin D than previously thought, according to two teams of researchers from Canada and the U.S.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is ten times lower than what we actually need, say two teams of researchers who have challenged the US's National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), both responsible for the RDA.

"The error has broad implications for public health regarding disease prevention and achieving the stated goal of ensuring that the whole population has enough vitamin D to maintain bone health," says Dr. Cederic Garland, an adjunct professor at University of California, San Diego.

Currently the RDA for vitamin D established by the IOM is 600 international units per day until we reach 70 years of age, and 800 IU per day thereafter.

A Canadian research team reviewed each of the 10 studies the IOM used to arrive at their RDA and their calculations revealed that 600IU of vitamin D per day puts only half of the amount that they had assumed in the blood.

In scientific terms, that means that 97.5 percent of individuals will have serum 25 values of vitamin D above 26.8 nmol/L rather than above 50 nmol/L as the IOM had thought.

To get a serum 25 value of vitamin D of at least 50 nmol/L, you could need up to 8895 IU per day, according to the study.

Dr. Garland's team of US researchers wrote a letter confirming the Canadians team's findings, in which they suggest a slightly more conservative RDA.

"We call for the NAS-IOM and all public health authorities concerned with transmitting accurate nutritional information to the public to designate, as the RDA, a value of approximately 7,000 IU/day from all sources," wrote Dr. Garland and his colleagues.

Dr. Garland added that the number is well below the 10,000 IU currently considered safe by the IOM for teenagers and adults.

Two versions exist: Vitamin D2, known as ergocalciferol, and vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, which is thought to be the more potent and favorable version of the two.

Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and cod liver oil contain hearty amounts of vitamin D3, yet most vitamin D3 is synthesized in the skin upon sun exposure, according to the World Health Organization.

Cereals, cheese and milk could be an important source of both types of vitamin D depending upon where you live yet because they are often fortified with synthetic versions and the amounts may vary.

Vitamin D is important for skin, bone and heart health and deficiencies can result in rickets and abnormal skin pigmentation, yet side effects of excess intake are rare and minimal, according to WebMD.

Both the study and the letter were published in the journal Nutrients."

Details taken from article here 

It is interesting to note that cereals were mentioned in the article. Some readers may decide not to eat those, but choose other natural whole foods instead. The article has been shown here as it originally appeared.

All the best Jan

Brits are going nuts for coconut oil

This cure-all, edible oil has become a hit with consumers nationwide, prompting a start-up boom

Consumers are apparently going nuts for coconut oil, the edible oil derived from the flesh and kernel of mature coconuts, it has emerged.

Whole Foods, the high street grocer specialising in healthy and organic produce, had its strongest ever month for coconut oil sales last month. The retailer sold six tons of coconut oil across several brands in the UK.

The wonder-product, which has had endorsement from high-profile names such as Stella McCartney, the fashion designer, and Sienna Miller, the actress, has many weird and wonderful applications, which include cooking, eyelash extension, even wound care, as well as a hair and skin moisturiser.

According to Whole Foods buyer Daniel Rodriguez, “We have seen the market at least doubling each year for the last three years.”

Jonathan Newman, founder of Chi, which produces coconut products, launched a coconut oil in August 2013. This year, the company is selling 11,000 units a month at £9.99 a bottle, and will generate £1m in sales from the oil product alone.

The growth trajectory is steep because the West is playing catch up with Asian countries, said Mr Newman. “It’s been used as a superfood for generations in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines,” he said. “We’re just late to the party.”

When models were reported to be eating spoonfuls of coconut oil to speed up metabolic rate, that also caused a stir, he added. "I put a spoonful in my coffee every morning for the same reason," he claimed.

Louise Ingham, a product manager at heath food chain Holland & Barrett, belives that the nation's improved relationship with saturated fat is behind the sudden boom. "Until recent years, we were all steering clear of coconuts, perceiving them to be unhealthy due to their high content of saturated fat," she said.

"However, there are many different types of saturated fats, and not all are believed to be unhealthy," she continued. "Lauric Acid, a saturated fat that coconut is rich in, is thought to help increase levels of good cholesterol, making it a popular cooking ingredient. And then there’s the water. After celebs started using it to suppress appetite and to replace essential electrolytes lost during exercise, the coconut’s publicity did an about turn."

There are now a raft of UK start-ups looking to cash in on coconut oil. Whole Foods’ Mr Rodriguez said, “I don’t exaggerate when I say we have a new brand presented to us every week.”

Manufacturers range from mainstream brands such as Jax Coco, which turns over £20m a year, to sports supplement supplier BodybuildingWarehouse.co.uk, which has reported a 67pc increase in sales of its Pure Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in the past three months.

“When we started the business in 2008 there was next to no demand, it wasn’t even on the horizon,” said founder Kieran Fisher. “A few health food stores sold it, but most of the market was protein powders, protein bars and the like. Now it’s a major staple. We’ve had to increase our production quota three times and have run out of stock twice.”

Market analyst Mintel said coconut oil in food and beverages accounted for 26pc of food and drink new product launches in 2012, up from 15pc in 2008. References to coconut oil used exclusively as oil grew 780pc between 2008 and 2012, it said.

Julian Highley, global director at customer research firm Dunnhumby added: “We have seen a four-fold rise in interest in coconut oil since the end of 2011. We anticipate this will be a trend that continues to grow.”

Rebecca Goodyear, a health and beauty PR who works with a number of coconut oil brands, including US-based brand Nutiva, which saw UK sales rise 40pc last year, said that the coconut oil boom is here to stay.

“One only has to look at the number of successful brands on the shelves, and the crossover from natural health stores into the supermarket channels, to realise coconut oil is becoming a mainstay consumer product.”

The new trend follows hot on the heels of the coconut water phenomenon. Sales of coconut water, which is believed to be packed with essential nutrients, soared 114pc last year, making it the UK’s fastest-growing soft drink.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Graham

Sam Smith - Amelia Freer - Weight Loss

Celebrities and Weight Loss is in the news again. If a celebrity looses weight it is headline news. I congratulate ALL those, whether well known or not, who want to lose weight and do go on to do so. Healthy eating is so often key - in fact have you ever known it not to be? Using whole real foods, staying away from processed surely that is key?

picture from Wikipedia dated 2014

Sam Smith is undergoing something of a transformation at the moment after shedding more than a stone in two weeks.

The ‘Stay With Me’ singer has shared a series of snaps on Instagram, which show off his dramatic weight loss, and it’s all thanks to a nutritionist Amelia Freer.

The 22-year-old, who has battled with his weight since childhood, credits Amelia and her book ‘Eat. Nourish. Glow.’ with not only changing the way he views food, but changing his life.

Amelia Freer is a champion for the enjoyment of wholesome, nutritious food.

She goes on to say:

"In my nutritional training, we were all so afraid of meeting a new client with multiple health conditions - the advice we were given was just to keep it simple ... ask "what can you remove from this client’s diet to help them and what can you add to support them?" - it often is that simple a start and I apply this to all areas of my own life."

" my principles for healthy eating. As you will know, I believe that one of the most important factors is preparation – how you prepare your kitchen, how you prepare your food and how you shop are all essential to staying healthy."

" firmly place coconut oil in my top ten must-have ingredients, as it’s one of the most versatile fats to be cooking with. I ensure that I always cook with coconut oil because it has a better tolerance for heat than olive oil. When making salads and dressings, I reach for cold olive oil."

"The oils that you really want to avoid are vegetable oils, as these are highly processed, such as sunflower oil. I advise sticking with coconut oil, butter - if you are fine to eat dairy - and olive oil."

"Green leafy vegetables
We know that our diets need to be predominantly plant-based, so making sure that you always have a nice supply of fresh and, preferably, organic vegetables is key.
The most important vegetables that I ensure I have in my diet are dark green leafy vegetables. Items such as broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts and cabbage are all sources of phytonutrients, which really are a life force for our cells and studies show they may help in preventing some cancers and keep our immune system strong."

Do you agree with what Sam Smith and Amelia Freer says? Read more by using the links embedded in their names........ I think it is always good to share other articles.

One final word ...... as this blog name says it is 'The Low Carb Diabetic' and we are firm believers in the 'Low Carb High Fat' lifestyle. 

All the best Jan

DCUK Quotes of the week from Noblehead !

"It's the insulin doing the work regardless of what diet you follow, without insulin we wouldn't be here."

What staggering insight, 30 odd years a diabetic and old Noblehead is getting a grip on the fundamentals. You can see why he was made a forum of flog mod.

"but lets not derail the thread any longer and let the poll run its course."

After doing his best to err...derail the thread. Jeez does he think the average member is a thick as him? 

Welcome to the crazy world of diabetes and it never gets crazier than the forum of flog.

Eddie

Link to the ludicrous here. 

Doctors warned over risk of "serious drug clashes" when treating multiple conditions

DOCTORS who blindly prescribe recommended drugs for common conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart failure often leave patients at risk of serious complications caused by taking different medications at the same time.

Researchers at Dundee University examined 12 conditions and looked at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines for potential clashes between different drugs.

They found that there were 133 potentially serious interactions between medications for drugs recommended for type 2 diabetes. They discovered a further 111 for heart failure and 89 for depression.

Professor Bruce Guthrie, of Dundee University, said the findings showed that clinical guidelines needed to take greater account of patients suffering from more than one condition.

He said: "Despite widespread multimorbidity, where patients have more than one condition, the clinical guidelines are largely written as though patients have a single condition and the cumulative impact of treatment recommendations from multiple guidelines is not really considered.

"Clinical guidelines of course are not intended to be completely comprehensive guides to practice, in that clinicians are expected to use their judgement in deciding which treatments are appropriate in individual patients.

"However, it is potentially dangerous to have guidelines that do not take account of the effect of combinations of recommended treatments."

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was carried out by Dundee University along with researchers from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Manchester universities.

The researchers said that potentially serious clashes between drugs prescribed for different conditions were "common".

Mr Guthrie said: "We recommend that during the development of clinical guidelines the process should consider how to identify and more explicitly highlight the potential for interactions between recommended drugs and other conditions and other drugs that patients with the guideline condition are likely to have.

"The number of potentially serious combinations of drugs and diseases requires a better approach to multimorbidity to allow clinicians and patients to make informed decisions about drug treatments."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/

Graham

Lemon Baked Custard - Gluten Free and Sugar Free

Oh, why didn't I think of this? For many who follow the LCHF lifestyle, some like to eat dessert - where others prefer not too. It is a personal choice. For those that do like to enjoy a LCHF dessert here is a lovely recipe courtesy of Libby at 'Ditch The Carbs' blog....... and well done her daughter.

"My daughter made these, and they were beautiful. They have no added sugar are gluten free, wheat free and grain free. The lemon zest is not strong but just enough to give it flavour. Bake in a bain marie water bath, and they turn out soft rather than a solid baked custard. Sugar free baked lemon custard are brilliant to accompany roast lemon tarragon chicken. They can also be eaten cold the next day.

INGREDIENTS
800ml full fat milk
4 eggs
zest of 2 lemons
juice of 1 lemon
5 tbs granulated stevia, or sweetener of choice

INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk the eggs with a hand whisk and add the milk and stevia.
Add the lemon zest and juice, whisk until thoroughly combined.
Pour into ramekin dishes which have been wiped with butter so the baked custard doesn't stick.
Place the ramekins dishes in a large baking/roasting dish and cover the base with water so it reaches half the ramekins dish.
Carefully place into the oven and bake at 180C for approximately 30 minutes, or until the centre is cooked and no longer 'wobbly'.
Remove from the water bath and allow to cool slightly before serving.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serving size: 1 pot Calories: 133 Fat: 7.9g Carbohydrates: 7.7g Protein: 8.3 "

 

Well ... are you off to buy the ingredients. Libby's set them off lovely in her pictures, couldn't you just put your spoon in and taste ...... just delicious. Thanks Libby.

All the best Jan

Dr. Peter Attia: Readdressing Dietary Guidelines

Graham

Parmesan herb-crusted fish

This simple parmesan herb-crusted fish dish takes six ingredients and transforms it into a nutritious main dish. Serve this lean fish with some sauteed vegetables like pan-seared brussels sprouts, or some nice crunchy fine green beans, and you’ve got a healthy, evening meal.

Parmesan Herb-Crusted Fish

Ingredients
8 ounces tilapia filets (or white fish of your choice)
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon rosemary

Directions

Lay fish skin side down on a baking sheet.

In a small bowl, toss together the parmesan, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.

In a second small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave (about 10 seconds).

Brush butter on the upright side of the fish. Sprinkle evenly with the parmesan and herb mixture.

Turn your grill / broiler to high heat. Put fish on a grill / broiler rack about 4-5 inches under the flame / heat. Let grill / broil for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and fish has reached an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, flake the fish with a fork to see if it is done.


Nutrition Information

Serves: 2 | Serving Size: 4 ounces of fish

Per serving: Calories: 182; Total Fat: 8g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 69mg; Sodium: 217mg; Carbohydrate: 1g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Sugar: 0g; Protein: 26g

Nutrition Bonus: Potassium: 25mg; Iron: 3%; Vitamin A: 4%; Vitamin C: 3%; Calcium: 15%

Original recipe idea here

All the best Jan

Diabetes drugs may promote heart failure, study finds

Patients who manage type 2 diabetes with drugs that lower glucose or blood sugar may be at higher risk for heart failure.

Published on Mar 17, 2015

Dr. Jacob Udell, cardiologist, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (UHN) and Women's College Hospital (WCH) discusses the main findings of a new study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology (March 2015), which found that medications used to treat diabetes may trigger heart failure.

Full article here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Graham

Healthy Eating and Brain Training Can Slow Dementia

Dementia, like diabetes, appears to have increased dramatically in recent years. There are many studies looking into this. Some are asking, is it the change in foods we eat to blame, should we take more exercise, is it genetics. You do see Alzheimer's being called the new Type 3 Diabetes - quite scary.

Of course many of our readers here are very interested in, and do live the LCHF lifestyle. This means you are eating reduced carbohydrates/sugars, you do eat more healthy fats, and you do eat moderate protein. You also take regular exercise and establish a good sleep pattern. Many believe this type of lifestyle can be helpful if you are epileptic - why couldn't it be beneficial for dementia, or the slowing down of it? I read with interest this recent article, which I hope you will find interesting.

" A comprehensive programme of healthy eating advice,exercise, brain-training and health management can slow down mental decline in older people, research has shown.

Scientists studied the effects of the programme in 1,260 Fins aged 60 to 77, all of whom were considered to be at risk of dementia.

Standard mental functioning tests at the end of two years showed that participants randomly allocated to the programme had 25% better test scores than those receiving regular health advice.

For some tests, differences between groups were more striking. For executive functioning - the brain's ability to organise and regulate thought processes - scores were 83% higher in the programme group and for processing speed 150% higher.

Lead researcher Professor Miia Kivipelto, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said: "Much previous research has shown that there are links between cognitive decline in older people and factors such as diet, heart health, and fitness. However, our study is the first large randomised controlled trial to show that an intensive programme aimed at addressing these risk factors might be able to prevent cognitive decline in elderly people who are at risk of dementia."

Findings from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (Finger) are reported in the The Lancet medical journal.

Dr Simon Ridley, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "This study is one of the first of its kind, testing the benefits of a group of intensive lifestyle and health interventions on memory and thinking in older people at higher risk of dementia. "The initial results are promising and suggest that a combination of improving cardiovascular health and keeping mentally active could slow decline in some aspects of our thinking, but it's unclear which of the interventions carried the greatest benefit.

"Benefits on memory were not so clear from this study and we await the findings from the longer follow-up period to see whether this intervention also has long-term benefits in reducing the risk of dementia.

"We know that dementia is caused by a complex mixture of age combined with genetic and lifestyle risk factors. Further studies like this will be vital to help us unpick the best approaches to maintaining brain health as we age and potentially helping to reduce the burden of dementia in society."

See original article here

All the best Jan

Coke’s PR Strategy Is to Market Soda as a Healthy Snack

Coke works with nutrition experts who suggest its cola as a healthy treat

(NEW YORK) — If a column in honor of heart health suggests a can of Coke as a snack, you might want to read the fine print.

The world’s biggest beverage maker is working with fitness and nutrition experts who suggest its cola as a healthy treat. In February, for instance, several wrote online pieces for American Heart Month, with each including a mini-can of Coke or small soda as a snack idea.
The mentions — which appeared on nutrition blogs and other sites including those of major newspapers — show the many ways food companies work behind the scenes to cast their products in a positive light, often with the help of third parties who are seen as trusted authorities.

Ben Sheidler, a Coca-Cola spokesman, compared the February posts to product placement deals a company might have with TV shows.

“We have a network of dietitians we work with,” said Sheidler, who declined to say how much the company pays experts. “Every big brand works with bloggers or has paid talent.”

Other companies including Kellogg and General Mills have used strategies like providing continuing education classes for dietitians, funding studies that burnish the nutritional images of their products and offering newsletters for health experts. PepsiCo Inc. has also worked with dietitians who suggest its Frito-Lay and Tostito chips in local TV segments on healthy eating. Others use nutrition experts in sponsored content; the American Pistachio Growers has quoted a dietitian for the New England Patriots in a piece on healthy snacks and recipes and Nestle has quoted its own executive in a post about infant nutrition.

For Coca-Cola Co., the public relations strategy with health experts in February focused on the theme of “Heart Health & Black History Month.” The effort yielded a radio segment and multiple online pieces.

One post refers to a “refreshing beverage option such as a mini can of Coca-Cola.” Another suggests “portion-controlled versions of your favorites, like Coca-Cola mini cans, packs of almonds or pre-portioned desserts for a meal.”

The focus on the smaller cans isn’t surprising. Sugary drinks have come under fire for fueling obesity rates and related ills, and the last time Coke’s annual U.S. soda volume rose was in 2002, according to the industry tracker Beverage Digest. More recently, the company is pushing its mini-cans as a guilt-free way to enjoy cola. The cans also fetch higher prices on a per ounce basis, so even if people are drinking less soda, Coke says it can grow sales.

In a statement, Coca-Cola said it wants to “help people make decisions that are right for them” and that like others in the industry, it works with health experts “to help bring context to the latest facts and science around our products and ingredients.” It said any communications by the experts it works with contain the appropriate disclosures.

Most of the pieces suggesting mini-Cokes say in the bios that the author is a “consultant” for food companies, including Coca-Cola. Some add that the ideas expressed are their own. One column is marked at the bottom as a “sponsored article,” which is an ad designed to look like a regular story. It ran on more than 1,000 sites, including those of major news outlets around the country. The other posts were not marked as sponsored content, but follow a similar format.

Kelly McBride, who teaches media ethics at The Poynter Institute, said the phrasing of the disclosure that the author is a “consultant” for food companies, including Coca-Cola, doesn’t make it clear the author was specifically paid by Coke for the column.

“This is an example of opaque sponsored content,” McBride said.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a professional group for dietitians, says in its code of ethics that practitioners promote and endorse products “only in a manner that is not false and misleading.” A spokesman for the academy did not respond when asked if the posts on mini-Cokes meet those guidelines.

Meanwhile, a group called Dietitians for Professional Integrity has called for sharper lines to be drawn between dietitians and companies. Andy Bellatti, one of its founders, said companies court dietitians because they help validate corporate messages.

The message that Coke can be a healthy snack is debatable. Alice Lichtenstein, a professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University and a member of the nutrition committee at the American Heart Association, said a smaller can of soda might be a “move in the right direction” for someone who regularly drinks soda. Still, she wouldn’t recommend soda as a snack.

The health experts who wrote the pieces mentioning Coke stand by their recommendations.

Robyn Flipse, the dietitian who wrote the sponsored article for Coke, said she would suggest mini-cans of Coke even if she wasn’t being paid. Although she doesn’t drink soda herself, she said the smaller cans are a way for people who like soda to enjoy it sensibly.

“I absolutely think that I provided valuable information,” she said.

Flipse said the idea to mention mini-cans of Coke in the post was hers and came about after a public relations agency for Coke suggested a piece on heart health and asked what she might “work in.

Flipse has worked with Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association for years; her roles have included sending out messages on social media refuting the idea that sugary drinks are to blame for obesity and making herself available as an expert for news outlets. If a story says something negative about artificial sweeteners, Flipse said she might contact the PR agency and ask, “Do you want me to do something about that?”

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, a dietitian who wrote another piece mentioning mini- cans of soda, said it’s important that health professionals share their expertise with companies and that her work reflects her own views.

She said she could not recall if she was paid for her article mentioning mini-sodas.

http://time.com/

Graham