Vegetarians have a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome — a precursor to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. The symptoms are extra weight around the waist and insulin resistance, in which the body cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed to help control the amount of sugar in the body. The Loma Linda University study found that while 25 percent of vegetarians had metabolic syndrome, the number significantly rose to 37 percent for semi-vegetarians … full story

Avoid coffee during a fast food meal because it could have dangerous repercussions for your wellbeing as it causes a spike in blood sugar levels. A healthy person’s blood sugar levels shoot up after eating a high-fat meal, but that spike doubles after having both a fatty meal and caffeinated coffee – jumping to levels similar to those of people at risk of diabetes, says Marie-Soleil Beaudoin from University of Guelph. “The results tell us that … full story

Women whose mothers are victims of stroke are at a far higher risk of a heart attack. Women may be more at risk of inherited forms of heart disease. In men, it tends to be triggered by lifestyle factors such as diet, drinking and smoking. Oxford University researchers looked at more than 2,200 female patients who had suffered a stroke, heart attack or angina, the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics reports. They found that a far higher … full story

Poor kidney function could be an early warning of heart disease and stroke, two studies have found. In the first study, researchers from Taiwan and the US found that a low fluid rate through the kidneys was linked to a higher risk of stroke in later life. By analysing 33 studies involving more than 280,000 people they found that those with a glomerular filtration rate (test used to check how well the kidneys are working) of about half the normal … full story

Taking tea may prevent weight gain caused by junk food, according to a new study. Researchers found regular consumption of tea also suppressed damaging changes in the blood linked to fatty foods that can lead to type-2 diabetes, reports dailymail.co.uk. They said the research on mice could signal another set of health benefits from tea if they are confirmed in trials on humans. In the study some mice were given a high fat diet and others a normal … full story

Eating almonds can prevent diabetes and heart disease. Researchers have found that eating nuts regularly may help treat type 2 diabetes, accounting for 90-95 percent of all cases. It could also tackle cardiovascular disease, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports. Diabetics have a shortage of insulin or a decreased ability to use the hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and convert to energy, according to the Daily Mail. … full story

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a disorder that is characterized by elevation of glucose levels in blood. The carbohydrates that we consume get converted in to glucose, and hormone insulin secreted by pancreas breaks down the glucose, makes it enter body cells and release energy for day to day activities. Faulty metabolism occurs when glucose imbalance occurs in blood. The glucose imbalance occurs either when inadequate insulin is produced by pancreas, … full story

In Chinese Medicine, diabetes is considered to be a condition of disharmony in the body called Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome. Diabetics can often experience symptoms of severe thirst and hunger while losing weight. The ancient Chinese noticed these tendencies, and identified the condition according to its external symptoms, in spite of the fact that they could not determine a person’s blood sugar levels at the time. There are many Chinese herbs … full story

When the body fails to produce enough insulin or when the body cells do not respond to the insulin produced, glucose continues to stay in blood and in no time, the glucose level in blood soars, leading to diabetes. Diabetes may be categorized in to three main types. 1. Type 1 diabetes - This occurs when body fails to produce insulin. This type of diabetes can be tackled by injecting insulin. 2. Type 2 diabetes - This is the most widespread type. … full story

Finally, a positive solution regarding Americas difficult and costly campaign to stem childhood obesity is emerging. For the thousands of children and their families who are currently battling with childhood obesity, this good news is long awaited. Indeed, the risk factors for childhood obesity read like a checklist of ailments that only a generation ago would never have been linked to children and diet: heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood … full story